Published: October 05, 2009 12:15 am      

‘Willkommen’ to Oktoberfest

GREENVILLE — Greenville Knights of Columbus Council No. 7438 invites the public to attend its annual Oktoberfest charity event.

Between 800 and 1,000 people are expected to dine on authentic German food between 4 and 8 p.m., Oct. 10 at the KC council hall.

The meal includes bratwurst, homemade Czech sausage, grilled chicken, German potato salad, sauerkraut, red cabbage, European breads, desserts and iced tea. Soft drinks and numerous imported German adult beverages are also available.

Oktoberfest is a family-oriented celebration which also features German “oom-pah” music and dancing under the outdoor pavilion located adjacent to the council hall, along with a bounce house for children

Several Knights will be dressed in the traditional lederhosen (knee-length britches) and colorful vests to add to the atmosphere.

Oktoberfest originated on Oct. 18, 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) of Bavaria decided to celebrate his marriage to Princess Maria Theresa of Saxony in royal style. At first it was meant to be just a simple horse race on a site now dubbed Theresienwiese (Theresa’s fields), but the Bavarian character quickly took over and it became the party of the century. With an open invitation to Ludwig’s countrymen, the party drew about 40,000 guests.

In the following year, the farmers of Bavaria staged a second Oktoberfest as an occasion to market the produce they had just harvested. The horse races were eventually abandoned, but the event continued each year thereafter with ever increasing crowds. It has continued annually throughout all Germanic lands and eventually spread to the U.S. where many Americans enjoy the German food, costumes and music.

The local event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus council began 11 years ago as part of the communitywide Cotton Jubilee celebration put on by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. Although the chamber has since discontinued the jubilee, the council continues to host its annual celebration.

This is the Knight’s annual charity fundraiser supporting such projects as Christmas food baskets for the needy, scholarships for area high school graduating seniors, sponsorships of youth league sports teams, emergency disaster relief and stipends for seminarians studying toward their ordination.

The council is also a major supporter of the Greenville High School Robotics Team, providing platinum level financial support, plus many hours of volunteer support by Knights John Hodapp, Bobb Mahrer and Matt Mahrer.

Advance tickets to Oktoberfest are $8 for adults, $4 for children through the age of 12. They are available from any member of the Knights, or call Gordon Jones, ticket chairman, at 903-450-0245. At-the-door prices are $12 for adults and $6 for children. A special separate line will be set up for take-outs, and there will be abundant parking for the elderly and the handicapped.

The council hall is located at 2705 Sunset Strip at Highway 34, about one mile south of Wal-Mart.