Grand Rapids Oktoberfest- Da steppt der Bär!

Grab your stein and let's go. The Grand Rapids Oktoberfest is this weekend! You can drink some beer at Riverside Park. Da steppt der bär!

Oktoberfest traces its history to Crown Prince Ludwig who later became King Ludwig I. When he married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810,  the citizens of Munich, Germany were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates, to celebrate the happy royal event.

Horse races marked the close of the event that was celebrated as a festival for the whole of Bavaria. The decision to repeat the horse races in the subsequent year gave rise to the tradition of the Oktoberfest.

Hosted by the Edelweiss Club of Grand Rapids, The Grand Rapids Oktoberfest begins Friday at 3pm. It's Beer City's only Bier Festival. The fun commences with a women's Stein holding contest followed by the men's competition.

On Saturday, the events include a Dachshund Dash, Keg toss and barrel roll.

There will be live music to oom-pah-pah to. Here is the line-up:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th

• 6PM to 8:30PM | Route 161 Happy Wanderers Polka Combo
• 9PM to 11PM | Aaron Dussing & Polka Revolution

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th

• 12PM to 1:30PM | Grand Rapids Accordian Ensemble
• 2PM to 4:30PM | Ein Prosit
• 4:50PM to 5:20PM | Edelweiss Choir
• 5:30PM to 5:40PM | Official Welcome w/ Alphorns
• 6:15PM to 8:30PM | Route 161 Happy Wanderers Polka Combo
• 9PM to 11PM | Delilah DeWylde

Starting in 2021, Grand Rapids Oktoberfest is partnering with Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue, a dog rescue in Grand Rapids. The festival is now dog-friendly!

And now the lyrics to the best Rogers & Hammerstein song EVER:

Edelweiss...
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever...

Edelweiss...
Edelweiss...
Bless my homeland forever...
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever...

Edelweiss...
Edelweiss...
Bless my homeland forever...