There are several options on the annual local calendar when it comes to celebrating Oktoberfest, but little compares with the party held each year in Ocean Beach. True, the events might have oompah bands, beer and sausages like other venues, but only Ocean Beach has its event right at the water’s edge. Located at the foot of Newport Avenue and Abbott Street, more than 7,000 people are expected to attend the 10th annual installment of the OB Oktoberfest. The two-day happening on Oct. 10 and 11 will include two stages of entertainment and contests galore for the crowd’s amusement. Now a local tradition, Ocean Beach MainStreet Association executive director Denny Knox is succinct when it comes to the reason for Oktoberfest’s success. “I don’t know of another one that’s right on the beach,” she said. She said she particularly enjoys the contests. “I think they’re hilarious. Everybody’s arms get really shaky [during the stein-holding contest]. It’s pretty funny,” she said. Saturday will feature beachside food and craft vendors, as well as a free all-ages stage on the grassy area at the foot of Newport Avenue, which will include performances from a traditional oompah Band, Lobster Bob and local music artists. Meanwhile, the beer garden stage will open the festivities on Friday night. There is a $3 donation and you must be 21 and up to enter the beer garden. On hand Friday night in the 21-and-up-only beer garden will be musical performers Brothers Gow, Electric Waste Band and Piracy Conspiracy. Saturday will feature host Jose Sinatra, plus sets from The Bavarian Beer Garden Band, The Rey Vinole Oktoberfest Orchestra, AJ Afroman, The Earful, Jet West, The Devastators, Todo Mundo and Vokab Kompany. Between the crowds and the setting, it’s a dream gig for most bands.
“Playing outside provides a natural feel,” said Chris Warner of Jet West, which performs at 3 p.m. “It also doesn’t hurt to have a cool breeze hit ya when you’re playing a set.” AJ Froman, performing at 11 a.m., agrees. “There is nothing that compares to playing outside with the warm sun, cool breeze and amazing energy from thousands of people having fun outdoors.” He said his band will adapt its set for Oktoberfest. “We will cater our set to an all-ages crowd to ensure we are family friendly,” Froman said.
Meanwhile, Todo Mundo frontman Santiago Orozco is more philosophical about the show. “We love playing outdoor events like this,” he said. “Ocean Beach is a beautiful community with lots of positive energy. An outdoor festival like this brings together the community, as well as great people from all over San Diego, and really amplifies that energy. It’s such a great feeling to share our music with a big crowd that’s having fun outside right next to the ocean.”
Activities this year include the Miss Oktoberfest contest over both nights, with Saturday reserved for athletic competitions like the annual Brat Trot Run — which is an Ocean Beach Community Foundation fundraiser — as well as a 2K Family Fun Run at 9 a.m. and a traditional 5k Beach Run at 10 a.m. On the more humorous side, there will also be competitions in bratwurst-eating, balloon inflating, stein-holding and sausage-tossing. The latter should bring out a lot of competition. While most of the contests have a small cash prize to go with the bragging rights, tossing sausage into a tub and following the rules can net a winner $10,000. Also on the list of fun events will be “Find the Schnitzengruben,” a modern twist on a treasure hunt, in which 10 envelopes full of cash are hidden and participants are tweeted clues to their whereabouts. Shuttles to and from the event will be available on Friday and Saturday from the 710 Beach Club in Pacific Beach. Saturday will see the addition of shuttles to and from the Gaslamp District at The Local and in Normal Heights to and from the Rabbit Hole. Despite the event’s increasing popularity, don’t expect things to get much bigger. “We like the size that it is,” Knox said. “There’s space and enough bicycle racks and so on. It’s comfortable.”