The Upper Tampa Bay Chamber Oktoberfest with authentic German food, German beer and a Munich style tent is considered by many to be the largest, most authentic Oktoberfest in West Central Florida.
But it’s what goes on inside and around the tent that makes Oktoberfest not only a great ethnic tradition but also a great time for the whole family to enjoy. As usual, the Tampa Bay Downs will provide an outstanding feast of your favorite German foods and desserts and we’ll have plenty of other food vendors to provide you ample choices of your other favorites. Plus you can expect dozens of arts and crafts vendors offering all sorts of attractive goodies.
The Big O carnival and midway will be there as a treat for kids of all ages. Talking about fun, get in shape now for our games of skill and strength including log sawing, barrel rolling and stein holding. And, we can’t forget the World Champion Keg Tossing contest!!!
Inside the tent we plan to have Joe Oberaitis and The Oktoberfest Express featuring Wackie Jackie on the drums fill the air with Ooompah Friday night and Saturday afternoon. And appearing for the first time in the Tampa Bay area we’ll be featuring the Grammy nominated Alex Meixner Band. This promises German music like you have not heard before including Alex on the Alpine Horn. The kids will love this one! Of course there will be plenty of dancing with the ever popular Gulf Coast Emzianer Schuhplatter Dancer, our Daytona Maiglockchen friends and our own Oldsmar Hope U Dance kids.
This is truly a regional event drawing from over a dozen surrounding counties and it’s all right in your back yard. If you haven’t been to the Upper Tampa Bay Oktoberfest, treat yourself to a great weekend! If you’re one of our 15,000 or so loyal supporters, welcome back friend!!!
Im Oldsmar steht ein Hofbrauhaus. Eins! Zwei!! Zuffa!!!
The Newhouse Media Group was kind enough to document some of the happenings in high definition video. Take a look to see what it's all about...a great family time with something to do for kids of all ages.
Oktoberfest brings the best of Old Bavaria and New Florida together for three full days of authentic German food, drink, music and dancing ... along with a spectacular carnival & midway, a great arts & crafts show, and the wildest array of audience participation contests that the Tampa Bay area has ever seen!
So, you ask, just how did the Top o’ the Bay suddenly become Bavaria by the Bay?To tell you the truth, we have no idea!But as for the history of Oktoberfest itself, well, that’s a completely different story...
Way back on October 12, 1810, the event which the world now knows as “Oktoberfest” began in Germany as a simple wedding reception.OK, so maybe it wasn’t so simple. After all, the participants were Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony, and every man, woman and child in the city of Munich was invited.But, hey ... it was a wedding that got this whole thing started.
Two hundred years later, the 17th Annual Top o’ the Bay Oktoberfest is a “wedding” as well ... a wedding of Old Bavarian and New Floridian cultures, meshing Old World customs with New World traditions in a festival which has quickly become one of the most popular annual events in the entire Tampa Bay area.
Friday 5-11pm
Saturday 11-11pm
Sunday 12-7pm
Sponsors
For more information, call the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce at (813) 855-4233.
To be a part of Oktoberfest as a sponsor, vendor or volunteer please contact us at 813.855.4233 or email Mark mhowe@UTBchamber.com
