Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Sweet Sounds: August 'Augie' Baldanzi serenaded Laura Brunton at the Campbell Oktoberfest on Oct. 20.
Campbell celebrates German culture, food
By Amy Jenkins
Close to 45,000 people visited the seventh annual Oktoberfest on Oct. 20 and 21, helping make the event among Campbell's most successful in recent years.
With more than 200 vendor booths, the festival offered something for everyone. Arts-and-crafts booths sold jewelry, hats, windchimes, glass-blown objects, metal-work, kites, woodwork, toys and more. Several artists sold paintings, photographs and reproductions of original pieces. Many of the 18 food vendors sold authentic German food, such as a wide variety of sausages.
The Chamber of Commerce started sponsoring the Oktoberfest, as well as the Prune Festival in May, to bring business to downtown Campbell. According to Chamber President Betty Deal, this was the most successful festival they had in the past two years, and the best Oktoberfest yet.
The Oktoberfest originated as a wedding celebration in Munich, Germany, in 1810, when Princess Therese married Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig. Even now , German residents start celebrating at noon once the first beer cask is tapped and stein filled. But because of bad German weather, the Oktoberfest has been moved to September there. Not the case in Campbell.
"The great weather this weekend was one of the things that made this event a success," Deal says. "The weather is great here in October."
In the beer garden, The International Band played music, while a variety of musical groups on the west stage entertained others. A climbing wall, trampoline and train rides offered activites for children and families. Adults and children had the opportunity to participate in karaoke on the community stage, and 86-year-old community member Augie Baldanzi played German music on the strolling accordion.
Campbell, California
