Vish You Vere Beer: Oktoberfest In Carlsbadistan

The 28th Annual Carlsbad Oktoberfest was presented by the Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at Holiday Park in Carlsbadistan. Aside from the traditional German fare, this year’s festivities also included a family friendly element with a pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating contest, inflatable jump-houses, and an antique fire-engine for the kids.

Bands rotated on the stage in the gazebo throughout the day, but the lederhosen-clad headliners Roger and The Villagers didn’t take the stage until the early evening. Once they did the oom-pahs of “Eins, Zwei, G’Suffa” and the Chicken Dance could be heard across Holiday Park.

But who’s kidding who, Oktoberfest is really about getting sloshed in a public park with family and friends and as one Oktoberfest attendee pointed out, “The chicken dance was good, but the Beck’s Oktoberfest beer was even better.”

Follow the jump for the rest of the story and more photos.
Flowing from taps on the side of Budweiser truck near the Oak Street end of the park, the beer line kept a steady pace. Food, beverage and activity tickets were available for a dollar a piece at select business before Oktoberfest, or at booths onsite. Things were a pretty good deal—Beer (6 tickets), Apple Strudel, Pretzels, and Pumpkin Pie (3 tickets), and on down the line. According to Rotary, 100 percent of the proceeds from the event go to benefit “the youth and those in need in our community.”

We left before dark, but did notice Carlsbadistan’s finest were in full force to keep the crowd in check. With a mobile headquarters set up on the South end of the lawn and motorcycle cops stationed at Chestnut end of Holiday Park, we’re guessing the cops weren’t going to let any easy DUIs slip by.

Roger and the Villages bumping out all the hits.

The only thing that seemed to regulate the beer consumption were the lines to get tickets.

While their parents were drinking beer, the kids were having their own party in the bouncy bounce.