Hinesville will celebrate its edition of a 200-year-old German festival for the second time this weekend.
“This year marks the 200th anniversary of the original Oktoberfest, which started as a royal Bavarian wedding in 1810,” said Vicki Davis, Hinesville Downtown Development Authority executive director.
Davis said an average of about 5,000 people attended Hinesville’s first Oktoberfest last year, and a similar crowd is expected this year. HDDA has partnered with Fort Stewart Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Zum Rosenhof German Restaurant to organize the local event. Additional sponsors include David’s Home Inspections and GeoVista Credit Union, she said.
“In spite of frigid weather and our Fort Stewart troops being deployed in 2009, the crowds were very good last year and we are looking for an even larger crowd this year,” said Zum Rosenhof owner Anka Hinze. “It is very important to us that our community, especially those associated with the military, can enjoy and celebrate Oktoberfest without the burden of paying an entrance fee. And we will continue to keep it a free event for as long as possible.”
Hinze is originally from Bad Kreuznach, Germany. She and her husband, David Hinze, opened Zum Rosenhof in 2007. Hinze said managing the restaurant and helping to organize Oktoberfest are two ways she can share her German heritage with her community.
Oktoberfest will begin at 4 p.m. Friday with the ceremonial tapping of the first keg at 6 p.m. in a Festhalle tent with a traditional Biergarten and live entertainment. The event will continue Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. with a Markplatz (marketplace), a Kinder play area and food vendors offering German cuisine and other foods in downtown Hinesville.
Festival entertainers include yodeling comedienne Manuela Horn and regional rock band Liquid Ginger, as well as AlpenSound and The Europa Band.
“We were able to get a larger tent this year,” Davis said. She said the stage will be placed inside the tent this year.
HDDA is also hosting a “Deutschland Über Alles” exhibit of old German culture now through Nov. 5 at the Old Liberty County Jail & Museum located at 302 South Main St. in Hinesville. The exhibit will be open to the public from 1-4 p.m. Saturday during Oktoberfest and from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“(The exhibit) allows you to travel through the many parts of Germany,” Davis said.
She said there is a strong German presence here in Liberty County and local exhibitors worked hard to set up the displays.
An opening reception to meet exhibitors will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday. Admission is free and donations are accepted. For more information, call (912) 877-4332 or e-mail discoverdowntown@coastalnow.net.
“This year marks the 200th anniversary of the original Oktoberfest, which started as a royal Bavarian wedding in 1810,” said Vicki Davis, Hinesville Downtown Development Authority executive director.
Davis said an average of about 5,000 people attended Hinesville’s first Oktoberfest last year, and a similar crowd is expected this year. HDDA has partnered with Fort Stewart Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Zum Rosenhof German Restaurant to organize the local event. Additional sponsors include David’s Home Inspections and GeoVista Credit Union, she said.
“In spite of frigid weather and our Fort Stewart troops being deployed in 2009, the crowds were very good last year and we are looking for an even larger crowd this year,” said Zum Rosenhof owner Anka Hinze. “It is very important to us that our community, especially those associated with the military, can enjoy and celebrate Oktoberfest without the burden of paying an entrance fee. And we will continue to keep it a free event for as long as possible.”
Hinze is originally from Bad Kreuznach, Germany. She and her husband, David Hinze, opened Zum Rosenhof in 2007. Hinze said managing the restaurant and helping to organize Oktoberfest are two ways she can share her German heritage with her community.
Oktoberfest will begin at 4 p.m. Friday with the ceremonial tapping of the first keg at 6 p.m. in a Festhalle tent with a traditional Biergarten and live entertainment. The event will continue Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. with a Markplatz (marketplace), a Kinder play area and food vendors offering German cuisine and other foods in downtown Hinesville.
Festival entertainers include yodeling comedienne Manuela Horn and regional rock band Liquid Ginger, as well as AlpenSound and The Europa Band.
“We were able to get a larger tent this year,” Davis said. She said the stage will be placed inside the tent this year.
HDDA is also hosting a “Deutschland Über Alles” exhibit of old German culture now through Nov. 5 at the Old Liberty County Jail & Museum located at 302 South Main St. in Hinesville. The exhibit will be open to the public from 1-4 p.m. Saturday during Oktoberfest and from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“(The exhibit) allows you to travel through the many parts of Germany,” Davis said.
She said there is a strong German presence here in Liberty County and local exhibitors worked hard to set up the displays.
An opening reception to meet exhibitors will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday. Admission is free and donations are accepted. For more information, call (912) 877-4332 or e-mail discoverdowntown@coastalnow.net.