More than 1,000 people attended the German Cultural Society’s three-day Oktoberfest held last weekend, organizers said.
The festival took place Sept. 5-7 at the Society’s Donau Park in House Springs.
“It was probably a record crowd for our Oktoberfest,” said Gerhard Glassl, the group’s vice president. “Since the pandemic, it was definitely our biggest crowds. Since it’s spread around inside and outside our pavilion and people are coming and going, it’s hard to pin it down, but we easily passed 1,000 people over the weekend.”
Die Heimatgruppe, a young adult dance group, performs Sept. 7.
He said conditions for the event could not have been better.
“The weather was great,” Glassl said. “We had soccer games Sunday in the morning. They’re pick-up games for fun.
“Everybody enjoyed the music. They enjoyed the food. The beer is always good. We had a good variety of German beer.”
Joe Wendl, a member of the society’s executive board, said he, too, thinks it was the group’s best-ever attendance for Oktoberfest.
“It was definitely a record crowd for the three days based on the food sales,” Wendl said. “We sold 160 meals Friday, 285 Saturday and 460 Sunday. And, we sold out early.
“It was perfect weather all three days. We were very fortunate.”
The weekend’s bands included Die Spitzbuam on Sept. 5, the Wendl Band on Sept. 6 and the Deutschmeister Brass Band on Sept. 7. All three played polka music.
Members of the society’s dance groups – Kindertanzgruppe, Jugendgruppe, Die Heimatgruppe, Volkstanzgruppe and D’Frohliche Schuhplattler – performed as well.
“We appreciate everyone supporting us and for their patience, because it was a crowded weekend,” Glassl said.
Oktoberfest marked the end of the society’s activities for the season at its pavilion at Donau Park. It will hold events during the colder months at its Jefferson Hall location, 3652 S. Jefferson Ave., in St. Louis. For information, visit the German Cultural Society of St. Louis Facebook page or germanstl.org.
“Our next event at Donau Park will be our Wurstmarkt in April,” Glassl said. “Then, we’ll have our Maifest in May.”