Share Email Print RSS

Cheers for Beers and Brats

It might not be October yet, but Oktoberfest is finally here, Richmond.

Historically, the holiday was a time to celebrate the joy of marriage between a prince and a princess. In modern day theory, it's a reason to eat meat and potato heavy meals, wash it down with a cold beer and call it a day (or month, so it seems).

And to help kick off these beer-drinking, bratwurst eating, chicken-dancing events that lay ahead, St. Benedict's Catholic Church  will host their 4th annual Oktoberfest celebration this weekend, an event that not only celebrates all the wonderful things Germans have lent to Americans, but that also supports our local community.

The St. Benedict "festplatz" will feature all that is great about a German festival -- especially during Oktoberfest.

Vendors will not only offer a la carte items such as brats, hot dogs, giant pretzels and desserts, but a brat'wurst' and roast pork platter to sit down with and enjoy. Food prices range from three- to ten-$1 tickets each.

A variety of breweries including Legend Brewery , Richbrau and Old Richmond Beer Co. will be on site with ample ales, pilsners, lagers to try for four-$1 tickets each. And for those of you who prefer getting their "adult beverage" from the vine, a few wineries including Barboursville and The Williamsburg Winery will be one site as well.

Along with the "classic" Oktoberfest challenges of stein holding, chicken dance and pretzel eating contests and children's activities, the main stage will house authentic German entertainment.

Kicking off the two-day festival, the Die Dorfmusikanten Band will perform on Friday, followed by a rousing Saturday of German song and dance by the Elbe-Musikanten Band and Hirschjager Dancers .

All proceeds from Oktoberfest will be used to support Catholic education in the Museum District, including at St. Benedict and that of it's brother and sister Catholic secondary schools, Benedictine High School and St. Gertrude High School .

The 4th annual St. Benedict Oktoberfest  celebration will "wilkommen" Richmonders from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, in the parking lot of Benedictine High School, rain or shine. $1 food and drink tickets are available for purchase at the event, under the Oktoberfest ticket tent. Street and $3 parking at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is available. Please note the VMFA parking deck closes at 7 p.m. For more information, call (804) 254-8810 or visit stbenedictoktoberfest.com .