Newsletter - October 06'

I have never, in my 25 year, or so, career as a Saints fan, seen the New Orleans NFL franchise play as good a game as they did on Sept. 25. The whole pre-game show was terrific! U2 and some fantastic NO horn players joining Green Day was inspiring. Anyone inside the Dome will likely never forget that party. Just being home and watching it was a blast. I was jumping around on that first defensive punt block, scoop and score! The Saints played a full four quarters of tough, aggressive, talented, and passionate football. Loved it - thank you New Orleans Saints for giving the South another reason to be excited and proud!

OK, this is probably one of my favorite times of the year - OKTOBERFEST! I love these fun parties, held around long tables of families and friends gorging themselves on bratwurst, weinersnitzel, sauerkraut, and potatoes, then washing it down with great draft beer. And, you can waltz, 2-step, chicken dance, and sing songs with lyrics you don’t understand! I have encouraged several friends to try one of these, and they always end up loving it. I can’t wait to sit with my friends and enjoy a great celebration - PROST!

Here are some websites for you to check into Oktoberfests in our area:

http://www.oktoberfestla.com/

http://www.robertscovegermanfest.com/

http://www.ponchatoulachamber.com/events/Ponchatoula-Oktoberfest.html

What is Oktoberfest?

It began with the Royal Wedding on 12 October 1810.

Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. The fields were renamed Theresienwiese ("Theres'a Fields") to honor the Crown Princess, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to "Wiesn". Horse races in the presence of the royal family marked the close of the event that was celebrated as a festival for the whole of Bavaria. The decision to repeat the horse races in subsequest years gave rise to the tradition of Oktoberfest.

In the first few decades, the choices of amusements were sparse. In 1818, the first carousel and two swings were set up. Vistitors were able to quench their thirst at small beer stands, which grew rapidly in number. In 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls set up by the enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries. The remainder of the festival site was taken up by a fun-fair. The range of carousels offered was already increasing rapidly in the 1870's as the fairground trade continued to grow and develope in Germany.

Today, the Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest festival in the world, with an international flavor characteristic of the 20th century.

At the foot of the Bavaria Statue, adjacent to the Huge Oktoberfest grounds there are also carousels, roller coasters and all the spectacular fun for the enjoyment and excitement of visitors of all ages.

The festivities are accompanied by a program of events, including the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Costume and Riflemen's Procession, and a concert involving all the brass bands represented at the "Wiesn".

The Oktoberfest celebrates its 196th Anniversery this year (2006), only Wars and cholera epidemics have briefely interrupted the yearly beer celebration.

OK, so you didn’t need all the history, right? Hehe.... Just trying to be informative! I’m gonna go to Munich for this, someday.

Oh, check the schedule and come see me play, too, if you can! No doubt, you all love the fall as much as I do. Enjoy this wonderful time of year, and I hope I can share some of it with you.

Thanks,
Kirk