Oktoberfest Celebrations Around OC
Oktoberfest is the time of year when revelers far and wide can celebrate the goodness of beer. Fortunately, you don't have to be German or make a pilgrimage to Bavaria to enjoy this 16-day autumn festival. Orange County party-goers don't have to look far to find the best Oktoberfest celebrations on this side of the globe. So grab your favorite beer stein and lederhosen and enjoy some live oompah music at one of these local Oktoberfest events.
The Phoenix Club
1340 S. Sanderson Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 563-4166
www.thephoenixclub.com
The Phoenix Club in Anaheim has been celebrating Oktoberfest for more than five decades. This German cultural center serves authentic German food, has a great selection of German beers on tap and will feature traditional oompah bands each day of Oktoberfest. Come ready with your own stein and be prepared to share your table with strangers. You're almost sure to find some new drinking buddies at one of the most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations in Southern California. The celebration kicks off on Sept. 13 and runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 27.
Old World German Restaurant
7561 Center Ave., Suite 49
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 895-8020
Sept. 8 through Oct. 27
www.oldworld.ws
This Huntington Beach restaurant has been celebrating Oktoberfest for 36 years. Party with the German American Brass Band while enjoying great beer and the best bratwurst in Southern California. This year, you'll even get to dance to the music of Manfred Haas, a world-renowned German accordion player. If that's not enough, Old World organizes an annual Oktoberfest parade on Sept. 29 and offers Kinderfest for kids every Sunday. This year's Oktoberfest festival at Old World starts Sept. 8 and runs through Oct. 27.
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Oktoberfest Orange County
111 W. Avenida Palizada
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 381-1420
Oct. 19
www.oktoberfestorangecounty.com
Be German for a day on Oct. 19 when San Clemente's Old City Plaza converts itself into an Oktoberfest haven. You and your friends can pull up the lederhosen and enjoy live German music, bratwursts with sauerkraut and, of course, German beer. This first annual event is hosted by Fun Germans and will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alpine Village
833 W. Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90502
(310) 327-4384
Sept. 13 through Oct. 27
www.alpinevillagecenter.com
The Alpine Village has been home to Oktoberfest since 1968. The festivities bring out tens of thousands of party-goers each year during the celebration. The Alpine Village creates an authentic Oktoberfest experience, complete with oompah bands flown in from Germany, homemade bratwurst and German beer. This year, brews on tap include Warsteiner, Konig Ludwig and a rotating selection of local craft beers. Oktoberfest at the Alpine Village will be held every Friday and Saturday between Sept. 13 and Oct. 27 and on Sunday from Sept. 15 through Oct. 26.
Jagerhaus
2525 E. Ball Road
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 520-9500
www.jagerhaus.net
If your diet for this celebration consists of mainly beer and bratwurst, consider expanding your German palate with some authentic cuisine. Jagerhaus is a local German restaurant that will serve as a quiet getaway from all of the oompah music and loud revelers. Stop in for some breakfast, lunch or dinner and dine on some tasty schnitzels or liverwurst sandwiches. To stay in the spirit of the season, check out Jagerhaus's assorted German bottled wines or ask the server for one of many imported German beers.
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Truc Dever is a freelance writer covering all things Orange County. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
