Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Cannstatter Volksfest
Think Oktoberfest.
Partying, fun, German beer.
Now transplant that atmosphere from Munich, which is the only true “Oktoberfest,” to Stuttgart, and you’ve entered the Bad Cannstatt Volksfest. Munich’s Oktoberfest is the largest fest in the world, and therefore tourists from around the world flock there each fall. So, many residents of Munich head west to Stuttgart’s Bad Cannstatt district to partake of the world’s second-largest fest, and the one with a more traditional German feel.
The Bad Cannstatt celebration can trace its genesis to 1818, when King Wilhelm I and Queen Katharina hosted the first fest as a means of helping the populace recover from a horrendous famine. That one-time event evolved into an annual harvest festival (a history that is recalled by the towering fruit column that serves as the festground’s centerpiece), and today the Cannstatter event is Germany’s oldest fest.
There are two aspects of the fest. The first is what can be compared to as a giant state fair back in the States. Games, rides and food abound. Jaime and I decided to take a spin on this maniacal twirling ride before we joined the rest of our friends in our beer tent for the fest's other aspect. Talk about a wild ride!
It’s probably unfortunate that I don’t care for beer since my coworkers selected this tent for our evening festivities because it has the best Black Forest beer at the fest. Oh well, the wine was pretty darn good!
Below is a view of our tent. Yes, we’re inside a temporary tent! It mostly looks and feels like a year-round building, but it’s only erected for a couple weeks each fall. One of the traditions during the fest is to stand on the benches and sing along with the band. I don’t think our band was a traditional German band though, especially since they all wore red kilts! But, everything else that went on in the tent definitely had a German feel to it, from the requisite songs to the waitresses wearing traditional drndles. Germans are big into rules, and standing on the tables is not allowed (and each beer tent employs individuals who walk around and enforce that rule).
Everyone had fun at the fest, as is clearly evident here. Holly and John got into the German spirit (love John’s Heidi wig!).
Below are Pat (I always call him by his rank and last name though, since he’s my former boss!), Travis, John, Bev, Holly and Jaime. What a crew!
I even managed to have another Airman magazine reunion, this time with Ray-J. He worked at the magazine a few years before I did, but we worked together on several stories during our two tenures at the magazine. He’s now working just an hour up the road in Heidelberg and made the short trek to join the festivities. In a true “small world” fashion, he’s also from Waycross, Georgia. What's the likelihood of two south Georgians from adjoining towns meeting up at a fest in Germany!?!! Notice the different size steins used for wine and beer!
I had to include a ferris wheel photo for my mom since I know she likes them. This shot was taken at the end of our evening festivities, as we left the beer tent and headed back to catch the train home.
Partying, fun, German beer.
Now transplant that atmosphere from Munich, which is the only true “Oktoberfest,” to Stuttgart, and you’ve entered the Bad Cannstatt Volksfest. Munich’s Oktoberfest is the largest fest in the world, and therefore tourists from around the world flock there each fall. So, many residents of Munich head west to Stuttgart’s Bad Cannstatt district to partake of the world’s second-largest fest, and the one with a more traditional German feel.
The Bad Cannstatt celebration can trace its genesis to 1818, when King Wilhelm I and Queen Katharina hosted the first fest as a means of helping the populace recover from a horrendous famine. That one-time event evolved into an annual harvest festival (a history that is recalled by the towering fruit column that serves as the festground’s centerpiece), and today the Cannstatter event is Germany’s oldest fest.
There are two aspects of the fest. The first is what can be compared to as a giant state fair back in the States. Games, rides and food abound. Jaime and I decided to take a spin on this maniacal twirling ride before we joined the rest of our friends in our beer tent for the fest's other aspect. Talk about a wild ride!
It’s probably unfortunate that I don’t care for beer since my coworkers selected this tent for our evening festivities because it has the best Black Forest beer at the fest. Oh well, the wine was pretty darn good!Below is a view of our tent. Yes, we’re inside a temporary tent! It mostly looks and feels like a year-round building, but it’s only erected for a couple weeks each fall. One of the traditions during the fest is to stand on the benches and sing along with the band. I don’t think our band was a traditional German band though, especially since they all wore red kilts! But, everything else that went on in the tent definitely had a German feel to it, from the requisite songs to the waitresses wearing traditional drndles. Germans are big into rules, and standing on the tables is not allowed (and each beer tent employs individuals who walk around and enforce that rule).
Everyone had fun at the fest, as is clearly evident here. Holly and John got into the German spirit (love John’s Heidi wig!).Below are Pat (I always call him by his rank and last name though, since he’s my former boss!), Travis, John, Bev, Holly and Jaime. What a crew!
I even managed to have another Airman magazine reunion, this time with Ray-J. He worked at the magazine a few years before I did, but we worked together on several stories during our two tenures at the magazine. He’s now working just an hour up the road in Heidelberg and made the short trek to join the festivities. In a true “small world” fashion, he’s also from Waycross, Georgia. What's the likelihood of two south Georgians from adjoining towns meeting up at a fest in Germany!?!! Notice the different size steins used for wine and beer!
I had to include a ferris wheel photo for my mom since I know she likes them. This shot was taken at the end of our evening festivities, as we left the beer tent and headed back to catch the train home.
