Milwaukee Oktoberfest

So, people say, «How can you adequately review an Oktoberfest when you don’t even drink beer?» I say, «Look, person, who only thinks German fests are about beer, there is so much more to them than that!»
Outdoors, but in a rather large yet cozy tent, Oktoberfest was quite the event! Yes, there was beer, but there was also water and soda. Germans drink those too! The food on our side of the river was catered by Old German Beer Hall. We opted for the schnitzel with mushrooms and gravy and a giant pretzel with cheese. The schnitzel was edible, but that’s the best thing I can say about it (to be fair, food not cooked in one’s own kitchen obviously will vary in it’s consistency). The pretzel was spot on, but the cheese was onion-​y, a flavor I’m not a fan of, so I didn’t touch most of it.
The band was pretty nifty and kept feet thumping, but the sound system, to me, made any talking nearly impossible to understand.
The port-​a-​potties were inside the tent, but sequestered into a somewhat separate side tent, a nice touch! Also, they were truly some of the nicest potties I’ve ever been in, and I’ve been in some shit-​holes (pun intended)! They were spacious… seriously, with a mirror and hooks!
Unilocal sponsored a Polka-​Off, for which I was chosen to be a judge along with two other awesome Unilocalers, and it was fun watching different interpretations of what constitutes a polka. All the Unilocalers in attendance were spot-​on representatives of what it means to be a part of this awesome community. I look forward to this event in the future. Ein Prosit!
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Great Bavarian Pretzels, the smokey sausage was really good, cold 1L biers, and great music by Blaskapelle Milwaukee!
Great fest to attend!
Prost!

For a temporary Oktoberfest (versus the permanent structures at Old Heidelberg or Schwabenhof) this is a pretty good set up. There are plywood floors (no mud or dirt), heating (great for those chilly days) and a good amount of pretty clean portajohns for when you need to pee.
Pluses:
*No entry fee — nice!
*Fun bands playing Oktoberfests Greatest Hits
*Authentic and tasty food from OGBH — the schnitzel and pretzels are particularly good
*Beer! In giant mugs!
*Smoking section for those that like that kind of thing
*Big TV set up for the Packers game
Minuses:
*Tables aren’t reserved (that may change in coming years) so get there early!
*Area parking can be a challenge depending on what else is going on downtown
This Oktoberfest is just one weekend per year, so get it on the calendar to check out in 2016!

I’m a huge fan of Milwaukee Oktoberfest at the Marcus Center’s Peck Pavilion and Pere Marquette Park!
The Peck Pavilion and Old German Beer Hall tent offer live music over the 3 day event, and the Glockenspiel never disappoints!
Saz’s sells their food next to the Peck Pavilion and the Old German Beer Hall sells their food in the tent. Although I feel the food quality and value has been better the past 2 years at the Old German Beer Hall tent. I love the Hunter’s Chicken Schnitzel!
There is plenty of beer and lots of fun to be had!

Dancing squirrel where?
Wow, it’s getting better every year. I seen big improvements this year. And next year it will continue to be bigger and better I’m sure. The kitchen producing a great quality meal and snacks. The big pretzels are shareable shout out to my brother for bringing hot mustard that was a hit.
Everyday had all kinds of contests, culture, music dancing, activities throughout the beginning of October. Parking next door at Usingers was $ 5. Or a short walk if you get street parking.
This year Hans got a larger tent, smoking section with plenty of seating and plywood flooring down along with heat and two large televisions and had them built into transportation cases the stands were great and the sound was just as good. I believe these will show up at a few other locations like Estabrook Biergarten so that may just be one of the next UYE once they get them out. Thx for the German hat Mark G. it fit me pretty well.
Food 5
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Location 5
Value 4
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ICRA prepared dancing squirrels?
Burly Germanic men lifting giant suitcase sized Packers playing flat screens?
A giant tent with a ( Unilocal-​y courtesy) Hofbrau keg?
Clear balloons? (Those were balloons I was blowing into, right?)
Thru the miracle that is mail-​in DNA testing, I learned the other week that the side of my family I thought was all German is actually mostly British and Scandinavian. This pretty much explains why I’m not clean and orderly and can’t drink much beer, but love those British mysteries and that one Swedish Meatballs flavor of Lean Cuisine.
What it can’t explain exactly though, is my love for Oktoberfest! (And Brats and giant Pretzels while we’re at it.). Then again, its hard not to fall in love with the big communal tables, the band, the costumes and the fall weather. Who wouldn’t? It all makes you want to get in the spirit of things, at a park right in the center of downtown Milwaukee.
Prost!

Great time! Beers, bands, revelry and serious Oktoberfest-​y fun.
Conveniently located in Pere Marquette Park, this particular Oktoberfest celebration seems to grow year over year over year. (This year’s Sunday crowd seemingly doubled last year’s!)
Can’t wait to see what next year holds, and can’t wait to return. Good times.

This was our second year attending. The tent was a bit different this time. It had ply wood floors and a lot more tables There was an outdoor section for smokers. The band was also different and pretty awesome. They had been on the outside main stage last year. At one point they stood on the tables and played their instruments. The polka off was also fun. Happy Birthday to Luke! When it was game time, they brought in huge Tv’s.
The beer was awesome. We didn’t eat there but the server was very attentive. Nice to see my old and new Unilocalers! My daughter had a blast too. Thanks for having this event!

It’s no secret that Milwaukee has its share of Oktoberfests — the Milwaukee Oktoberfest on Old World 3^rd has grown from a small beer truck with a tiny tent, into a 5400 sf heated tent with non stop Polka for four days.
Awesome Bavarian eats with Dirndl-​clad table service, this is probably one of the most authentic Oktoberfests in Wisconsin. Sausages are local from right down the street at Usinger.
Only Oktoberfest bier is served! This is how it’s done in Muenchen — served in Maß liter steins. There’s a lot of other fun things going on too, check out the Glockenspiel across the river, or try your hand at Maßkrugstemmen! (Google it) the record is 17 minutes!
Winter is coming– you’d better get your outside beer drinking on!