Oktoberfest is this Weekend! Having Fun Required, Stein Hoisting Optional

According to the Almanac, the word October comes from the name octo, the Latin word for eight, and in Old England, October was called Winmonath, which means "wine month." It makes sense because this was the time of the year when wine was made. So, contrary to that, when did Oktoberfest come into play with feasting and beer drinking top on the agenda? From the online site Telegraph, the name Oktoberfest is part of Wiesn history that began in 1810. That was when the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen was celebrated. The festivities started on October 12th of that year and continued for another six days.

From that day forward, Oktoberfest was traditionally held yearly in a rural area near Munich. To this day, the event provides plenty of eating, drinking, dancing, parades, stein races, and even fairground rides. In addition, places worldwide, especially in the United States, have done their spin-offs of the event, and some quite successfully. Namely, for over 25 years, the Copper Village Museum and Arts Center in Anaconda, Montana, has been hosting Oktoberfest and has teamed up with Discover Anaconda to let the community know how grateful they are for their support over the years. The area is rich in history and nationalities and is celebrated as such.

Organized by Copper Village Director Shannon Warner, Teah Fuller of Discover Anaconda, and countless hardworking staff members and volunteers, Oktoberfest will begin at 9:30 am on October 8th at the center (401 E. Commercial) with food and a craft vendor fair. The Brewfest in Friendship Park (adjacent to the center) is from 2 to 5 pm. Six breweries from Montana will serve beverages, with stein hoisting and lederhosen competitions on tap and much more. A golf tournament in correlation with the event will also take place at the Old Works Gold Course on October 8th. So enjoy the Fall season with Oktoberfest!