Two area hotels want to show people how to celebrate a wedding, German-style.
The Holiday Inn in Auburn and the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles are offering Oktoberfest events this weekend. The world-renowned beer festival started in 1810 with horse racing and festivities to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Theresa von Sachsen Hildburghausen.
Future festivities found millions of parched world travelers making their ways to the meadow of Munich to take part in the cultural phenomenon.
For the second year in a row, Auburn's Holiday Inn staff is offering residents a chance to partake in the fun - minus the flight to Germany.
Syracuse always has its own Oktoberfest, but some people hate to drive there and back, Holiday Inn banquet manager Valerie Usowski said. Plus, both hotels can offer their celebration no matter the weather, unlike Syracuse's open air affair. The Holiday Inn offers its celebration indoors, and the Sherwood Inn has a large tent that will allow the event to continue rain or shine.
Syracuse had its event the week prior, so organizers predict they will have a good turnout this weekend.
“We've been looking to do something fun and different like this, and there isn't a lot of parties anymore,” Usowski said.
As someone of Polish heritage, Usowski knows the good time ahead.
“Polish Falcons used to have something like that when we were kids, and I haven't had a good time like that in a long time,” she said.
They'll see how this year's event goes before deciding to make it an annual event, she added. This is the second year for the New Annual Oktoberfest, marketing director for Sherwin Properties Rita Trenti said.
The hotel hosted a celebration decades ago, and revived it last year.
“There seemed to be a need. People were asking for it,” Trenti said. “It's back by popular demand.”
The summer is filled with festivals and celebrations, but they seem to stop by early fall.
“The weather is still good and people are still in the mood to be by the lake,” Trenti said.
And when the backdrop of Skaneateles Lake gets tiresome, spectators will have colorfully dressed dancers performing to the polka music of Klaus Raith and the Enzian Bavarian Band.
Besides the live entertainment, both festivities will offer a smorgasbord of German-themed foods, such as potato salad and bratwurst. However, organizers also will serve lighter Eastern European delights. Sherwood Inn has two special desserts, the Bavarian apple tart and the Linzer jam tort.
Of course, both will offer special brews for the occasion.
Aside from draft beer, Beak and Skiff Orchards will offer tastings of its apple wine at the Sherwood Inn. The Lafayette orchard has provided a bottle as part of the door prizes. Other prizes include wine, a tort and cigars from other local businesses.
The event will allow people to support the Milfoil weed project. People can buy $10 T-shirts to support cleaning the lake and eradicating the troublesome weed.
Oktoberfest is one of the few ethnic celebrations aimed at German or Polish cultures, Usowski added. The traditional cultural event should be honored, and there are still people from the old country to show people how it's done, Trenti said.
When hotel employees started spreading the word about the celebrations, they've gotten positive feedback.
“People definitely want something to do,” Usowski said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
If you go
What: Oktoberfest
Where: Holiday Inn, 75 North St., Auburn
When: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28
Cost: $15 for buffet, cash bar
Features: Salt City Brass (polka band)
For details: Call 253-4531
What: Oktoberfest
Where: Sherwood Inn, 26 W. Genesee St., Skaneateles
When: 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30
Cost: No entrance fee, cash bar and food
For details: Call 685-3405
Future festivities found millions of parched world travelers making their ways to the meadow of Munich to take part in the cultural phenomenon.
For the second year in a row, Auburn's Holiday Inn staff is offering residents a chance to partake in the fun - minus the flight to Germany.
Syracuse always has its own Oktoberfest, but some people hate to drive there and back, Holiday Inn banquet manager Valerie Usowski said. Plus, both hotels can offer their celebration no matter the weather, unlike Syracuse's open air affair. The Holiday Inn offers its celebration indoors, and the Sherwood Inn has a large tent that will allow the event to continue rain or shine.
Syracuse had its event the week prior, so organizers predict they will have a good turnout this weekend.
“We've been looking to do something fun and different like this, and there isn't a lot of parties anymore,” Usowski said.
As someone of Polish heritage, Usowski knows the good time ahead.
“Polish Falcons used to have something like that when we were kids, and I haven't had a good time like that in a long time,” she said.
They'll see how this year's event goes before deciding to make it an annual event, she added. This is the second year for the New Annual Oktoberfest, marketing director for Sherwin Properties Rita Trenti said.
The hotel hosted a celebration decades ago, and revived it last year.
“There seemed to be a need. People were asking for it,” Trenti said. “It's back by popular demand.”
The summer is filled with festivals and celebrations, but they seem to stop by early fall.
“The weather is still good and people are still in the mood to be by the lake,” Trenti said.
And when the backdrop of Skaneateles Lake gets tiresome, spectators will have colorfully dressed dancers performing to the polka music of Klaus Raith and the Enzian Bavarian Band.
Besides the live entertainment, both festivities will offer a smorgasbord of German-themed foods, such as potato salad and bratwurst. However, organizers also will serve lighter Eastern European delights. Sherwood Inn has two special desserts, the Bavarian apple tart and the Linzer jam tort.
Of course, both will offer special brews for the occasion.
Aside from draft beer, Beak and Skiff Orchards will offer tastings of its apple wine at the Sherwood Inn. The Lafayette orchard has provided a bottle as part of the door prizes. Other prizes include wine, a tort and cigars from other local businesses.
The event will allow people to support the Milfoil weed project. People can buy $10 T-shirts to support cleaning the lake and eradicating the troublesome weed.
Oktoberfest is one of the few ethnic celebrations aimed at German or Polish cultures, Usowski added. The traditional cultural event should be honored, and there are still people from the old country to show people how it's done, Trenti said.
When hotel employees started spreading the word about the celebrations, they've gotten positive feedback.
“People definitely want something to do,” Usowski said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
If you go
What: Oktoberfest
Where: Holiday Inn, 75 North St., Auburn
When: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28
Cost: $15 for buffet, cash bar
Features: Salt City Brass (polka band)
For details: Call 253-4531
What: Oktoberfest
Where: Sherwood Inn, 26 W. Genesee St., Skaneateles
When: 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30
Cost: No entrance fee, cash bar and food
For details: Call 685-3405
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