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Oktoberfest keeps warm despite cold

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The Schell’s Hobo Band played classic polkas for the Best Western crowd.

NEW ULM — The second weekend of Oktoberfest began Friday and despite a chill in the air, hundreds flock to celebrations at Schell’s Brewery and the Best Western.

Schell’s Brewery always opens its gate on the second Saturday of Oktoberfest, but this year the brewery also hosted a pre-party with free admission. The tent and outdoor bars were already set up for Saturday. The pre-party was intended as a smaller celebration, before the big party Saturday.

The Brewery opens to the public at 4:30 p.m. as light snow began to fall, but it did not affect the celebration. The Oktoberfest tent blocked the worst of the wind and the beer helped keep everyone warm.

Staff and volunteers said it was one of the colder Oktoberfests in recent years, but the weather was a matter of perspective.

“I prefer to think of this as warm Bockfest rather than a cold Oktoberfest,” Schell’s volunteer Kristy Paulson said.

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt August Schell’s Brewery President Ted Marti joined the pre-party celebration. In addition to celebrating Oktoberfest, he was celebrating his birthday. He turned 69 on Thursday.

Many of the pre-party visitors to Schell’s were from out of town. Kristen Gerber of Omaha, Nebraska said this was her first Oktoberfest visit to New Ulm. She decided to stop in New Ulm before heading on to the Twin Cities to watch the Huskers play the Gophers.

Logan Pettit of Colorado came to the brewery with locals Bryce Tessmer and Kristin Blume. Pettit took a vacation from his food truck to visit New Ulm. At the brewery, he was able to local cuisine from Lola’s food truck.

At the Best Western Plus, the Concord Singers and the Narren started the festivities inside while Cold Blood Whiskey kick off Rocktoberfest in the Green Mill Parking lot.

The colder weather brought many festival-goer inside to warm up or at least change into heavier coats.

The Oktoberfest vendors were busy selling lederhosen and bohemian hats, but many came with their own Oktoberfest attire.

Logan Pettit (left), Bryce Tessmer (center) and Kristin Blume (right) dine from the Lola food truck parked at the Schell’s Brewery for the pre-Oktoberfest party. Pettit was visiting from Colorado and runs his food truck. He said it was nice to sample from another truck.

Corianne Gregg of Bloomington wore her latest dirndl to the festival. Gregg said has been attending the New Ulm Oktoberfest for 35 years.

“Technically it’s even longer than that because my mom came here when she was pregnant with me,” she said.

Her family still attends Oktoberfest and now it is time for the next generation to join the tradition. Her son Bryce Gregg was given his first Oktoberfest hat. It is likely the first of many.

New Ulm Oktoberfest continues Saturday. The downtown Oktoberfest celebration begins at 11 a.m. with a performance from the Bockfest Boys followed by Church of Cash at 2 p.m.

Schell’s Brewery will open its gates from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cold Blood Whisky performed as the opening act for the second week of The Green Mill/Best Western’s Rocktoberfest.

The New Ulm Event Center will host an Oktoberfest celebration at 1 p.m. featuring the music of The Leon Olsen Show and Dain’s Dutchmen.

The music at Best Western Plus starts at 2 p.m. with the Concord Singers, followed by The Bockfest Boys at 3:15 p.m.; the Concord Singers again at 6:45 p.m. and The Wendinger Band at 8:3 p.m. Whiskey Stone will play outside under the Rocktoberfest tent at 6 p.m. IV Play will follow at 8:30 p.m.

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Josh Gregg models his Oktoberfest attire with his son Bryce, who just got his first Oktoberfest style hat.

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