By Matt Decker
Leisure/Sports editor

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It’s a traditional German festival that celebrates traditional German culture.

Oktoberfest is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 29 outside Pershing Community Center, with many of the fun activities and events that have made the celebration a local tradition for the past eight years.

“It’s pretty much the same program we’ve had in the past,” said Eli Wilson, Community Activities manager with the Installation Wide Events office.

Produced by Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Oktoberfest includes a variety of German foods and beer available for purchase, along with several games and live music from Die Spitzbaum, a five-piece band from St. Louis whose members have been entertaining audiences with authentic German music for more than 20 years.

“Die Spitzbaum is great. They did a great job for us last year, and we’re looking forward to them returning to Oktoberfest this year,” Wilson said.

Events begin with the traditional tapping of the keg by a senior leader on post, and typically end with festival games, which give attendees a chance to show their strength, stamina and skill. This year’s games include a barrel toss, barrel relay, a straight-arm stein holding contest, “and, of course, we always do the ‘Chicken Dance,’” Wilson added.

Oktoberfest celebrations date back to a German royal wedding held in 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig (who later became King Ludwig I of Bavaria) was wedded to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen near Munich. Their wedding celebration was so huge and popular that the party took place again the following year, prompting the start of the traditional German celebration that has become world famous. As immigrants from Germany came to North America, smaller versions of Oktoberfest sprouted up in thousands of communities across the country.

Fort Leonard Wood’s Oktoberfest celebration has grown and evolved over the years, as well. This will be the third year the festival has been held outside on the Pershing Community Center patio, and the second year Oktoberfest has been held during the month of  September.

“Typically, what we do is use (the Pershing Community Center) fixed pavilion and add some more tents to make it a big festival area,” Wilson said.

“We often get asked, ‘Why have Oktoberfest in September?’ but we changed it to September last year to coincide with opening of the official Oktoberfest in Munich,” Wilson said.

Admission to Oktoberfest is free, and the event is open to the public.

For more information about Fort Leonard Wood’s Oktoberfest celebration, call 596.6913 or visit the FMWR website at fortleonardwoodmwr.com.