GOOD LOOKS

oktoberfest

Historians say that Oktoberfest originated in 1810 as a wedding feast over in Bavaria. Nowadays, it is a 16 day festival held each year in the Theresewiese meadow and is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. And despite the name, Oktoberfest is held during the last two weeks of September and  is from the 16 September to the 2 October 2010. So why not invite a few friends over and have your own festival with plenty of food, beer, music and merrymaking.

INVITATIONS

Send out this image within email invitation with the party details below. 

You may also wish to ask your guests to arrive in traditional German dress, which are lederhosen for the men and dirndl for the women.

DECORATIONS

Hold your party outside as they do in Munich and set up long trestle with benches for your guests mimicing German beer houses. The traditional colours of Bavaria are white and cobalt blue. Therefore use these colours in streamers, balloons or tableware to help create an authentic ambiance.

IN GOOD COMPANY SHOP
Giant Balloons

Available in white and blue

R35 each

Paper Daisies

Available in white and blue

R20 each

Cobalt Blue and White Striped Table Runners

2.5 x 1.5m

R25 each for hire

Use giant beer glasses as vases and full with small bunches of white and yellow flowers. Tightly packed chrysanthemums are perfect! Tie pretty ribbon bows around the handles.

Create napkin bundles by wrapping bamboo cutlery in oversized napkins and tie with pretty ribbon.

Petersham Ribbon

Cyan Blue R5 per metre

Aquamarine R8 per metre

Napkins on a roll

100% cotton napkins

R125 for 25

Bamboo Cutlery

Forks, knives and spoons

R2 each

MENU

Cook up traditional German food, and go overboard in planning your quantities as everyone will definitely eat their full, and some more!

Your menu should include, among other items, German sausages like bratwurst and bierwurst served with a crispy bread roll and mustard. Other common accompaniments are rye bread, soft pretzels, hot German potato salad, sauerkraut, sweet and sour cabbage and German-style chicken.

Apple Strudel and Black Forest Cake are both traditional and popular desserts.

One of the most important elements of any Oktoberfest party is beer, specifically German beer. Purchase a keg or two or select a variety of bottled German labels for your party. Serve the brews in German beer steins for a truly authentic experience.

Decorate with harlequin paper flags.

FUN AND GAMES

Play traditional German music during your party. There are many CD compilations available that are specifically for Oktoberfest parties. Play the music loud enough to make your party festive, but not so loud as to drown out conversation.

Team up your guests for some drinking games:

Beer Race

Fill each guest’s hand with a loaded stein and have them race to a finish line. The person to finish with the most beer left in his stein wins the race. Then he can drink it!

Boat Race

Divide your guests up into two even teams with each guest having a full glass of beer, then start the race with the person at the front of each line downing their beer. Only once the beer is finished and the empty galss has been placed on their head can the next person in the line start drinking hid beer. This is done until the last person finishes his beer, and the team that finishes first are the winners.

Prost!

At some point in the evening, everyone should raise their beer steins and give the traditional toast "Ein Prosit," which is German for "to your health!”

FAVOURS

Make up some paper rosettes or button badges saying "Ein Prosit" and distribute these to your guests to remind them to keep toasting and drinking.


IMAGES: TCHIBO