Das alljährliche Fest aller bayerischen Dinge ist zurück in Clarence-Rockland! Translation, the annual celebration of all things Bavarian is back in Clarence-Rockland!

First held in Munich, Germany in 1810, Oktoberfest was initially a celebration of the marriage of King Ludwig I, and the party has taken place every year since, save for a few years where a war or two broke out across Europe.

In the years following the King’s marriage, the annual event took on a more agricultural theme, celebrating the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. But one thing that has never changed is the amount of beer consumed at the event. In 2022, approximately 5.7 million litres of beer were consumed over the course of the two-week festival, less than the average 7 million litres usually consumed.

Local brewer Brauwerk Hoffman is bringing back the German tradition to eastern Ontario with its Oktoberfest celebration at the end of September, though they don’t expect break any consumption records.

Residents, both German and not, can enjoy German-inspired local craft beer, local food vendors and live music and entertainment at the RiverRock Inn and Conference Centre, September 22 and 23.

The first day’s festivities include keg tapping, stein holding competition and traditional Oktoberfest music from the Edelweiss Duo. Saturday’s musical line up is Paddy PayStub, Danny Sylvester and Nikke B, Eastbound of Bytown and Danny and Friends.

Tickets can be purchased on the Brauwerk Hoffman website, www.brauwerkhoffman.ca.