One of Minnesota's most iconic Oktoberfest celebrations kicks off Friday with plenty of polka music, lederhosen, and beer to spare.
2022 marks the 40th annual downtown Oktoberfest celebration in New Ulm with crowds expected to return to pre-pandemic levels. The two-weekend event wasn't held in 2020 and a scaled-down version took place last year.
"People were still hesitant last year and there was a lot of Covid still around and different things, so it was a much more muted celebration in 2021," said Sarah Warmka, President/CEO of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce. "We are hearing and have every expectation that it's going be a nice, vibrant festival this year."
BOktoberfest in New Ulm is typically held the first two full weekends in October and takes place across three main locations including downtown New Ulm, Best Western Plus, and Schell’s Brewery.
"The downtown festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary," Warmka said. "We're nationally recognized because we are such a German community. We really retained a lot of that German history and you see it every day in New Ulm."
New Ulm was founded in 1854 by German immigrants hoping to develop a utopian German community on the prairie. The city boasts German architecture, music playing through the streets, German shops, and German festivals.
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"That makes us really unique to have that we have the authentic setting here to host a German festival like Oktoberfest."
Friday's celebration begins with Oktoberfest Lite at Morgan Creek Vineyards and there's also music, food, and events at Best Western Plus and Green Mill.
Saturday's events are headlined by the Downtown New Ulm Oktoberfest and more events later in the afternoon and evening at Best Western Plus.
"We're a destination in the fall," Warmka said. "We're in the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway and the fall colors are really popping right now, it's really going to be perfect for people making the drive."
The following weekend is headlined by Schell's Oktoberfest.
"Oktoberfest is not just for the tourists, it's for the locals too which makes it feel authentic. In terms of the tourism, it's such an influx to have all these people in town staying in our hotels, eating at our restaurants, and shopping at our shops. It really makes a great economic impact to our town."