Lederhosen and Cowboy Hats at the Way Out West Oktoberfest
Okay, it sounds like a weird combination. Something a beat poet might have spouted when a hallucinogenic experiment went awry. It isn't. It's the 35th Annual Way Out West Oktoberfest being held at Tempe Town Lake this weekend.
The Way Out West Oktoberfest is where Bavaria meets the Wild West. Thirty-four years ago, the Tempe Sister City organization produced the first Oktoberfest to celebrate a new relationship with a Bavarian Sister City and raise money for student/teacher exchanges and other humanitarian projects. Knowing the ranchers, farmers and college kids calling Tempe home in the early 1970's were not going to be comfortable wearing lederhosen or drindls or other Tracht (traditional German costumes), regardless of how much beer had been consumed, they christened the festival the "Way Out West" Oktoberfest and combined country music, western food and even a bull ride with polka music, Bavarian beers and brats.
This year is no different. Drawn by the FREE admission, Valley residents in shorts, flip-flops and t-shirts will mingle with others in more Bavarian attire as they enjoy a variety of entertainment, vendors, exhibits, activities and food. Youngsters will find plenty to do at Kinderfest, where Tempe Sister City volunteers will be offering a variety of arts and crafts activities, games, roaming clowns and a "storybook corner" beneath a shady tree. There will also be carnival rides including a ferris wheel, kiddie train and rock wall. Kids Activities are free, by the way.
To keep the kiddies, their parents and other attendees going, the volunteers are serving up Johnsonville Bratwurst, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs. The Oktoberfest Bakery will be serving strudel to satisfy the sweet tooth along with hot roasted almonds and chocolate dipped strawberries.
Speaking of strudel, a strudel-eating contest will be held on the Community Stage which they will share with dancers, comedians and children's chorus singers. A variety of musicians will perform on the Main Stage, including country rock band Mogollon, an Oktoberfest mainstay for 25 years, and local favorite Walt Richardson. Dancers of any and every ability, can show off their stuff at the polka stage accompanied by live bands. In fact, a total of ten bands will be performing, for FREE, throughout the weekend.
Of course, it wouldn't be an Oktoberfest without beer. The Bavarian Beer Garden will take those 21 and older on a world tour of beers from Germany, Ireland, England, France, China, Japan, Canada and the USA. Is now a good time to mention Arizona's tough new drunk driving laws? It's a good bet that law enforcement will be out in force all weekend looking for those tempting fate or their luck or whatever, so please, drink responsibly and don't drive if you drink.
If you go: Admission is FREE for everyone. Food and drink can only be purchased using tickets, no cash. Hours are Friday, 5 p.m. to Midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to Midnight and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last call on all three nights is 15 minutes before the event closes.
The 35th Annual Way Out West Oktoberfest is presented by Washington Mutual (WaMU) to benefit Tempe Sister Cities.
