While Germans tend to be reserved and hard-working, when it comes to Oktoberfest, they really know how to let their hair down, said Birgit Pianosi.
“That's when you're allowed to have fun,” said the chair of the Sudbury German Language School, laughing.
While her organization has put on small Oktoberfest events in the past, she said she was excited to be approached by Northern Lights Festival Boréal in recent months to collaborate on a larger Oktoberfest event.
The result is the first annual Northern Lights Oktoberfest, which will be held in Bell Park on Oct. 3 and 4.
When asked why the music festival decided to put on a festival celebrating German and Bavarian culture, Northern Lights festival executive director Max Merrifield said his organization is looking for ways to branch out.
“We've been talking about many ways to get more active during the year,” he said. “We do concerts and things, but we've been talking about another festival event for awhile.”
As anyone who has visited an Oktoberfest event before would expect, beer will flow freely during Sudbury's version.
Merrifield said he expects at least four craft brewers to set up shop on the festival grounds, including Sudbury's own Stack Brewing.
Typical German foods such as sausages and pretzels will also be available. The German language school will teach people songs and phrases in the language, and will be selling Bavarian hats as a fundraiser.
There will also be live music, both traditional German music and contemporary music by local bands.
Because the event will be held in early October — when weather is getting a bit chillier — there will be heaters set up on the fair grounds where people can warm their hands.
“It's going to be a lot of fun,” Merrifield said.
The event runs from 5 p.m. to midnight Oct. 3 and noon to midnight Oct. 4. After 9 p.m., the fair grounds are restricted to those aged 19 and older.
Tickets, which cost $20 each, include a free beer stein and a free Greater Sudbury Transit pass to and from Bell Park, as well as free non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers. Children aged 12 and under get in for free.
They're available at www.nlfbsudbury.ca, as well as at Laurentian University's SGA office, Old Rock Roastery (Minto), Fromagerie Elgin, Jett Landry Music, Gloria's Convenience and the Northern Lights Festival Boréal office.