Gatlinburg is a city with a deep and rich cultural history. German food and music are a big part of that. Because of this, Ober Gatlinburg celebrates each year with Bavarian style festivals during the entire month of October. Oktoberfest features traditional Bavarian food, music and beer, and is always a load of fun for visitors and locals alike. This year, Oktoberfest will be the 201st anniversary of the original festival held in Munich, Germany. Although the very first Oktoberfest was not actually a festival, but the wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Bavaria, it included beer, horse racing, food, music and dancing, and Ober Gatlinburg can’t help but continue the tradition!
For some foot pounding, hand clapping music, join in with one of the festival’s favorites- -The Bavarian Fun Makers Band. The Bavarian Fun Makers Band will charm audiences (while donning authentic German costumes), with traditional Bavarian folk dances, yodels, sing-a-longs, oompah music and schuhplattling. The group has been performing for Oktoberfest since the 1980s, so they are sure to impress! They will be performing all during October as follows:
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 2, 4 and 6 pm
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 1 pm
Of course, what would great Bavarian music be without a cold bier and a warm schnitzel? There will be special Oktoberfest Biers available during the festival, and you won’t want to miss the sauerkraut, German wurst, pretzels, and strudel. There will certainly be no shortage of food, beer, music, and dancing, but Ober Gatlinburg also has many other attractions to enjoy.
The Amaze’n Maze is the newest feature at Ober Gatlinburg. Both adults and children can try their hand at being the next Magellan, while they wind their way through the 4,600 square foot labyrinth and compete against their family, friends and the clock. There is also a Wildlife Encounter, which includes the Municipal Black Bear Habitat and Birds of Prey exhibit, along with an ice skating rink, a 120 passenger aerial tramway, the Alpine Slide, and three water raft rides. There are several other activities to enjoy at Ober Gatlinburg, and for those who want a little more relaxation, there are plenty of shops, a restaurant, and a lounge.
This October, Ober is the place to be! For more information about Oktoberfest and other things going on at Ober Gatlinburg, visit their website at www.obergatlinburg.com, or call 865-436-5423.
Check out this video of the Schuhplattler, a traditional Bavarian dance: