Multicultural Programming hosted its first ever FAU Oktoberfest on Oct. 4 on Boca campus’ student housing lawn. It resembled the typical celebration of Bavarian culture: Traditional German music, food and dancing. There was one major difference—there was no beer at this traditionally beer-centered event.Oktoberfest is held in Germany once a year. The 201-year-old festival celebrates German heritage, and attendees are known to consume large quantities of German beer during the festival.
Multicultural Programming provided various game booths and free food in the absence of alcohol. There was a dunking booth, Angry Birds bean bag toss, as well as popcorn and cotton candy. Traditional German foods such as schnitzel, sausage and noodles were also provided to students, who sat at family-style tables to enjoy their meals. Ironically, there was a beer stein decorating station, but no beer to fill the decorators’ mugs.
FAU’s Miss Oktoberfest, sophomore Christina Stanley, spent a good portion of the festival greeting visitors wearing an updated version of the traditional Bavarian “dirndl”. The traditional dirndl consists of a long skirt, apron, bodice and blouse. FAU’s Miss Oktoberfest’s modern take on the dirdnl consisted of the same pieces, but Stanley’s skirt was mid-thigh length.
Stanley is not German, but Mexican and Irish. “I think I’ve got some German in me somewhere, but I’m not sure,” she said.
Director of Multicultural Programming and senior English major Marie Genie Dumas explained the selection process for FAU’s Miss Oktoberfest.
“We had about ten candidates and we were looking for someone who was involved in a leadership role around campus and who understood multicultural programming,” said Dumas.
According to Dumas, one of Miss Oktoberfest’s duties includes representation for future Multicultural Affairs events. She will also participate in Multicultural Affairs’ world culture publicity, and hold the title of “Miss Oktoberfest” until October 2012.
“As far as I know, I’m just supposed to stand here and look pretty,” said Stanley when questioned about her duties as Miss Oktoberfest.
The Swinging Bavarians, a German polka band, provided traditional music for the festival. The band is based out of central Florida and consists of family members who take two months out of their year to travel and perform for German festivals around the state.
This was only the second time they have performed on a college campus in their 30 years together as a band. Although alcohol was not readily provided to the Swinging Bavarians, they kept with tradition and brought their own beer.
“Oktoberfest without beer is pretty dry,” said band leader Bill Schoenfeldt, who was born in Germany. He formed the Swinging Bavarians in 1982 with his brothers and close friends. They have been playing together ever since.
Joining the Swinging Bavarians were Miami-based dancers of the Original Auerhahn Schuhplattler dance troupe. They performed Bavarian folk dancing to the beat of the Swinging Bavarians’ polka music.
When asked how he felt about the lack of beer at FAU’s Oktoberfest, dance leader Joe Koelbl said, “We can’t dance without beer.”
Beer was initially supposed to be provided at the event, but the week before the event, administration denied Multicultural Programming the right to supply beer to of-age students. Multicultural Programming was ready to provide police and security to regulate underage students’ access to beer.
“How do I feel about us not being allowed to have beer at this event? Well, I’m not happy,” said Dumas. “But that’s not what this event is about. It’s about celebrating different cultures and coming together to have a good time.”
Dumas hopes the event will continue in future years. Whether or not there will actually be alcohol provided at future Oktoberfests at FAU has yet to be determined.
