Hispanic Heritage Month is all well and fine. But early October has always been a time for a heaping helping of Anglo-Saxon, Germanic fun. We know it's not a competition, but if the month belongs to anybody it has to be the krauts. After all, does a croqueta really compare with a bratwurst; a mojito to a mug of (insert German beer here); or guayaberas to lederhosen.
Argue about the merits of having the annual Hispanic celebration invade the German's month long celebration if you like, but at least do so while celebrating at one the city's Oktoberfest venues. Read on to see where the getting is good:
The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana kicks things off with Oktoberfest at
Art in the
Park
, a weekend-long celebration of art, music, food, and beer. Though
you'll find ample servings of German beer, pretzels, and bratwurst, the
rest of the fun is decidedly un-German, but still fun. The free party
starts Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Call 305-644-8888 or
visit artintheparkconcerts.com.
Just a Deutschmark's throw to the north is Fritz and Franz Bierhaus celebrating its 16th Oktoberfest celebration. If you're looking for
authentic German music to go with your German food and drink then you're
in luck. A plaza in front of the bierhaus will be the stage for bands
from Germany and Austria. This Oktoberfest fest runs from the first to
10, from 11a.m. to midnight. Visit bierhaus.cc
or call 305-774-1883.
Later in the month the German American Social Club of Miami
will host its Oktoberfest Miami 2010 celebration on Oct. 15-17 and
22-24. More live German music and dancing under a big tent 11919 SW 56th
Street in Miami. $10 gets you under the tent for a day, $20 for a
weekend and $30 for the whole festival. There are also carnival rides
for kids, who get in free. Call 305-552-5123 or visit germanamericanclub-miami.org.
A bunch of other German restaurants also have Oktoberfest specials
including Gordon Biersch which has a special menu running until Oct. 24 and a
contest with a grand prize of a trip to Munich for 2011 celebration and The Bar in Coral Gables that has its own outdoor biergarten (in the
alley) and drinks specials. Visit gablesthebar.com.
