This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
Tussey Mountain’s OktoberFest will make its return from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. The festival will take place at the mountain’s amphitheater and will include traditional food, music and beer.
Oktoberfest originated in Munich, Germany, on Oct. 12, 1810. The event was originally held to honor the wedding of King Louis I and Princess Therese von Sachsen Hildenburg. However, the event has developed into a two-week-long festival that has beer tents, parades and people in traditional lederhosen.
Many different towns and cities in the world have adopted the Oktoberfest tradition. Tussey Mountain in Boalsburg has held its own festival for close to 10 years. The amphitheater is decorated with pumpkins and hay, and people dress in their lederhosen for the event.
Tussey Mountain’s Beer Garden will have different types of traditional Oktoberfest beers from Hacker Pschorr, Paulaner, Hofbräu and Warsteiner, as well as domestic beers.
Along with traditional beer, OktoberFest will feature authentic Oktoberfest foods from all over Europe.
“Bangers and mash, brats (bratwurst), kielbasa, sauerkraut, haluski, pierogies and pretzels,” said Aaron Weyman, director of marketing and recreation at Tussey Mountain, when discussing what food vendors would be serving.
Tussey Mountain’s OktoberFest will also include live traditional performances from two bands — the Bavarian Stompers and the Polka Brothers. Performances will start at 6 p.m. with a short break between the two bands’ performances.
The Bavarian Stompers are a local Centre County band that has played at Tussey Mountain’s OktoberFest for multiple years. They play traditional polka music and perform throughout Pennsylvania.
The Polka Brothers are from New York. This year will mark their second time performing at Tussey Mountain’s OktoberFest. They provide a performance filled with traditional polka music and modern songs with a polka feel.
“It’s sung and performed in style with the accordions and oompah music,” Weyman said.
Tickets are available for preorder for $10. At the gate, tickets will be $15 per person.
“Seeing people coming out in their lederhosen and authentic German ware and seeing people having fun — it really is a fun event,” said Weyman.
