Oktoberfest tradition alive and well in Greenwood Lake

Nearly rained out on Oct. 14, the Elks Lodge in Greenwood Lake held the first of a two-day Oktoberfest event. And day two, Oct. 15, featured multiple-Grammy-Award-winning Jimmy Sturr and his orchestra that gave the full house of outdoor attendees in the pavilion more than their money’s worth of great music.

Greenwood Lake’s Oktoberfest event is known for its family atmosphere, filled with games for both kids and adults, including axe-throwing and log-sawing, with plenty of beer drinking and bratwurst accompaniments. While some of the vendors were forced indoors on Saturday to avoid the steady rain that fell, all were outside on Sunday and counted additional food trucks, artisan crafts, wearables, and 50-50s. The locally loved Oktoberfest returned to its roots to bring guests more entertainment, more vendors, more beer, and more “Prost!” (Cheers!) than ever before. Under the direction of the Greenwood Lakes Elks Lodge on Chestnut Street, this year’s feast showcased a revitalized and elevated experience for all ages.

In 1810 in the Bavarian region of Germany the future King Ludwig got married and invited the entire city to attend the celebration in Munich, which included a large feast and horse races, and ample adult beverages. A number of U.S. cities, including Greenwood Lake, hold Oktoberfests modeled on the original in Munich. These celebrations, which draw visitors from throughout the Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey, feature German beer and German food, are an attempt to reproduce the Bavarian sense of gemütlichkeit, or friendliness.

Discover more about the upcoming events and family activities this fall: Halloween Festival; Haunt the Lake House Decoration Contest; Centennial Casino Night; Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting in November; and lots more on VillageofGreenwoodLake.org.