You don’t have to be from Munich to attend these delicious German events.
The Oktoberfest tradition dates back to 1810 when German Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12th and invited the citizens of Munich, Germany to watch horse races in celebration. The royal family decided to continue the races in the following years, slowly gaining the event’s momentum. The 1811 festival included an agricultural show that still continues every three years in Munich. Beer was introduced as an Oktoberfest staple in 1818.
Today, Oktoberfest is considered the world’s largest festival, with more than 6 million people attending the event in Bavaria alone. A few changes have been made — for example the typical beer served is no longer Märzen lagers but a lighter breed — but joyful eating remains a key feature.
Calling All Beer Enthusiasts
The fun begins this weekend, October 3rd and 4th, from 11am until midnight at Centro Kolbi Parque Viva in Ciruelas, Alajuela. The Oktober BeerFest is an event designed to allow visitors a chance to try artisanal and international beers while eating German food and listening to great music.
This year, the third edition of the BeerFest, will include even more space for concerts as well as an area for beer-themed games such as Pong and DasBoot.
Follow Oktober BeerFest on Instagram, and get excited for the upcoming Beer-topia.
Tickets are ₡10,000 for general admission and ₡15,000 for VIP access. Purchase ahead of time at Boleteria.cr, Hooligans, Centros Servimás, Stiefel Pub or Artisan Brew Pub.
Family Fun in San Ramon
Then, get your fill of bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad and of course beverages on October 10th.
Stop by the Magallanes Community Center between 1 and 5pm on October 10th to enjoy delicious German food crafted by Chef Gringo Andy. This year’s menu includes: homemade bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad and Apfelkuchen (German apple cake) — all included with the ₡6,000 entrance fee. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase.
The German festival will benefit San Ramón’s Community Action Alliance (CAA).
About CAA
CAA is a service group led by expats in San Ramon, Costa Rica. In their own words:
[quote_box_center]“Like many community groups, ours was formed by a group of people with a specific set of interests. In our case it was a group of expats who were frustrated with the challenges of operating small businesses in Costa Rica. In August of 2009 we began organizing monthly mixers intended to share information, best practices, and referrals and adopted the name the Small Business Alliance of Costa Rica.”[/quote_box_center]
The organization is responsible for countless activities around San Ramon including Spanish conversation courses, gardening clubs, business networking meet-ups, choir, band, pickleball… the list goes on.
For a complete list of CAA’s community outreach programs, please visit Action Alliance CR online or find them on Facebook.