Oktoberfest Southern Style in Elberta, Alabama

There are many Oktoberfests held in the U.S. every autumn. The smell of German food and the sound of oompah music waft through the air. Add a craft fair, a few country music bands, attractions for the kids and authentic German sausage, and you have the Elberta German Sausage Festival. It's the Oktoberfest that's so nice, it's held twice a year.

The Town of Elberta, Alabama is located on U.S. Highway 98, about 5 miles East of Alabama State Highway 59 in Foley and about 15 miles West of Blue Angel Parkway in Pensacola, Florida. According to Wikipedia, it was founded about 1904 by the Baldwin County Colonization Company, a Chicago-based land developer, and was settled mostly by first and second generation Germans. The town motto, which is proudly displayed on the water tower, is "fur das gut Leben," which means "for the good life." The town boasts, not only one of the best Oktoberfest-type events in the South, it is also the home of the Baldwin Heritage Museum. Elberta is located near Gulf beaches, award-winning golf courses and several other area attractions.

The Elberta German Sausage Festival was started by the Elberta Fire Department in 1978 as a fund-raiser for the town. According to their website at http://sausagefest.elbertafire.com the foods include German style filled cabbage, potato salad, goulash, red beans and rice, hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, ice cream, popcorn and peanuts. There are also baked goods available at some of the booths.

The original recipe for the authentic Elberta German sausages was developed by the late Alfred Stucki, a local plant manager. They sell about 7,000 pounds of sausage each festival. Wear your walking shoes and prepare to stand in line with up to 30,000 others at the sausage tent.

Of course, being a southern style Oktoberfest, the music varies between traditional German music, polka, fiddlers, cloggers and country. In addition there are carnival rides and games for the kids and lots of cold American and German beer for the adults.

To walk off all the calories consumed at the food venues, don't forget to visit the 250 Arts and Crafts booths. Some are to benefit local non-profit organizations. Many are to display and sell the work of area artists and businesses. Some vendors come from out of state to participate and return every year to one of the area's most popular events.

The Elberta German Sausage Festival is held twice a year, on the last Saturday of March and the last Saturday of October. The hours are from 8am to 5pm. The festival location is in Town Park at the intersection of U.S. 98 and County Road 83 (Main Street and State Street). Admission is free, although you might have to pay to park in a lot run by one of the many local non-profits. Handicap parking is available in front of the Police Department across from the park.