“Oktoberfest is one of my favorite fall events,” said Tracy Allahverdian, a Clark Magnet junior. “I go with my friends every year and we always have lots of fun — except this year since I almost fainted on one of the rides.”

Last Saturday, Oct. 7, many Clark students, including Tracy Allahverdian, gathered for the 40th annual Oktoberfest celebration in Montrose. Some went in hopes of receiving a few community service hours and some went to spend time with friends or family — and some, such as Allahverdian, even came close to fainting because of the carnival rides.

According to the Montrose Chamber of Commerce, 25 Clark students volunteered at the event. Students had the option of selecting their preferred booth to work at for the day. Some helped out with the carnival games, while others helped at food stands.

One of the most unique parts of the event every year is the traditional German food. Participants smelled the irresistible aroma of Bavarian sausages from Schreiner’s Fine Sausages located in Montrose. Other fine German foods included bratwurst, a type of German sausage; sauerkraut, a type of fermented cabbage; and strudel, a pastry with various sweet fillings. Many people, however, including Clark junior Ligiya Mamikonyan, preferred eating from the eateries already on Honolulu Ave., specifically, sushi at Sake. Of course, Oktoberfest would not be possible without its large variety of beer. This year, the Ninkasi Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Co., and many others featured their beers. As for entertainment, many people enjoyed watching the German American Brass Band and the D’oberlander Dancers perform. As Oktoberfest is intended to be an event for all ages, there were also many carnival rides and games.

The very first Oktoberfest dates back to 1810, where it first originated: Munich, Bavaria. It started off as a wedding celebration but grew to be an event that would continue for many decades. Since then, the festival has been held not only in Germany, but in various places across the globe.

In Germany, however, the festival goes on for 16 days and attracts millions of people each year. Despite the differences in celebrating the event across the globe, there are commonalities including the huge amounts of beer, tasty foods and traditional music.