Dick reports...

Oktoberfest ‘Wind-up’

Now that it is really October, we can look back on all the "Oktoberfests" that were celebrated in September already.

The first and biggest was most likely the two-day event at the Donauschwaben Club and the huge band from Austria. It was the "Trachtenmusikkapelle" from Nussdorf, near Salzburg, with over 50 musicians – boys and girls – creating Oktoberfest ambiance on the Saturday.

"Trachtenmusikkapelle" from Nussdorf at Scarborough City Hall and their way back to Danube Swabian Club [photos: Toni Baumann]

And they played dance music to a full house – and I mean "full"! The club was sold out; top to bottom, even the mezzanine was filled and the restaurant area was incorporated into the hall seating. It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves.

The Trachtenmusikkapelle von Nussberg

Many of the guests had followed the afternoon parade from the Town centre and many of them were surprised when they came to the club. Most of them – even Germans – had no idea that the club even existed. They just followed the music – like the kids, following the pied piper, in the old days. A surprise to some of the new visitors was the display of the wonderful dirndl dresses and accessories presented by Regina’s Dirndl Stube, on the second floor. But Regina and Hans Grumme are retiring and this could be one of the last times that they are exhibiting the rest of their stock in public.

Selecting Miss Oktoberfest

One of the favorites from the kitchen were the Pork Hocks with Sauerkraut, but the Schnitzels and Stefan Werner’s home-made sausages found many lovers too.

The Danube Swabian Youth Group

On Saturday mainly the ‘Youth Group Dancers’ entertained, while on Sunday the real young ones danced for the visitors. They are the 9 to 12 year-olds, boys and girls - since they have to be 13 to join the older dancers.

On the dance floor

On the Sunday the hall was well filled while the "Variation Band" kept the dance floor filled. Well, just another successful event!

At the Hansa Haus – on the next Saturday – the hall was sold out. Of course the "Harmonie Brass Showband" is always a draw and never disappointing with their large repertoire of familiar tunes to dance to.

"Ein Prosit"

The Harmonie Brass Showband
...and on the dance floor

Great entertainment was offered by the Weiss-Blau Bayern dance group that not only performed many times throughout the evening, and even did the woodchoppers dance with real wood! Oh yes, they did the bell ringing too! There was never a dull moment.

As there are too many picture to tell the story about the Weiss-Blau Bayern entertainment, just click on the links below:

It started with the dances of the Blau-Weiss Bayern Juniors;

then the Blau-Weiss Bayern Seniors themselves;

and with audience participation;

finally the "Holzhacker" (lumberjack) dance.

The marriage proposal

Gabriel Lopez introduced Cindy Claus and Miguel Moreira to the guests. Cindy is of German and Miguel of Portuguese extraction. Miguel used this open forum to propose to Cindy – complete with knee fall. Yeah, she accepted. This was the real thing and not part of the planned entertainment. However it was entertaining and quite unexpected!

The audience
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Oktoberfest at the Club Loreley was another successful event with a full house. The "Up-Beats" band did provide a rich palette of familiar dance music and the kitchen offered the hungry with pork hocks, schnitzel and sausages – the traditional Oktoberfest fare.

To all: "Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit"

As always

Dick Altermann