Guten tag und Prost to our German freundes everywhere but a focus today on the United Steins of America.
Where the German diaspora has since 1990 been ranked as the biggest, at 50 million, of all immigrant groups in America.
This time of year Germans and Germanophiles come together to clink steins wherever they are.
Oktoberfest for the senses
With Oktoberfests a fixture of Germanic communities across the country.
In towns and cities well served by airlines from the Old World.
Of course, all boozists should complete a pilgrimage to the Munich Mecca at least once in a lifetime.
And, trust me, you’ll want to go back the next year, and the one after that and that.
Until there are no more halls to get chucked out of.
And you’re searching for another country where there’s not a Wanted poster for you, like, say the United Steins of America.
Freundes across the water
Our freundes in the Oo Es of Eh point us to their biggest.
And Oktoberfest Zinzinnati in Ohio, The Denver Oktoberfest in Colorado, and the town of Leavenworth, Washington.
Or Frankenmuth, Michigan, Helen, Georgia, La Crosse, Wisconsin and Fredericksburg, Texas.
While we have alighted on another, and one with a Wiener race (behave!) and much more besides in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Rally to Raleigh
Which has the added advantage of a new direct route through Ireland, with pre-clearance, with Aer Lingus.
The 11th annual Triangle Oktoberfest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary is a two-day affair.
With plenty of family-friendly activities including live music, storytelling and dancing,
And the beloved wiener dog races involving America’s favourite dog, the daschund.
And traditional Bavarian food and fare from local favorites that include The Butcher’s Market and Annelore’s German Bakery.
So that’ll be strudels, kuchen, bier pretzels, bratwurst, German chocolate and more.
Plus, of course, local and traditional German beers and all-day music from the King Guys Oktoberfest Brass Band.
Admission to the festival starts at $20 (buy online or at the door).
And food and drinks are purchased separately (a sampler pass for unlimited beer pours can be purchased at the venue).
North Carolina on my mind
And a word to the wise, if you can resist climbing onto the bandstand, grabbing the mic and singing My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean.
Then they might just let you hang around.
Aer Lingus have 26 direct routes to North America with pre-clearance out of Ireland.
The Irish national airline carrier offers Dublin to Raleigh from €1,011.
