by Dennis Dalman
“Rocktoberfest” transformed the downtown St. Joseph area Sept. 30 into a German-style Bavarian music-and-food festival, thanks to the St. Joseph Booster Club.
The event took place from 3-11 p.m. on the big parking lot across the street east of St. Joseph Catholic Church, at the same location where the Joe Town Rocks concert happens every July 3.
The St. Joseph Booster Club raises money for private schools throughout central Minnesota, and Rocktoberfest is just one of its ongoing fundraisers.
Rocktoberfest is a take-off name of the world-famous “Oktoberfest” (October Festival), which is held every fall in Munich, a city in Bavaria, Germany.
The St. Joseph version, now in its fifth year, is meant to celebrate the deep German immigrant roots in central Minnesota, especially the Germanic heritage of St. Joseph.
For Rocktoberfest, a 12,000 square-foot heated tent was erected in which to sample many German-style foods and Minnesota-brewed beers. There was also fun activities such as beer stein-holding contests, axe throwing at targets or – for the less active participants – simply sitting and tapping toes to the music or perhaps jumping up to dance.
The festival was meant to be for adults 21 and older.
Entertainment was provided by The Bavarian Musikmeisters from 3-7 p.m. and by Rhino from 7-11 p.m.
Musikmeisters is a 25-member wind-instrument band based in the Twin Cities. Formed in 1985, the band is modeled after the traditional village bands of Germany. Wearing traditional Bavarian outfits, its members perform waltzes, polkas, folk dances and ballads.
Rhino, also Twin Cities-based, is a four-member band that performs mainly throughout the Upper Midwest. It plays rock, pop and country.
Food was available for sale from Dana’s Kitchen Food Truck. Choices include traditional German fare like kraut noodles with kielbasa, Bavarian broccoli slaw and pretzel bites with beer, as well as more down-home American options such as pulled-pork sandwiches, french fries and loaded tater tots.
For more information and to plan ahead for next year’s celebration, visit rocktoberfestmn.com.
Gussied up in traditional Bavarian outfits, members of The Bavarian Musikmeisters perform at a festival. They will be one of two bands that will entertain at Rocktoberfest Sept. 30 in St. Joseph.
Rhino, a Twin Cities-based band, will perform rock, pop and country songs at the Sept. 30 Rocktoberfest in St. Joseph.
