The 49th year’s edition of fun and merriment with good friends and family are now firmly stored in the way-back machine out at the end of the internet.
Yes, we’ve now completed week 9 of 9! The weekend was billed as the 49th Annual Oktoberfest Encore. On the main stage to help us wrap up the year were once again The Goldeisen and Big Bear’s own Kleine Bär Tänzer (The Little Bear Dancers). I’m not sure what the expectations were for how big a gate this added weekend would bring but I think it’s fair to say it was probably better than expected.
But let me sneak in some videos before we get to the pictures. I finally woke up to the fact that I hadn’t showcased music from The Goldeisen yet even though we’ve thoroughly enjoyed their engagement. Thus, I’m going to start with two videos of them. The first one is a longer clip (03.43) and has many groups posing in front for pictures while they provided the background. The second runs (01:53). Turn up your volume and enjoy.
This third one is of our son, Matt, log sawing on the outside stage with a partner he’d never met before. I’m actually surprised it came out at all since the sun angle made it impossible to see what I was recording (I almost said filming) and I just pointed the camera in the right direction and hit the record button. He came in second by the way (00.27)
And now here’s the last batch of pictures for the year. I kind of held off publishing this last batch because, while Oktoberfest has concluded the 49th edition, the work still goes on for some people. Toward the end of the pictures I’ve added a couple showing some shirts drying on the line, a pile of dirndls on the bed, and a chicken (!) awaiting a wash and any mending necessary before next year. It’s never really done but that’s a start.
Feel free to click on any picture to start with and use the arrow keys to navigate through them or select the slideshow option and watch them on cruise control.
We hope to see you next year for the 50th!
