Oktoberfest Comes to Middletown

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By Mary Ann Bourbeau
Can’t make it to Bavaria for Oktoberfest this year? Put on your dirndl or your lederhosen and head on over to the Middletown Arts Center, where they will be celebrating with a traditional German folk festival from October 2-4.
The 23,000-square-foot facility will be host to Savor the Arts: Germany, the third in a series of cultural arts experiences offered by MAC. The three-day event will highlight the music, dance, artwork, crafts, cuisine and beer of Germany. The first two Savor the Arts events featured Italy and Ireland.
“We’re excited about the response these events have gotten from the community,” said MAC director Maggie O’Brien. “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate other cultures of the world.”
The origin of Oktoberfest dates back to 1810, when Bavarian Crown Prince Louis, later King Louis I of Bavaria, married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend, and the decision to repeat the festivities the next year led to the tradition of an annual Oktoberfest, which now begins in late September and lasts until the first Sunday in October. Each year, more than 1 million gallons of beer are consumed at the event.
Here in Monmouth County, Oktoberfest kicks off on Friday night with a German art exhibition in MAC’s main gallery, with pieces on loan from 532 Gallery in New York City. For those with artistic talents, there will be a paint-and-sip class in which participants can paint a European countryside scene while drinking Rhenish wines.
Richard Givney, a certified dance instructor who has given ballroom dancing lessons at MAC for eight years, will offer polka lessons for all ages.

The Middletown Arts Center’s Oktoberfest will feature a bilingual German/English performance of “Little Red Riding Hood” by the Galli Theater of New York City.
The Middletown Arts Center’s Oktoberfest will feature a bilingual German/English performance
of “Little Red Riding Hood” by the Galli Theater of New York City.

Saturday begins with an 11 a.m. bilingual German/ English performance of “Little Red Riding Hood” by the Galli Theater of New York City.
“I’m very excited about this,” O’Brien said. “We’re giving out little wicker baskets to the children. It’s going to be a fun event.”
The day includes many other activities for the kids, including Lebkuchen cookie decorating, a pretzel toss and beer stein races, presented by German Language School of Holmdel.
From 2 to 6 p.m., the Firehouse Polka Band and the Edelweiss Passaic Dancers will entertain as celebrants sample regional craft beers in the Oktoberfest Biergarten. If beer isn’t your drink of choice, Phil Ward, a board member from the International Riesling Foundation and a certified specialist of wine, will provide tastings of Rieslings from Germany and Austria.
“Of course, the biergarten will be the highlight of the weekend, but we’ve put together a pretty comprehensive program, trying to incorporate different interests,” O’Brien said.
Sunday’s festivities begin at 1 p.m. with a virtual tour and presentation from 532 Gallery’s collection of German artists.
At 2 p.m., Dr. Robert W. Butts, conductor and musical director of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, will conduct a lecture called From Bach to Brahms – Famous and Fascinating German Composers.
The Middletown Arts Center, located next to the Middletown train station on Church Street, opened in 2007. The nonprofit currently has about 800 members that support its year-round programs centering on the arts, which are geared toward all ages and abilities. The Oktoberfest is open to both members and nonmembers.
“We’re always trying to bring interesting and enriching arts programs to the community,” O’Brien said. “We hope to engage new participants and welcome new members to our organization.”
The event will be held indoors and outdoors, but can be moved completely indoors in case of rain. The cost for each program ranges from free to $35.
For more information, visit middletownarts.org.
Arts and entertainment writer Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@ tworivertimes.com.