If living local legend Helmut Fricker seems especially giddy these days, there’s a reason: Oktoberfest. Helmut’s schedule may be busier than most with plans to travel to Dallas, Nebraska and several points in-between for Oktoberfest celebrations. But fear not. Before he departs, Helmut will, as always, kick off Oktoberfest festivities on his home turf, Beaver Creek.This weekend (September 1-2) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Beaver Creek will be going Bavarian. This annual, ever-popular, weekend-long party returns with some fan favorites and some new events. Of course, the fantastic food booths will be bursting with brats, sauerkraut and all manner of wursts, along with the overflowing pints and kegs of the Bier Garten, an essential Oktoberfest element. New to the celebration this year is The Oktoberfest Shuffle, a 6k or 10k run/walk/hike over a scenic Beaver Creek mountain trail with all proceeds benefiting the Shaw Regional Cancer Center. Now, we’d never purport to be some type of “running guru”, but your humble editors softly suggest that, should you compete in the shuffle, you avoid the brats and Bier Garten until the post-race celebration. Islands of sausage floating in a belly full of beer do not make a decent running companion. For more information on the Shuffle, click here.Children and adults are encouraged to compete in two Oktoberfest-themed contests. First, on Saturday at 3 p.m., make like Helmut and give your respiratory system a ride with the European Alpenhorn contest. One adult and one child winner will be selected from among the Alpen amateurs based on musical creativity and, well, longest horn blast. On Sunday, head to the plaza in your best Bavarian get-up for the Oktoberfest Costume contest. Competitors will be judged on authenticity and completeness of costume, with winners announced at 4 p.m.And what’s Oktoberfest without that oom-pah-pah sound? Of course, Helmut will be on hand, but this year’s celebration will also feature Trachtenkappelle, a 14-piece brass band from Beaver Creek’s sister resort Lech Zurs in Austria. And while not an oom-pah orchestra, the multi-talented blues-rock-soul outfit Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes will cap off each day’s celebration with a free concert. For a taste of what this weekend’s got in store, check out Helmut Fricker’s last appearance on the MorningNoon&Night Show.Also, in one happy coincidence, the Jeep King of the Mountain bike series will be at Beaver Creek this weekend as well, so grab a beer and a brat and make your way up to the base of the mountain for some of the fiercest competition we’re likely to see around here until the snow falls.Check out last year’s Oktoberfestivities below.
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Plum joined in the festivities at Beaver Creek's Oktoberfest, catching some tunes by the immortal Helmut Fricker and soliciting some tunes from amateur yodelers.
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