BIER FLOWED. Musik pulsed. People of all ages danced and sang and visited and ate and drank, simply having a wunderbar time in the small town of Dundas. Randy and I were among the fest-goers, celebrating our first ever Oktoberfest Saturday afternoon. Why did we wait so long?
This, for lack of a better phrase, was a whole lot of fun.
The mood proved jovial, festive and cheerful. Attendees really got in the spirit of the day, arriving in costume—lederhosen and dirndls and hats adorned with pins.
I arrived not quite knowing what to expect. Clearly many were seasoned in Oktoberfest, carrying their own massive steins and mugs to Chapel Brewing’s bier tap wagon. Lines formed outside the local craft brewer’s bier dispensing site.
Under the big tent, crowds packed the space to overflowing. Here the 35-member Twin Cities-based band, The Bavarian Musikmesiters, performed Deutsche songs while fest-goers listened, danced and even sang in Deutsch.
When a mug holding contest was announced, Randy stepped up to join a group of guys competing to see who could hold a water-filled mug the longest. One-handed. Straight out in front, even with your shoulder. No elbow bending. Randy finished third out of eight. Not bad for the oldest among the competitors. The winner works an office job and lifts 15-pound hand weights at work. But the women, competing with each other at the same time, outlasted the men. Winners kept their mugs and got a free bier.
Many times people lifted their bier-filled mugs, steins and plastic cups in Prost! Cheers.
There was lots to cheer about here from entertainment to food and drink, a craft fair, a collector’s car and motorcycle show, and activities for kids.
I took it all in, celebrating my Deutsche heritage, trying to remember the Deutsch I learned in high school and then in college. I’ve forgotten most of the Mother tongue. No one much cared. Rather, the focus was on fun, Deutsche style fun. Prost!
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NOTE: Please check back for more photos from Dundas’ Oktoberfest.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Audrey, could you please add a section to your blog listing places and dates of places you plan on attending? I missed the Dundas event again. lol
Danny, sometimes I don’t even know what events I will be attending. Local newspapers and radio stations are a great source of event info. I’m not on Facebook. Sorry you missed Oktoberfest in Dundas. I loved it.
It’s wonderful you had a great time celebrating your German heritage.
Oktoberfest was so much fun!
So much FUN and just puts you in a GOOD MOOD! We joined in for a bit of festivities on Saturday and the musician blew my mind when he played Burning Ring of Fire on an accordion – WOW! I guess the patrons could only handle so much polka before needing a change up in the music – ha! CHEERS
I love that Johnny Cash song. To hear it on the accordion must have been something. Prost!
Wonferful!
It was that.
I LOVE that picture of Randy in the mug holding contest! Priceless!
He only lost by about 15 seconds. I was there mouthing, “You got this!” I’m proud of how well he did against all the younger guys.