My family has been involved in putting on the local Oktoberfest celebration for over 30 years. My dad intiated the idea in the late 1970's and asked some friends if they would like to help. They said yes, and with our family and a bunch of other volunteers, the Oktoberfest was born in our small town.

This festival started out at one of the local clubs and featured only one band the first year and two bands the second year. By the third year, there were three bands that took turns rotating to different locations in the club to entertain all of the people at the festival.

Our family has always been involved in providing the food for this event. My dad and I make sauerkraut for it every year using over 150 lbs. of fresh cabbage. Between the food and the dancing, we kids have stayed involved in this event since the very beginning. The Oktoberfest is now our unofficial family reunion every fall. There are eight of us and we all have our own families as well, totaling over 40 all together. Many of the grandchildren that may never listen to a waltz or a polka all year long, are out on the dance floor for most of the weekend at this Oktoberfest.

It now encompasses an entire building as well as a circus tent that is 50 feet wide and 130 feet long. My dad and a bunch of volunteers provide an authentic German buffet to feed well over 1500 people that come to our small town in northern Minnesota from as far away as Texas. There are bratwurst, polish sausages, potato pancakes, and fresh-made sauerkraut all weekend long. I, along with several of my family members, also provide a Sunday breakfast of pancakes and sausage for all festival-goers before they have to head back home. It is a nice ending to our family weekend every year.

Learn more about this author, Dave Kemp.
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