With summer coming to an end and fall quickly approaching, Boulder’s Oktoberfest celebration formed one big party in Central Park last weekend. Kicking off on Friday, Sept. 20, Oktoberfest brought authentic German culture for the community to take part. With traditional Bavarian games and cuisine, from hammerschlagen to stein-hoisting, attendees could enjoy the weekend drinking beer, eating Bratwurst, and dancing to polka music.
Stein hoisting, a popular activity at Oktoberfest where participants compete in holding out beer glasses full of water until one person is left standing. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Oktoberfest attendees walk around the festival and try German beer Paulaner München on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Friends enjoy beer, socialize and play the traditional German game of nail driving called Hammerschlagen at Oktoberfest in Central Park. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Turkey legs, corn and various authentic dishes were served from food tents throughout the park. Here, attendees condiment and season their delicacies. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
For efficient service, Oktoberfest attendees could buy tokens to collect their beer without waiting in long lines or hassles. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
The Jägermeister bartender pours shots at Boulder’s Oktoberfest. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
The Boulder Biergarten Babes wear traditional German outfits for their Oktoberfest performances in Central Park. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Friends celebrate Oktoberfest and enjoy drinking German beer in Central Park. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Oktoberfest attendees trade their different German beers to taste and try. In the background, a stein-hoisting competition tests participants’ arm strength. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
The last contestant standing in the women’s stein-hoisting competition wins after two minutes and twenty-five seconds. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Authentic food is a major part of Oktoberfest with many food tents offering traditional dishes. At this pretzel stand a food vendor adds a dipping sauce for attendees to taste. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Oktoberfest attendees are entertained watching the stein-hoisiting competition in Boulder’s Central Park. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Polka Folka, a Denver based folk and polka band, perform a dynamic show of common Bavarian party songs for Oktoberfest attendees to dance along to. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
In the hammerschlagen tents, friends compete in the nail driving game by tossing up the hammer, catching it, and accurately hitting the nail on the wood. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
A vendor of authentic German beer-braised bratwurst sandwiches adds condiments to a customer’s order with a popular brat sauce at Oktoberfest in Central Park. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Oktoberfest attendees explore German food tents to buy pretzels and other authentic pastries. Sept. 21, 2019. (Juliana Abbrescia/CU Independent)
Attendees walk through the Boulder Oktoberfest entrance at Central Park. Sept. 21, 2019.
Contact CU Independent Staff Photographer Juliana Abbrescia at juliana.abbrescia@colorado.edu
