For some old fashioned German Oktoberfest cheer – and a little gemütlichkeit (good times in a social setting) – the American-German Club of the Palm Beaches will be setting up the bier gartens under the tents for its forty-first annual Oktoberfest party on October 10-12 and 17-19. The most authentic Bavarian party in Palm Beach County, the American-German Club’s shindig pulls all the München stops with authentic Bavarian fare (sauerbraten, schnitzel, goulash, leberkäse, thüringer bratwurst and potato pancakes anyone?), and true Oktoberfest märzen, imported directly from Munich.

As an ode to the massive Munich tent, the Hofbräu Biergarten will serve a full lineup of München suds—Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier, Hofbräu Dunkel, Hofbräu Original and Münchner Weisse—poured into either a boot or liter stein. As for live entertainment, bands are coming directly from Germany to represent Bavaria (Heldensteiner Band and the Bavarian Tops will bring all those Polka favorites), while traditional dance groups will embody the true spirit of the festival. For those uninhibited few, there will also be dancing lessons imparting the traditional Schuhplattler folk dance to join in fun.

For those making 2014 their first American-German Club Oktoberfest, be sure to catch the parade of flags and the ceremonial tapping of the keg. An Oktoberfest tradition, the master of ceremonies, with wooden mallet in hand, will pour some frosty brews straight from the wooden cask on Saturday, October 11 and 18 at 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 12 and 19 at 4 p.m. As for some feats of strength, and one of the more entertaining spectacles at the party, the masskrugstemmen competition—a beer stein-holding contest—is a pretty fun sight to see. Straight out of Beerfest, on October 11 and 18 at 8 p.m., contestants will try their hand holding a stein filled with a liter of beer (a tick more than five pounds) with arms extended parallel to the ground. It may sound easy enough, but that liquid weight is deceiving. And as always, this is a family-friendly event, with children’s activities, carnival rides and games to keep the kiddies busy.

• Admission costs $8 (get a $2 off coupon here—PDF). Admission packages are also available, starting at $38 all the way to $250 for reserved seating in the Hofbräu Biergarten. Pre-sale tickets with discounted rates are available through October 9 at americangermanclub.org/oktoberfest/tickets.
• For more information, visit americangermanclub.org/Oktoberfest.