Oktoberfest In Breckenridge!

My sister Susan and I drove up to the mountain town of Breckenridge, Colorado from Denver Saturday afternoon to check out their annual Oktoberfest celebration, and I must say, the crowd was huge. It was wall-to -wall people all down Main Street, and a lot of people were wearing traditional Oktoberfest outfits. Not to mention silly hats, including the ever popular chicken hat, also a favorite for formal occasions, such as weddings. Oktoberfest began taking place in September, instead of October, the year after the first Oktoberfest, which was held to celebrate the wedding of King Ludwig of Bavaria (Mad King Ludwig to his friends). Everyone loved that first festival, and it was decided to make it an annual event, but to be held in September to keep everyone from freezing their lederhosen off. The tradition continues today in Munich as well as Breck, as the hipsters like to call it. 

Breckenridge is a very popular destination both summer and winter (it is, after all, a world class ski resort). Over the years, it has become a very expensive place to own a house or condo, or for that matter, spend a vacation. What I want to know is where all those obviously very prosperous Oktoberfest revelers on Main Street buy their outfits? Online? At a costume store? Does Breckenridge have a local outlet that sells lederhosen and dimdls, as well as other German goods? I would have asked the group of people in the photograph on the right, but did not want to interupt their conversation. And besides, I was afraid to hear the answer - most likely Amazon. How boring.

There were a lot of food vendors at the festival, not to mention a number of booths selling beer in large souvenier steins, no doubt at consumer friendly prices. Happily, in addition to all the other kinds of food being sold, one of the most popular of German delicacies, "Das Turkey Legs," was also being sold. Yum! I did not see a huge line waiting to buy them, however. Everyone was probably scared off by the spurious rumors being spread on the internet that leftover turkey legs are refrozen and then resold at the next festival, relabeled as "Los Turkey Legs" or whatever the occasion warrants. It kind of makes me feel bad that I am the one who started that rumor. Oh well. At least the beer kiosks were well patronized, with lines going all the way down the block - surprise! In any case, it was a warm, sunny day, the crowd was in a very festive mood, and it was a fun way to spend the afternoon. You can't beat "Breck" if you are looking for a great place to have a good time. Just stay away from those turkey legs!