San Clemente City Magazine Summer/Fall 2015 | Page 32

FUN FOREveryone The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest welcomes festival fans of all ages. The entertainment is non stop fun for both the young and young at heart. Kids love doing the Chicken Dance with the official Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest mascot, the Big Bear Chicken. Big Bear’s own Polka Tots perform several weekends throughout the festival, as well. And that’s all just a starter, the following are a list of children’s activities at Oktoberfest. Samson the Bull Rides On Samson the Bull (a mechanical bull) returns to Oktoberfest with his new side-kick Haley­— the Australian Shepard. Haley and Samson put on one of the best shows this side of Munich! Haley can go the full 8 seconds ­— can you? be merry • Put on your dancing shoes, because you’ll definitely want to do the Chicken Dance or Circle Dance. Grab one of our Gaudi’s (Hostesses/Hosts) and learn to polka. • Enter one of our free contests. Saw a log, hold a stein or slam an O’Doul’s. • After a few rounds of polkas, Macarana’s, or Chicken dances, go outside and take a big breath of fresh mountain air. Take a stroll down the Budenstrasse (Avenue of the Booths). The outside vendor and game area features everything from antique slot machines for purchase to handmade jewelry and candies. Have your palm read or simply enjoy an Italian Ice. Food & Bier What would a German festival be without German beer, bratwursts, sauerkraut, and apple strudel? It would not be very authentic! We pride ourselves on being one of the most authentic Oktoberfests in the United States. To that end, we use German Butchers, Bakers and Beer Makers! So bring your appetite and prepare to feast on German food and enjoy some of the very same beer that the folks in Germany relish. We offer all the German favorites from Brats, to Schweine Braten, to pretzels, to strudel. If you’re Join us on Saturday, October 31st for a halloween party German-style. The German Spooktacular features both an adult and children’s costume contest. The children’s contest begins at 3:00 pm, with participant prizes for everyone, as well top three best costumes. The adult contest is at 9:00 pm, with $1200 in cash prizes awarded this year! Sunday Family Day with half-price admission for adults and FREE for Kids! DANCE, SING, EAT AND You can’t help but participate in the fun at Oktoberfest. Sundays are family day with half-price adult admission and FREE for children 12 and under. Featured every Sunday, are the Children’s contests including Pretzel Eating and Boot Holding. Children’s contests take place at approximately 3:00 pm on Sundays and are FREE for children. German Spooktacular Halloween Contest Budenstrasse (Avenue of the Booths) & Kinder Garten The Budenstrasse features 40 plus vendors selling a variety of arts, crafts, toys, collectibles and “must have” trinkets! Also, located in the outside area is the Kinder Garten featuring bounce houses, arcade game booths, a balloon artist, face painting and airbrushed tatoos! Children’s Contests For additonal information and pre-purchase tickets, log onto www.bigbearevents.com looking for something more than German food, try the new Hans’ German Cantina offering Mexican-German fusion including the Brat Burrito and German Nachos. The Wurst Wagon features typical American including burgers, fries and soups! New for 2015 “Budenstrasse Bier Garten” “Oktoberfest Unplugged” Saw a log, hold a stein, or try a game of beer pong. All of the Oktoberfest favorite contests have been added to the Spaten Bier Garten stage with several additional contests being held throughout the day. And, they are FREE! One Time Only – Friday, October 16th, 2015 Oktoberfest gets “Unplugged.” We invite you to an intimate evening of fine German dining paired with a variety of beers and spirits. You will be treated to an inside look of the history and early beginnings of Oktoberfest. This package includes Friday evening’s festivities featuring a five-course German pairing dinner, live entertainment, a commemorative one-liter stein, an intimate evening of fun, and as a bonus ... Saturday and Sunday event admission. Enjoy an afternoon in the new Budenstrasse Bier Garten, featuring additional outdoor seating and beer service. More FREE Contests Local Sundays In celebration of our 45th Anniversary and to thank the Big Bear Community for its years of support, every Sunday is now Local’s Day with FREE admission for Big Bear Valley Locals on Sundays (must show two forms of local I.D.)