Oktoberfest 2022

Overview

                                   Oktoberfest |Oct 1 & 2|

Each fall we dust off our lederhosen, fire up the oompah band and enjoy a tall mug of German beer at the Whiteface Mountain Oktoberfest. Mark your calendars for the weekend-long, Bavarian-style celebration with authentic music, dancing, food and beer—rated one of the 5 Must-Visit Oktoberfests in North America by SKI Magazine! Featuring music by headliners die Schlauberger in the Main Entertainment Tent, Schachtelgebirger Musikanten (Scha-Musi) in the Cloudspin Bar & Grill, the 3 Alphorns, and the Alpenland Taenzer dancers. This is a family-friendly event with activities for all ages including arts and crafts and scenic gondola rides. Event runs from 11 am-6 pm Saturday and 11 am-5 pm Sunday.

2022/23 Season Passholders receive FREE Admission + Gondola Rides on Sunday, Oct 2. Juniors 12 & under can also enjoy FREE admission both days.

Pricing

*Adults under 21 years of age may purchase the 2-Day Admission Package but will NOT be eligible to use the included beer coupon. You may give your coupon to a friend or family member who is over 21 years of age. Groups of 20 or more should contact groups@whiteface.com for discounted admission and gondola rates.

Schedule

Brewer's Talk

Meet the Brewer for a Brewer’s Talk Saturday, October 1 |12:30-2:00| on the Cloudspin Deck

Stop in and visit with Christian Weber, Co-Founder/Head Brewer of Common Roots Brewery

Christian’s beer journey began in 2005 as a home brewer in college, which led to an apprenticeship at a brewery in New Hampshire during grad school. After a few years working for an environmental non-profit, Christian returned to his roots and opened Common Roots Brewing Company in South Glens Falls, NY with his dad Bert. Christian is the head brewer at CRBC and leads the creative pprocess of recipe and product development, in addition to running the day-to-day operations of his business.

Entertainment

die Schlauberger (dSb)

Festival-goers across the nation have a love affair going on with America’s number one German Band, (dSb)due Schlauberger. And no wonder– this band is a powerhouse of musical expertise and expends enough energy to light up not only the crowd, but the fairgrounds, too. From the moment they step on stage until they have wrung the final note from their last song, die Schlauberger has the audience up and dancing to their powerful renditions of German favorites and other crowd-pleasing tunes. Appearances on television shows, movies and television commercials such as HP IPOD and others are witness of their popularity. die Schlauberger engages everyone within earshot to “expect the unexpected.” Don’t miss the band whose very mission is “Keeping the Traditionalists on their Feet and the New Generation Interested.”

The Adlers

The Adlers Band started in September 1979. The founder and rhythm guitarist Adi Adler, along with singer- manager and “band mother” Tina Adler, along with their son accordionist, Barry, formed the trio. Barry’s high school best friend, Eddie Spatarella joined the band a few months later giving the band its distinctive rhythm to this day as their drummer.  Anthony DelBagno, another high school friend of Barry’s, joined the band in 1991 playing acoustic and bass guitars, and vocals.

Austrian and German Alpine music formed the core, and as time progressed, additional musicians to the band- including one of New Jersey’s top Polka band leaders of the 1950’s and 1960’s, Tony Szurka helped to launch this band into performing its Polish repertoire and nudging the band in a new positive direction. As musical tastes had changed and time marched on into the new millennium, The Adlers Band adapted to the changes keeping its core music that remains timeless to its nature, but also now features Party Rock music that conforms to the demands of modern times.

Alpenland Taenzer

In 2010, the Alpenland Tänzer of New Britain, CT celebrated 50 memorable years of practicing, presenting and promoting authentic Alpine “Schuhplatteln”dancing.  Walter Kober, our founder, started the Alpenland Tänzer in 1960 in order to perpetuate a part of the culture of his homeland.  He wanted to enjoy and share with others the dancing he had performed competitively in his native Austria.  One of those original 1960 charter dancers, Benno Kohlmann, has carried that desire and continues to dance with us still.  From the beginning, our Verein’s (club’s) practices take place at the Austrian-Hungarian Singing Society Donau hall in New Britain.

Schachtelgebirger

The Schachtelgebirger Musikanten are Freddie Meier and Ronald Kwas. It started in 2000, after musically inclined Fredi decided to learn to play a Steirische Harmonika, or “button box”, bought an “Ein-reiher”, a single key diatonic Cajun accordion made in Louisiana, and started playing after Schuhplattler practice on Thursday nights.  He looked so lonely, Ron decided to bring his guitar and accompany him, and even though it got to be “aa bißl longweilig”, with that first accordion in the key of C ONLY, nobody asked us to stop or play “far away”, (an encouraging sign), and Fredi and Ron both had fun, playing “Volk und Volkstümliche Musik” for dancers who would stick around after practice and also the Sängerbund singers on many a Friday night.  A year later, we had a pretty good song list, from Alpenrösli to Zillertalerhochzeitsmarch (plus a few surprises).

The Alphorn Trio

The Alphorn Trio performs between 1:30 PM & 2:30 PM at the top of Little Whiteface and throughout the day on the festival grounds and stages.

Shuttle Schedule