44th Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest

Where: The Convention Center of Big Bear Lake, 42900 Big Bear Blvd.

When: Noon-midnight Saturdays and noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays starting Monday and runs for seven consecutive weekends through Oct. 25. Oktoberfest Unplugged, 6-midnight Oct. 17.

Cost: Sept. 13-14 to Sept. 27-28 with general admission on Saturdays $14 for adults; $10 for seniors age 65 and older and $8 for children 12 and under. Sunday admission $7 for adults; $5 for seniors and children free. General admission on Saturdays Oct. 4-25 with $18 for adults; $14 for seniors and $8 for children, while Sunday admission is $9 for adults, $5 for seniors with children free. Admission for Oktoberfest Unplugged on Oct. 17 is $97 per person, which includes a five-course meal, entertainment, a commemorative 1-liter dimple stein and free admission for that weekend’s Oktoberfest celebration.

Information: 909-585-3000, www.BigBearEvents.com

Authenticity is what separates the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest, now in its 44th year, from other similar festivals.

The event, which starts Saturday and continues for seven weekends, was founded by German immigrant Hans Bandows and continues to bring German bands, German food, German beer and contests ranging from stein carrying to shoot and yodel to the Inland Empire.

“Everything’s authentic,” said Big Bear resident Dan McKernan, spokesman for the event who has attended for the past 10 years.

McKernan added sausages for sale (and for the eating contest) are purchased from a German butcher and the strudel comes from a German baker. Even the polka dances at the event is similar to Bavaria.

Monica Marini, Bandows’ daughter, is the director for the Big Bear Lake convention center who now runs the event, which McKernan boasts is “exactly what it would be like if you went to Germany.”

In his 10 years of attending the event, McKernan said it has an “electric vibe” to it.

“The reason I go back is for the fun atmosphere,” McKernan said. “It’s flat-out fun…. They’re constantly making improvements and making it better every year. Whether it’s the entertainment, expanding the outdoor bar, or whether they’re adding more vendors to the outside vendor area or adding new contests, it’s constantly improving.”

What’s new for this year’s event is that there are two German bands instead of one, along with other local bands.

Goldeizen Band is an eight-piece group from Bavaria while Aalbachtal Express is 11-piece band from southern Germany. Both play traditional polka along with current hits, McKernan said.

Last year, an outdoor stage was added to give attendees more entertainment so now not a moment passes without something fun going on.

“There’s constantly some kind of action — entertainment action — whether inside or outside,” McKernan said. “Now there’s two contest grounds (with the added stage). So log sawing, stein holding, a beer slam contest, the children’s contest; more people get to participate that way. It also keeps the entertainment action going throughout.”

Attendance reached nearly 25,000 people and McKernan is hopeful this year’s attendance will just be as good.

“If you’re looking for an event, this is where to look,” McKernan said. “You can kill two birds with one stone as you get a great event and change of colors. The fall colors are coming in and it’s just beautiful. You really see true, fall colors.”

Additionally, McKernan said there will be free parking onsite and free shuttle rides to local lodges or homes within a 10-mile radius in the Big Bear Valley.