Roll Out the Barrel

Oktoberfest is the world-renowned fall harvest celebration, which begins September 20 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 200-year-old tradition of beer, food, singing and dancing with frauleins in dirndls and men in lederhosen. For those who can’t make it to the old country, there are several events being held in Vancouver.

One of the first was Steam Whistle’s Oktoberfest event held at the Imperial, at 319 Main Street, Vancouver. The club was all decked out for the occasion, with staff and many patrons dressed in traditional gear.

Bratwurst was being cooked on a sidewalk grill outside the club when we arrived. Once the line up was allowed inside, we were given an official Oktoberfest ceramic beer stein and a Bavarian hat. Sausage, sauerkraut and potatoes were available for $12, Bratwurst on a bun sold for $8.00 and pretzels were $4.00.

The Rheinlander Oom-pah Band, a trio consisting of accordion, drums and tuba, provided the music. They played polkas galore and even, to my dismay alone, the Chicken Dance. The Edelweiss Dancers, from Richmond’s Austria Vancouver Club, provided entertainment throughout the evening. You didn’t need to be German to enjoy this event. I was at an international table with a person from Harbin, China and another from Dhaka, Bangladesh as well as many locals with German and Austrian heritage. Patrons were encouraged to post ‘selfies’ on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest and the photos were projected onto the onstage screen. A costume parade was held for those dressed for the occasion with prizes for the best men’s and women’s outfits.

In addition to the sponsored Steam Whistle lager, I was pleased to see that the Imperial offered some quality wines by the glass – Stoneleigh, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a Shiraz made by Wynn’s of Australia.

Whether you make it to an official event or just celebrate from home, be sure to raise a tankard and say “Prosit” to Oktoberfest.