Oktoberfest goes big

Oktoberfest+goes+big

The night of Oct. 5 was one of carnival rides and bratwursts in Montrose, as the area was filled to the brim with people to celebrate Oktoberfest.

This year’s Oktoberfest was huge, with the festivities spanning the entirety of the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Ave. The streets were lined with tents filled with volunteers serving everything from churros to sauerkraut—an acquired taste for many. People came dressed in their most traditional German attires and competed for the title of Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest.

About 40 Clarkies volunteered at Oktoberfest this year, according to counseling secretary Becky Bondy. One of the first things greeting visitors at the corner of Ocean View and Honolulu was the information booth led by a group of Clark students.

Paul Terzian, a junior and member of the Key Club, greeted visitors with a wave and a smile. “It’s really fun to work the booth because we get to see so many people,” Terzian said. “We still get breaks and stuff though, so we enjoy the festival too.”

He was joined by his fellow classmates Nune Garipian, Mary Rshtouni and Anna Baghramian who also shared the same enthusiasm for Oktoberfest. “We signed up to volunteer and we’re actually really glad that we did because there’s a lot more people at Oktoberfest this year than there was last year,” Garipian said. “Also, we got to see Mr. Kursinski in the crowd so that was pretty funny.”

Baghramian was keen to comment on how long she had been in the information booth. “I don’t think I can even feel my legs, we’ve been here so long,” she said. Despite the strain on her feet, Baghramian didn’t regret staying for the twelve-hour shift. “It’s all worth it in the end, though.”

The festivities and the Clark students remained on Honolulu Ave. until 11 p.m., when the tents and rides were packed up and stored until next year.

photo caption: Junior Paul Terzian directs a festival-goer to the nearest ticket stand. The volunteers were working the booth from 11am until 11pm.