Way back in the year 1810, in Southern Germany, Bavaria, in the middle of the autumn harvest, Prince Ludwig was wed to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildurghausen. The ceremony was a grand event held in a magnificent “weise” (meadow) just outside the gates of Munich and took place on the 12th of October. 40,000 people attended the wedding and the reception was quite the party with huge amounts of food and beer being served. At the conclusion of this magnificent party, the prince held an impromptu horse race across the great meadow, to the delight of his guests. The townspeople were so delighted in fact, that they decided to rename the venue Theresiewiese (Therese Meadow) in honor of the Prince’s new bride.
On the one year anniversary of this memorable day, it was decided that another grand party would be thrown to celebrate. King Maximillian agreed, but this party was to be even bigger, better and longer than the first. This became an annual tradition that we now know as Oktoberfest.
One hundred and sixty-one years later, in the small town of Big Bear Lake, California, two German immigrants, Hans and Erika Bandows decided to celebrate their first successful year as lodge owners in their new home by holding an Oktoberfest just like the one they used to attend in Munich. After several days of cooking, cleaning and decorating by the Bandows and their two daughters, Big Bear Lake’s Oktoberfest began. And so it has continued for forty two years.
Over the years, our Oktoberfest has grown bigger and better, but Hans is still Burgermeister and Erika still stops by the kitchen to add her special touch. The tradition continues, and each fall locals and visitors alike gather together to celebrate life, friends, family and beer.
(I originally wrote this post in October 2012)
RS Vacations - Big Bear Lake, CA 
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