OktoberFest | Peoria, IL

Event Website: https://oktoberfestpeoria.com/

Event Schedule: https://oktoberfestpeoria.com/event-schedule-2022/

Peoria Oktoberfest: a brief local history.
In an effort to assist in the development of the RiverFront, the Peoria Park District took on the challenge of creating high quality, family-oriented events that would benefit the Peoria area and enhance the quality of life within the community.

The Peoria Park District and German-American Central Society united their efforts in 1996 to bring the first of the “signature events” planned for the RiverFront. Peoria’s Oktoberfest” is the Midwestern equivalent of the Munich Oktoberfest.

What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is the world’s longest-running wedding celebration. It began with the Royal Wedding on 12 October 1810.

Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. The fields were renamed Theresienwiese (“Theres’a Fields”) to honor the Crown Princess, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to “Wiesn”. The closing ceremony at the Theresienwiese included a horse race and a veritable feast for the whole of Bavaria; the following year the decision to repeat the horse races gave rise to the origin of the Oktoberfest tradition. It is here that the history of the Oktoberfest tradition begins, an annual celebration that since then, punctuates the life of Munich and Germany, as a permanent and punctual fixture, except on 24 occasions when it was cancelled due to wars or epidemics.

THE BASICS
What are those dresses the ladies are wearing? How do you sing a proper Ein Prosit? What’s the deal with these buttons? Fear not—we’ve got you covered with the basics of Oktoberfest.

Oooompah!

TRADITIONS
While the decades have changed since our beginning, the traditions remain the same.

THE SONGS
Our favorite german drinking songs are a big part of the Gemütlichkeit! Learn the song names, lyrics and more  HERE

Or listen to these Oktoberfest playlists to get you in the spirit!  SPOTIFY //  APPLE MUSIC

The lederhosen
ˈlā-dər-ˌhō-zᵊn : leather shorts often with suspenders worn especially in Bavaria… and La Crosse

Traditionally worn by the royal family and grenadier corps, these leather shorts are both stylish and breathable. In recent years, common fest-goers have donned their own lederhosen to get the true Oktoberfest experience.

The dirndl
ˈdərn-dᵊl : a dress style with tight bodice, short sleeves, low neck, and gathered skirt

Dirndl come in all styles, from the waschdirndl for everyday wear to the festtagsdirndl for special occasions. Whatever the style, careful how you tie your apron, ladies. The apron bow lets everybody know your marital status and availability. Tie it on the right-hand side and you’re taken. Wearing it on the left means you’re single and ready to mingle. Don’t care to broadcast whether you’re in the market? Just tie it in the middle.