Oktoberfest Las Olas 2015

I drove by at 2:10pm (it started at 2) and there was no-one inside and a few people online. I drove by again at 2:50; no line and only a handful of people. There was a heavy beat and some dance/house music playing. Just another beer drinking excuse in Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale Octoberfest 2015 2:50pm

Groupon has tickets for $10 if you have nothing better to do.

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The sponsor of the original Oktoberfest Las Olas, Harald Neuwig, has gone out of business and has left town. This year, it looks like the people from Himmarshee are putting on a drinking excuse; they don't even say that they're going to have any food. $20 admission gets you 1 12oz tap beer and the right to mingle with other cretins dumb enough to pay $20.

They're spelling it with a 'c', Octoberfest, which should vouch for the authenticity here. This year they're having it in Huizenga Park, mainly because there's an Art Show on Las Olas that same day.

There will be some live music and I'm sure you'll be able to buy some overpriced food. Do I sound skeptical?

Oktoberfest in Fort Lauderdale is just 1 day, Saturday October 17. Rain or shine.

Another insulting event in Fort Lauderdale.

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If you're looking for the "Oktoberfest" on Las Olas; you're too late. But you didn't miss much. Last years event was held on the Lawn where O'Hara's used to be; was a paid event ($32 general admission) and was held in a fenced-in Huizenga Park. The $32 got you into the park and 1 free draft beer.

None of the German restaurants in town attended or sponsored the event; they had a circa-2002 website which didn't even provide basic info about the event.

What's really hilarious is that they had a page outlining their "Stein Hosting Contest"; it's spelled that way several times; obviously they mean Hoisting. They also spell Oktoberfest "Octoberfest". So the event is being run by people who have zero idea what Oktoberfest is all about.

Tidbit from Event Web Site

This is what happens when you hire a Spanish guy from Miami to promote a German event in Fort Lauderdale.

Photos 2014

I didn't want to pay the admission to drink Budweiser (the Bud Trucks were Everywhere), but there were a surprising number of people willing to pay $30 for an event that didn't even sound very good.

Ofest 0914 1

Ofest 0914 2

Ofest 0914 3

The Event in 2012

Oktoberfest is coming to Las Olas Boulevard. At a time of year when even the birds are too bored to chip, Fritz and Franz, that other German place across from the Ambry is hosting a free Oktoberfest Celebration on the Lawn where O'Hara's used to be.

The Festivities will be held on Friday Sept 28 from 11am to Midnight, Saturday 11am to Midnight and Sunday from 12pm to 10pm.

Live music from an Austrian Band and a Bratwurst eating contest are also planned. They will also be raffling off a trip to Berlin.

One pain is that you have to buy tickets in order to buy food or beer, so you have to figure out what you want and then buy the right number of $1 tickets, otherwise you may be stuck with a lot of tickets. I got shots of the menus so you can decide in advance.

Oktoberfest menu1

Oktoberfest menu2

The food isn't at what I'd call "festival prices", it's regular restaurant price. If you want one of those big "Boot" glasses, for $30 you can get a glass and a liter of beer, which is 2 pints. Refills are $14, so it's $7 per pint for beer.

Oktoberfest beer

I went on Friday afternoon and it was totally dead; I'm not sure why they opened so early. I just got a bratwurst on a bun for $5.

Oktoberfest Bratwurst

It was a lot of bun and a pretty small bratwurst. Frankly I'd rather have a hot dog.

The seating are picnic benches in a tent, and there's a setup for the band in the tent. I suspect they'll have a better crowd tonight and over the weekend.