Oktoberfest!

My first Oktoberfest experience was a few years ago at the Old World Village in Huntington Beach. Old World is a charming little European style village tucked away in a nook behind the Bella Terra Mall. Cobblestones, cottages and little shops abound, and it really gives off a Euro feel so it's the perfect setting for a European festival.

The evening was hosted by this strapping gentleman. 

A big chicken was also wandering around in honor of the Chicken Dance song which we discovered came from Germany. 

THIS year we went to the Alpine Village because it's closer to Santa Monica than Old World. It was very different feel from Old World because the venue was just a huge tent set up in a parking lot full of picnic benches, but the ambience was equally festive, and it proved to be an all around silly good time. 

There were multiple competitions throughout the evening. One of the first ones was a Yodeling contest so later when they asked for more female contestants Jenn and I thought it would be another Yodeling contest so we rushed the stage. When we tried to confirm with the guy attending the stage entrance that we were indeed about to do a yodeling contest he negated our assumptions but assured us that it was "the best one."

We were soon presented with  bratwurst sausages as it was in fact the brat eating contest. I thought this was hilarious, and knew right away that I didn't stand a chance of winning for so many reasons. The competition began and after taking a few bites I realized that the girl next to me was literally stuffing her brat down her throat. I was so astounded that I stopped entirely and was just watching her as she devowered the lifeless piece of unidentifiable meat. She won, and I pawned the rest of my brat off to my friends. :)