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Oktoberfest made for fun filled afternoon
BY GINA HAMILTON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
 | | Beautiful Bavarian costumes and traditional dances delight visitors to Oktoberfest on Saturday at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton. Here members of the Alt Washingtonia (Schuhplattler Verein) Bavarian Dance Club in Washington, D.C., present the mill wheel dance that tells the story of a windmill being used to grind wheat into flour. (Recorder photo by Gina Hamilton) |
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STAUNTON - Hearing about an Oktoberfest celebration brings back memories of my German heritage and of growing up there. So I couldn't resist a trip to Staunton last Saturday to soak up the music and dance performances all afternoon at the Frontier Culture Museum, which hosted the event. I didn't go for the beer - it's tough to admit I don't like beer!
While I was surprised that very little traditional German food was available, or souvenirs, the vibrant music and story-telling Bavarian, German and Austrian dances were a delight to experience in the pavilion. With their colorful traditional dresses and Lederhosen, 25 dancers of the 60-member Alt Washingtonia (Schuhplattler Verein) Bavarian Dance Club poured their hearts and smiles into a lively show that also included singers and cow bell ringers. Joe Consolo said he has served as club president for 25 years. With his cheerful commentary, he kept the show lively and informative. The club has been active for more than 50 years with members featured in performances from the White House to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and festivals across the country.
The musical event was enhanced as well by the Shippensburg Blaskapelle, an authentic German village band from Shippensburg, Pa., the Stonewall Brigade Band of Staunton, and other local bands. Various children's activities kept youngsters busy, including barrel-rolling contests and pony rides. As for me, a sampling of fine bratwurst and sauerkraut rounded my fun afternoon.
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