Featured Image: Oktoberfest – by Craig Roberts
Beer-Tag & Stein Hoisting Championships coming to free festival presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
BETHLEHEM, PA—The inaugural Stein Hoisting Championships, Weiner Dog Parade, DRAGTOBERFEST drag show, Flame Nouveau belly dancers and 3-on-3 Beer-Tag are among the many new highlights guests can enjoy for free when they attend the 8th Annual Oktoberfest at SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) Oct. 5–7 & 12-14.
For the first time in the festival’s history, a cash prize is on the line as Molly’s Irish Grille and Sports Pub presents the Oktoberfest Stein Hoisting Championships. Known as Masskrugstemmen in Germany, competitors are tasked with holding two full steins of beer in front of them for as long as possible. While the U.S. record is 21 minutes, Oktoberfest participants must only beat out each other to win the festival’s grand prize of $500 cash and a $100 Molly’s gift card. The competition runs every hour on the hour during the festival; additional prizes will be awarded to runners up.
Kicking off the first weekend of Oktoberfest is the 2nd Annual Beer-Lympics presented by Lehigh Valley Sports Leagues, Oct. 5-6, 12 p.m., where teams of five fight to take home the gold in games of barrel rolling, Kong Pong, speed quarters and more! This all-day event begins with team check-ins in the early afternoon and concludes with the final event taking place at the Levitt Pavilion stage from 8-10 p.m. Players must be 21 or older; cost is $125 per five-member team. All team players receive shirt from Lehigh Valley Sports Leagues and stein mugs to use throughout the day. Prizes will be awarded to the highest scoring teams in each event, with a Grand Champion prize awarded following the final event Oct. 6.
Ahead of the popular Dachshund Races Oct. 6-7 & 13-14, 3 p.m., catch the inaugural Weiner Dog Parade Oct. 6, 2 p.m. Some adorable participating pups will be in costume and, just like Munich’s Oktoberfest, King and Queen Weiner Dogs will be crowned.
Highlighting the attractions on Oktoberfest’s second weekend is Flame Nouveau, a fire dance cabaret with a vintage belly dance flair that sizzles with creative performances set to hot jazz and gypsy swing music. Dancers perform Oct. 12, 7:15, 8, 8:45 & 9:30 p.m. with fire hoops, fans, swords, staves and more, evoking the drama and mystique of an old-time cabaret show.
The entertainment continues with DRAGTOBERFEST, Oct. 12, 8:30 p.m., as some of the Lehigh Valley’s favorite drag queens serve up Oktoberfest-themed performances in the Sam Adams tent! It’ll be a show filled with dancing, ballads and comedy featuring Elektra Fearce St. James, Alexis Givenchy, Clan Ann: Carol Ann & Sharon Ann Husbands, Georgia Versace Couture and more!
Join in on the action with the brand-new game of skill, 3-on-3 Beer-Tag, Oct. 12, 8 p.m.
With one hand latched onto a stein full of beer, participants will try to capture the other team’s flags while attempting not to spill. The competition is free, but teams must register in advance at www.steelstacks.org/oktoberfest.
Returning this year are four biergartens featuring more than 25 different beers by D.G. Yuengling & Son, Sam Adams Brewery, Weyerbacher Brewing Company and more. Each biergarten features its own unique theme and entertainment, plus fun games like bean bags and quiots. Other Oktoberfest highlights include The Brewers Village presented by Weis Markets where attendees can sample a diverse array of beers crafted by Pennsylvania’s award-winning breweries Oct. 12-13 and the Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K Oct. 7, 10:30 a.m.
Now in its eighth year, Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) is a free festival that features German food, beer and live music, local artisans and more! Festival dates are Oct. 5–7 & 12-14. Hours are Fridays, 5-10 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-10 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.steelstacks.org/oktoberfest.
Information and image provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
