The lively sounds of an oompah band, colourful dirndls, lederhosen, and the clink of beer glasses will bring a taste of Bavaria to Richmond for its first Oktoberfest.
Olivia and Timo Neubauer are part of the team behind the Labour Weekend event which grew from the desire to bring some genuine German culture into the community.
The team have formed the not-for-profit Nelson Tasman German Club and Olivia says the plan is to make Oktoberfest an annual event. This year it is starting small in the Richmond Town Hall on Sunday 25 October, with the NBS City of Nelson Brass providing the oompah sounds of traditional Oktoberfest celebrations.
“We really wanted to show the community about the German side of life and embed it in the Nelson-Tasman region as hopefully something we can repeat again.”
Alongside dancing, games and entertainment, Olivia says food will be a major part of the evening. Local chefs Volker Marecek and Michael Meissner will be preparing an authentic German menu with favourites such as white sausages with sweet mustard, roasted pork with sauerkraut and dark beer sauce, a vegetarian Käsespätzle and naturally apple strudel.
Traditional dress is encouraged for the event, and Olivia says they are hoping to see plenty of dirndls and lederhosen around Richmond.
“We want it to be a really good night – good German food, a big room full of people, live music and plenty of Gemütlichkeit (good cheer).”
In keeping with Oktoberfest, locally brewed German-style beer will be on offer, though Olivia points out Oktoberfests are not all about drinking.
“We’d like to show a more well-rounded view of what Oktoberfests can look like.
“Hopefully this will be the first of many so people who come from Germany or are interested in German culture can experience things together or celebrate special types of events like Oktoberfest.”
An MC will keep the crowd entertained, before a DJ takes over later in the evening with more modern German music and a chance to hit the dance floor.
The event which runs from 5pm to 9pm on Sunday, 25 October. Details are on The Nelson Tasman German Club’s Oktoberfest event page.
