Breckenridge Oktoberfest!

This past weekend was Oktoberfest up in Breckenridge, Colorado, and I must say, it was quite a fun event. I drove up there from Denver Sunday afternoon and found the festival packed, with many men wearing lederhosen and women wearing dirndl dresses. Which I admire, considering it was pretty damn cold up there this past weekend. The original Oktoberfest took place to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig (Mad Ludwig) of Bavaria. It was held in October and was such a success that they decided to make it a yearly event, but in September, to avoid the cold weather. Perhaps Breckenridge should consider having Oktoberfest in August, instead.

The festivities took place on Main Street, which was closed to traffic for the weekend, replaced by food booths, beer stands, tables and chairs, and several music stages, which were playing traditional German music. As opposed to most other Oktoberfests, which seem to have the same kind of rock music you hear at festivals throughout the summer. The stage in the photograph on the right was set up in the town square between Main Street and the Blue River, where families with kids were hanging out enjoying the ambiance. But not going in the water. It is called the Blue River because if you do go in, you immediately turn blue, perhaps for life.

Breckenridge was founded in 1859, and its main street is filled with Victorian era homes and commercial buildings, now filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. Much of the charm of Breckenridge Oktoberfest is strolling past all those historic buildings and the beautiful landscaping as you peruse the booths and listen to the Oompah music. Chicago Magazine has named Breckenridge one of their "Eight Great Fall Escapes," and I have to agree with them on that. And since it is a mere 90 minutes from my condo in Denver, I decided to head there instead of some of their other suggestions, such as Rome or the Athens Riviera.

And I was not surprised to see that one of the booths at the Breckenridge Oktoberfest featured that favorite of all German foods, Das Turkey Leg, as seen in the photograph on the right. Regular blog readers know that I often wonder if they start selling those turkey legs at festivals in the spring, such as Cinco de Mayo (where they are called Los Turkey Legs), freeze the leftovers, and keep thawing and refreezing them to serve at all the other festivals throughout the summer, finishing with the Denver Oktoberfest, which starts next weekend. Can't wait! Save me a turkey leg!