Dave's Travel Corner

Seeing the World One Step at a Time

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Guides
  • Journals
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Links
  • Interviews
  • About

press releases


Big Bear Continues to Deliver an Authentic Oktoberfest for 49 Years in a Row

Previous Post
Next Post
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  |  Contact: dave@davestravelcorner.com

October 8, 2019 by DaveLeave a Comment

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. – The true spirit of Bavaria comes to life in Big Bear Lake for nine consecutive weekends, which started Saturday, September 7 and ends November 2, 2019. Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest represents Southern California’s most authentic Oktoberfest, which takes pride in being the closest thing to the original celebration in Munich, Germany. Just like the original, Big Bear starts its celebration in September and goes into October (due to popular demand, it now stretches into November). What really makes this Oktoberfest more special than others is Big Bear Lake is situated in an Alpine environment with evergreens trees, mountain vistas, and a town-square village. This environment naturally reflects the scenery and heritage of the Bavarian Alps of Germany. It is also the highest altitude Oktoberfest in the U.S. at 6,750’.

To top it off, Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest was founded 49 years ago by German immigrants Hans and Erika Bandows. In recent years, the event has been handed off to their daughter Monica who keeps family traditions alive. Other key factors that puts Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest high on the charts for authenticity is the event brings four different bands from Bavaria, serves Warsteiner and Paulaner beer (imported from Germany), dance troupes perform customary dances, bratwurst is from a German butcher in Los Angeles, and fresh apple strudel is delivered weekly from a German bakery in Newport Beach!

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest has a contest unlike any other in the country called the Queen Stein-Carrying Contest. The winning Oktoberfest queen works hard for her title. The woman who carries the most one-liter beer steins wins the queen title. Past Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest queens have lifted and carried an average of 80 pounds in full beer steins. Some queens have carried more weight in beer steins than their own body weight! The Queen Stein-Carrying Contest semi-finals are Saturday, September 28 at 5 p.m. and the finals are Saturday, October 4 at 4 p.m.

Baumstamm Sägen (log sawing) competitions were part of Crown Prince Ludwig’s wedding celebration in 1810 that inspired the original Oktoberfest in Munich. The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest continues the tradition with multiple log sawing contests each day to test the might and agility of its patrons. Log Sawing consists of two-person teams that use an old-fashioned large saw-tooth saw placed on a sawhorse, and the team that cuts the log in half the quickest wins.

Children’s fun and games include kiddy mug holding matches and an enhanced kids’ play area with multiple giant inflatables. Of course it wouldn’t be an Oktoberfest without the Chicken Dance. Festivalgoers get into the action by flapping their arms and clucking away to the Chicken Dance.

The 49th Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is every weekend now through Saturday, November 2, 2019. The weekend festivities takes place at Big Bear Lake Convention Center, located at 42900 Big Bear Blvd. General admission ticket prices for Saturdays in September range from $17.99 to $23.99 for adults, $13.99 to $17.99 for seniors (62+), and $11 for children 12 and under. Saturdays in October range from $26.99 to $32.99 for adults, $18.99 to $23.99 for seniors (62+), and $11 for children 12 and under. Sunday admission prices are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, and children 12 and under are FREE. Saturday, November 2nd is a special encore celebration with general admission tickets at $17.99 for adults, $13.99 for seniors (62+), and $11 for children 12 and under. Prices are subject to change on certain dates. It is highly recommended to pre-purchase tickets for all Saturdays in October. For more details regarding tickets, Burgermeister Party Packs, and general information, log on to BigBearEvents.com, or Facebook, or call 909-585-3000.

Previous Post
Next Post

Related posts:

Los Angeles, CA – Big Bear Lake The Bear Went over the Mountain Good Beer, Good Cheer: 200 Years of Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest Bier Festival, Berlin Songkhran, Thai New Years

About Dave's Travel Corner

Dave's Travel Corner is a travel content, resource provider and community (founded 1996) providing travel Guides written about Dave's personal travel experiences and Journals, pages that contain trip summaries and experiences written by fellow travelers. We spotlight locations and attractions with an article linked directly from our homepage including content across our blog, photo and video galleries. We use a combination of social media, written content, photography and videos to promote locations. Not only does the content appear on this site but we have direct partnerships with other well visited travel sites for placement of the content. Since 1996, we have also established hundreds of relevant link exchanges with other travel sites.

Visitors to Dave's Travel Corner will also find thousands of travel related links organized by categories on the Resources Page, a Photo Gallery containing International travel photos, Book Reviews, and Product Reviews focusing on products useful for travelers, fully automated Forums, Tour Bookings offering over 4400 unique tours around the globe, Interviews with those making news in the travel industry and Videos - specializing in International travel videos as well as home of the Dave & Jim Show.

Dave's own travel blog is Above the Clouds which focuses on International Travel & Lifestyle.

For information on advertising please choose from a variety of advertising options here.

Contributors are welcome Learn how you can contribute    About  www.davestravelcorner.com/about

Filed Under: Press Releases · Tagged: Bakeries, Beach, Beer, Big Bear, California, Germany, Los Angeles, Village, Wedding

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want an avatar to show with your comments? Get a free Gravatar

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow @DaveDTC

Get FREE Email Updates  I

Categories

Recent Comments

  • Chin Liang Teh on Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage with Holland America: Helicopter Ride + Dog Mushing on Norris Glacier, Juneau
  • Dave on Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage with Holland America: Helicopter Ride + Dog Mushing on Norris Glacier, Juneau
  • Suzy Tan on “Hiko in Tonga” – A Vanishing Culture of Women Jugglers in Tonga – Interview with Paprika Leaverton, Filmmaker, Professional Juggler and Entertainment Performer
  • Susan on 4 Pros and Cons of TSA Precheck
  • Pick Reservations on Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage with Holland America: Helicopter Ride + Dog Mushing on Norris Glacier, Juneau

Latest Posts

  • Jackson Doktok, Chairman of Palau Visitors Authori…
  • Artezzan Restaurant and Bar, ChesterFunctional and sophisticated base from which to en…
  • Rediscovering Lithuania’s Springtime Nature:…
  • Taiwan-Based STARLUX Airlines Launches First Trans…
  • National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season w…

Explore

  • Above the Clouds
  • Guides
  • Highlight of the Month
  • Interviews
  • Journals
  • Press Releases
  • Videos

Prepare

  • Book Reviews
  • Pack List
  • Quiz: Geography
  • Quiz: Travel
  • Tour Booking
  • Travel Insurance
  • Travel Products

Share

  • Contribute
  • Forums
  • Links
  • Photos

About

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Contributors
  • Email Dave
  • Media Coverage
  • Media Kit
Hi I'm Dave. After a life changing trip in 1996, I began this site as a creative outlet to educate, inspire and share travel experiences. Read more...
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Return to top of page
Copyright © 1996–2023 Dave's Travel Corner · All Rights Reserved · Log in

7ads6x98y