German restaurants and bars in and around New Orleans are few and far between, but many places are currently having German specials, providing locals with many opportunities to celebrate Oktoberfest this year. Oktoberfest, an autumn tradition dating back to 1810, is all about beer drinking and celebrating. Head to the Rivertown in Kenner to enjoy a full out Oktoberfest festival. Starting October 10th, the Deutsches Haus will be providing three weekends full of German music, food, and beer.
Oktoberfest is a great opportunity to taste some German home cooking. Three different types of sausages––bratwurst, weisswurst, and knackwurst––will be available all three weekends at the festival. Also enjoy delicious sides of sauerkraut, German potato salad, and red cabbage. One major appeal to festivals is being able to grab delicious food quickly while enjoying live music; try some food from the Imbiss stand––“German fast food”––such as bratbugers, knackwurst, and many kid-friendly foods. Be sure to grab a buttery, warm Bavarian pretzel from one of the Pretzel Ladies to go along with your refreshing German beer.
The Deutsches Haus is hosting two different races as part of their festivities: one for Dachshunds, one for people. The Third Annual Wiener Dachshund Race will be held on Saturday, October 25th, beginning at 3pm. All proceeds go toward benefiting the NOLA Dachshund Rescue. One speedy, purebred Dachshund will be the winner of a gift card and a toy basket. The Oktoberfest 5k race, put on by the New Orleans Track Club in conjunction with the Deutsches Haus festival, will take place on October 18th at 5:00 p.m. Participants in the 5k receive free entry into the festival all three weekends and two complimentary beers after the race.
There are also other local establishments offering a taste of Germany with Oktoberfest beer and food specials. During October 3rd-9th, Crescent City Brewhouse will be offering a special Oktoberfest menu with prix fixe options. Enjoy house-cured salmon, veal schnitzel, slow roasted duck, and black forest cake along with a pilsner, Black Forest, and Red Stallion beer. Salú will be offering four different types of German beers in celebration of Oktoberfest this year; enjoy all four with their delicious Oktoberfest Pre-Fixe menu. Gordon Biersch is celebrating Oktoberfest by adding a slew of German additions to their fall menu, including German pretzels, the Festbier combo, a sausage platter, and a German kobe burger, and an amber lager. Fall is officially here, and New Orleanians love nothing more than an excuse to party and celebrate; be sure to take advantage of all these little pieces of Germany right here at home.
