Only in Germany is it typical for the office to let out early just so people can go out to enjoy the fest! Have I mentioned that I love being stationed here?
The beer festival comes twice a year to Stuttgart--in the Spring (called Fruhlingfest) and in the Fall (called Volksfest). The last time we went to the beer festival was on Mother's Day weekend. We returned to the same place today (it's held in Bad Cannstatt). The festival is basically about three weeks of carnival rides, games, festival food and drinks (mainly beer) and just some plain ol' fun. The Volksfest overlaps with Oktoberfest in Munich for a little bit and is the second largest beer festival in Germany (after Oktoberfest).
What a perfect day to do it too...great weather (and probably the last of the nice warm weather we've been experiencing for a few weeks now) and just before the long weekend. Not only that, Malu and I could enjoy ourselves while Sina was at daycare. AND...I work with some really cool people. Really, I do. It was tons of fun.
Here's Malu and I at the festival entrance.
Okay, so aside from the rides and games, there are huge (I mean HUGE) beer tents throughout the grounds. I believe there are ten total tents. You really have to get to the place early to grab some tables because these tents fill up fast!
This was the outside of the Grandls Hofbrau Tent.
And the inside...
It's huge. And I don't think this is the biggest beer tent out there. Once you get past the smoke and B.O., it's actually a fabulous time.
Great drinks...
For Malu, really. I'm not a beer person. Lame, I know. I had some Coke. Hey, someone had to drive us home!
Great food...
The typical special is a half-rotisseried chicken with brotchen. Dee-licious!
Great music and dancing...
...mostly on the table. Totally the norm here. So why not join in? Malu and I had a blast. If someone else posts pictures of me on the table, I just might die.
...and great people to share the moment with.
That's my boss and that's me with his wife. These two and some of the other folks pictured are people that I work for and with...and they're all family too. What great times!
Other things...
Almost everyone goes to the fest in their "fest wear"--dirndl for the ladies and lederhosen for the guys. Malu and I will eventually purchase our own...we just haven't had the chance to look for some.
And...the symbol of the fest is this traditional fruit column.
Adorned with fruits and vegetables, it symbolizes the origins of the Volkfest as a festival celebrating the harvest.
Can't wait to go again next year, although next year we'll arrange for a babysitter so that we can stay a little bit longer.
Tomorrow, we head out to Berchtesgaden!
And hey, our baby girl is 14 months old today!
Kisses to you our sweet darling!
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
