OKTOBERFEST IN ORANGE COUNTY

When your dancing shoes first land inside Oktoberfest, the first thing you notice is the music. Oom-pah-pah German classics and party songs float through the air, pushing aromas of bratwurst, pretzels and potato pancakes past your smiling face. A gleam in your eye finds the beer line, and before you know it, you're flapping some serious wing and shaking your thing during the chicken dance, clap clap clap clap.

Anaheim is steeped in German heritage, so it’s only natural we have two Oktoberfests.

By far the largest and longest running fest in SoCal is put on by The Phoenix Club near the stadiums. The club was founded in 1960 to preserve German culture, customs and language and is open year round for events, classes and also has a great German pub, the Bierstube. One step into their festhalle tent, you'll immediately be transported to Munich. What makes the Phoenix Club unique is the broad age range of festgoers. From kids to the most experienced, don't be shy about meeting new people. I still recall the year I built a forty-cup pyramid with a table of German ladies. Don't forget they have an air rifle shooting range complete with prizes and a playground for the kids. Fest goes September 18 through Halloween every weekend.

History is also ingrained within Anaheim Brewery, who has hosted their own Oktoberfest for the past five years. Their two-session Oktoberfest covers all of the eating, drinking and music you can handle. Food includes bratwurst, pretzels and Anaheim Brewery's Oktoberfest lager, which was recreated from a 100-year-old recipe found in the Paulaner brewery in Germany. Their fest happens twice, October 7th and 14th from 4-10pm.

If you prefer to keep the party near the beach, I recommend Huntington Beach's Old World Oktoberfest.

Old World Huntington Beach has been host of Orange County's biggest party since 1977! This year's Oktoberfest promises to be the best celebration yet, offering authentic German food (voted "Best Bratwurst" in California), imported German beers, German bands straight from Germany, and other festivities, competitions, games and more. So come on down and experience the best Oktoberfest celebration in the World - Old World Huntington Beach. (September 10- October 29)