| Prosit! Oktoberfest at Alpine Village |
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 Saturday, October 3, 2009Alpine Village Torrance, California Story and photos by Jace Edwards For more Oktoberfest Jace Edwards photos, click here. Oktoberfest, originally put into action by a royal Bavarian family in 1810 to mark a much-anticipated wedding, has turned into a global phenomenon that has been giving Bavarians and nonBavarians alike a reason to celebrate. Traditionally this party would last 16 days but has expanded to either 17 or 18 with the final day of the fresh brewed beer swilling on either Oct. 2 or 3. The reason for the adjustable date is dependant on where it fits with the weekend. More than six-million visitors to the traditional fair grounds in Munich, Germany, are reported every year. Originally the fair was held only in Munich, but the past 200 years have expanded the home of Oktoberfest to every corner of the globe including, for the last 42 years, Alpine Village in Torrance, Calif.  Alpine Village is located East of the 110 Freeway at Torrance Boulevard or south of the 405 Freeway on Vermont. The market and full restaurant make up a large portion of the grounds. Tucked away within the compound is the Oktoberfest Beer Garden. This Beer Garden is large enough to accommodate close to 3,000 people. For Torrance, the festival takes up the entire month of October, giving everyone from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties a chance to celebrate the new harvest and taste the fresh brew, many of which are brewed on site.The festival is not just about the beer, but it is also about the food. Bratwurst and Polish sausages are served up. My personal opinion was that the bratwurst won my taste test hands down. Piled high with mustard and onions, I feverishly gorged myself on the variety of sausage goodness. Beer prices were extremely reasonable as well. At $5 for a regular sized beer and $10 for the much larger cup, it doesn't take long to lose yourself in an inebriated state. Throw in the traditional Om Pa Pa Brass Band from Germany, and you have the sounds and sights of Munich.  Games were played. Steins and glass mugs bearing Oktoberfest logos were won. There was no discrimination to either gender. Many contests had both a men and women's category. The stein-holding competition was a crowd pleaser. As the men lined up and prepared to hold out their stein full of beer, the waiting crowd placed their bets. Was it going to be the large man with the thick forearms? One would think he would be a good horse on which to bet, but when the game started, he was one of the first out. The women's competition was more exciting as contestants did their best to hold the heavy steins. The concentration displayed in their faces and the shaking arm muscles gave notice that these women were putting it all on the line. The winner not only received the stein, but also the contents. Watching a stage full of inebriated men and women performing the Chicken Dance is truly a sight to behold. Human trains started sporadically, leading through the hundreds of drunken dancing bodies and often times ending up on stage. I found myself swept up in several of these anomalies. An accurate count of the number of festival attendees was unable to be ascertained, but it had to be near capacity. There was very little negative behavior. The isolated arguments, generally between a husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend were the only drama of mention. Security was swift to ensure everyone had a good time. Overall, Oktoberfest was an overwhelming success.I want to note that when celebrating Oktoberfest, Mardi Gras or any other occasion that consists of inebriation, please arrange accommodations or designate a driver. In our case, we had booked a room walking distance to the Alpine Village. As long as we kept to the limits we had set (in this case, retaining the ability to walk) we had a great time. Celebrate with friends but be responsible for yourself and you'll have less to deal with the day after. Please party, but do it safely. A Special Thanks to: The men and women working at Alpine Village. The security and parking personnel. The bartenders. The Om Pa Pa Brass Band who entertained us all night with traditional drinking songs and of course, the chicken dance! The concierge at the hotel. The Bavarians for brewing such good beer. My brothers and friends who accompanied me. And last but not least, my liver, for taking the abuse in stride. For more Oktoberfest Jace Edwards photos, click here. For more information, directions and prices on Alpine Village, click here. For more information on Oktoberfest, click here. | |||||||
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