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The longest Octoberfest in the country kicked off in Helen last weekend with a parade and the traditional tapping of the keg. Helen has hosted an Octoberfest event since 1970.
The longest Oktoberfest in the country kicked off last week, with a free-admission-for-locals night at the Festhalle on Thursday, Sept. 8. For many, the celebration starts with the parade and tapping of the keg, held Saturday, Sept. 10. Grand Marshall for the parade was Bobby Marshall, branch manager for Northeast Sales and Distributing. Marshall has been with Northeast 48 years.
The festivities will continue Thursday, Sept. 15 – Sunday, Sept. 18 and Thursday, Sept. 22 – Sunday Sept. 25, then beginning Thursday, Sept. 29, the Festhalle will be open every night until Oct. 30. Hours are 6 to 10:30 p.m. weekdays, 1 p.m. to midnight Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $8 Monday through Fridays, $10 on Saturdays and no charge on Sundays.
Patrons can enjoy German music, food, drinks and dancing. More than a dozen bands are scheduled, many of which play at Oktoberfests around the country. While they play a variety of music, there will be ample opportunity to polka, try the chicken dance and work out to the Macarena.
Helen's Oktoberfest is the longest running in the U.S. It lasts almost two months and has been ongoing since 1970, when the little town of Helen was just beginning its Appalachian-to-Alpine transformation. Early Oktoberfest celebrations were held on Main Street, with tents set up at the Wurst Haus.
The Festhalle was built in 1978 on the side of the Chattahoochee River. While specific portions of the festivities take place there, all of the restaurants and businesses in town participate in the event, said long-time city commissioner Jeff Ash. The building itself has been added on to and renovated, and is operated by the Greater Helen Area Chamber of Commerce, a 501-(c)3. It is now used year-round, for a variety of events.