The New Bern Breakfast Rotary has announced that its “Tapping the Keg” party is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25th at Brewery 99, 1030 Pollock Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tradition requires the local mayor to tap the keg to officially open the Oktoberfest festivities, so New Bern Mayor Odham has once again been invited to do the honors. at 6:00 p.m. that evening.
This pre-program is intended to build anticipation for the popular 13th Yearly B/S/H/ Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, September 28ththat the Riverfront Convention Center on South Front Street. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the event ends at 10:00 p.m. Advance tickets to the event and early bird beer or wine tickets are recommended and are available at Mitchell Hardware or online at. https://bit.ly/
The traditional Oktoberfest is celebrated in Germany every year in late September and early October as a famous beer festival and folk festival that has been imitated around the world. For more than a decade, the Rotary Club of New Bern Breakfast has hosted this special event in New Bern to raise money for its community charitable projects, including ten scholarships, donations to area nonprofits and the established Kicks for Kids program, which provides an estimated 325 new pairs of shoes to elementary and middle school children throughout Craven County each fall.
This year’s event will again feature traditional German fare, including bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, giant Bavarian pretzels and German mustard, all supplied by Fat Fellas of Newport, NC. A more kid-friendly menu will be offered for children. Members of the Rotary Breakfast Club and other community volunteers will cater before, during and after the evening’s festivities. Students from Interact, the Rotary-affiliated high school club, will also help with various tasks throughout the evening.
Thanks to this year’s craft beer partners Brewery 99 and Shortway Brewing, those with valid ID can purchase plenty of beer and wine during the festival. Soft drinks and water are also available as part of dinner tickets and for children.
What makes this event so special, of course, is the Little German Band and Dancers from Raleigh, NC. This group of experienced and energetic performers, dressed in authentic costumes and playing all the popular Oktoberfest songs, will once again get the crowd singing and dancing, including the infamous Chicken Dance, in the spirit of a traditional festival.
This year, both men and women can participate in our popular and traditional stone holding competition to test their strength and endurance. The Masskrugstemmen challenge requires each competitor to hold a one-liter stone filled with water (not beer!) straight forward with one arm in front of their chest to see who can hold it the longest. This year, our event’s competition will again be part of the US Steinholding Association’s nationwide competition.
The cost to attend this classic event is $30 in advance and $35 at the event. The fee is $25 for active military members with valid ID; $5 for children ages 6-12 (free for ages 5 and under). The ticket price includes admission and a meal with water or soft drink. Beer and wine are sold separately. Advance tickets will be available at Mitchell’s Hardware in mid-August or online at https://bit.ly/
