Donauschwaben Oktoberfest

Written by: Joe Ludwig

The Cincinnati Donauschwaben Society’s annual Oktoberfest is coming up on September 30, Oktober 1, and 2.

The Cincinnati Donauschwaben has a very special place in my heart. For those that don’t know, it is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving the culture of the Donauschwaben people. (I wrote all about who the Donauschwaben are and how the club in Cincinnati came to be in this recent blog post.)

From 2012 to 2016, I volunteered a lot of my time at the Donauschwaben. It started out as managing and maintaining the club’s website but then my responsibilities grew to include managing the Facebook and Twitter page, a bi-monthly upcoming events e-newsletter in addition to the organization’s quarterly newsletter, Der Adler.

A version of the following story, written by me, was originally printed in the Autumn 2014 edition of Der Adler. If you want a more personal account of what Donauschwaben Oktoberfest is like, Caroline and I discuss it in our recent podcast episode titled “The One With the Oktoberfest Gemütlichkeit”.

I hope you consider coming out to support the Donauschwaben and, if you do, perhaps you’ll see us there.

Bringing a Bavarian Tradition to Cincinnati, Ohio

By: Joe T. Ludwig

(Originally published in the Autumn 2014 edition of Der Adler. Minor edits have been made to reflect this year’s details.)

There are at least a dozen Oktoberfest celebrations between August and Oktober throughout Cincinnati. These festivals range from small church festivals to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, the biggest Oktoberfest outside of Munich. But every year, one Oktoberfest attempts to stand out from the rest.

The Donauschwaben Oktoberfest in Colerain Township is certainly not the biggest Oktoberfest in Cincinnati but with live entertainment, homemade food and desserts, and over 25 beers on draft, the festival strives to bring an authentic experience to Cincinnati—a goal that without any doubt they have accomplished over the last 30 years.

A BAVARIAN TRADITION

Oktoberfest started in 1810 when Prince Ludwig I invited the citizen of Munich to his wedding on the fields in front of the city gate. The wedding reception blossomed into a two-week open-air festival that was so well received it became an annual event. Each year, additional exhibits were added until it became the major annual German fall festival celebrating harvest time and the arrival of the fall season.

Today, over 200 years later, the citizens of Munich—and the world—still celebrate his marriage in a 14-day festival known as Oktoberfest. Each year, over seven million visitors drink 14 million liters of beer and they consume more than 300,000 pairs of pork sausages, 600,000 roasted chickens, and more than 60,000 roasted pork knuckles. The only breweries that can participate in Oktoberfest are those that brew their beer within the city limits of Munich and follow the Reinheitsgebot or German Beer Purity Law, which limits the ingredients used in the production of beer to water, barley, yeast, and hops.

The festival is known as the largest in the world. It has become so huge that they have to start setting up in July, two months before the actual festival.

“AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE”

The Donauschwaben Oktoberfest is not nearly as big as the one in Munich — nor does it host as many people. But it was created to bring the popular Bavarian tradition and German Gemütlichkeit to a city that is already heavily influenced by German culture.

“Our goal has—and always will be—to bring the most authentic Oktoberfest experience to Cincinnati,” said John “Hansi” Weissmann, co-chairman of the Donauschwaben’s Oktoberfest.

Year after year the festival offers Cincinnati an experience that you would usually have to travel to Germany to enjoy. This year, they will have 26 imported and domestic beers on draft including favorites such as Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner, and Spaten. It will also offer many homemade meals such as pit-roasted Bavarian pig and chicken, German sausage, stuffed cabbage, goulash with Spätzle (noodles), and tortes and pastries.

Additionally, it will include live entertainment from the Donauschwaben dance groups, the Enzian Schuhplattler group, the annual log sawing contest, a car show (Sunday only), and live music from the Alpen Echos, Cincinnati Schnapps, duo Rheingold, and more.

“TRULY BLESSED”

An event as large as the Donauschwaben’s Oktoberfest is only successful because of its volunteers and the Donauschwaben has a lot of great volunteers who help make this event possible.

“A lot of time and effort by a lot of people — too many to name — plays a role in making our Oktoberfest such a success every year,” Mr. Weissmann said. “Our club is truly blessed to have members who make an event like this so nice for everyone. We could not have such a successful event without the help and support of every single person who volunteers their time to this event.”

The 30th Annual Donauschwaben Oktoberfest is will take place on September 30, Oktober 1, and 2 at I-275 and Colerain Avenue. For more information about the Donauschwaben Oktoberfest, click here.

Joe, Caroline, and Joe's dad at the Donauschwaben Oktoberfest.

Getting dressed up for the Donauschwaben Oktoberfest.

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