Breen-Phillips Hall (BP) and the German Club will bring a slice of Bavaria to North Quad on Friday with their Oktoberfest celebration, which will take place from 3-6 p.m.
“It is a great fall activity on a football weekend for a great cause,” Ekman said. “We hope people will enjoy the food and activities we have prepared for the event, bringing their friends and celebrating Oktoberfest.”
Senior Joe Scollan, President of the German club, said Oktoberfest provides students with a great opportunity to have fun.
“Oktoberfest started in the 1800s in Bavaria because it was originally a party in honor of the Prince of Bavaria's daughter's marriage,” he said. “Everyone had such a good time that they just began having the party each year, and it's stuck.”
In order to enhance the celebratory atmosphere, Ekman said the coordinators ordered a substantial amount of food for the student body.
“German Club is making homemade pretzels to go along with apples and caramel in addition to a root beer keg,” she said.
Scollan said the proceeds from the pretzel sales go directly to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. In addition to event sales, Ekman said BP and its brother dorm Duncan are contributing to the fundraising effort through section can drive competitions.
“We are hoping for a great turnout to support the food bank and to enjoy some fall snacks,” she said.
Preparations for the event began about a month ago, Ekman said, with dorm coordinators working with hall government to garner new ideas and support.
Scollan said the German Club also participated in event planning as well as SAO coordination and fundraising efforts.
In the event of rain, Ekman said a secondary location — the McNeill Room in the LaFortune Student Center — was reserved in order to house the activities indoors.
In addition to this Oktoberfest celebration, Scollan said the German Club is also hosting “OkDomerfest” at Legend’s on Oct. 8 from 8-10 p.m.
“We will have a huge spread of German food — pretzels yes, but also bratwurst, sauerkraut, cake — and Legend's will have their cash bar open for those 21 and over,” he said.
While Okdomerfest is more directed at celebrating the cultural side of the German event, Scollan said students should attend both events in order to get a true sense of the “multiple faces of what Oktoberfest is to Bavarians.”
“Oktoberfest with [Breen-Phillips Hall] is great because it's highly visible, goes to a good cause and is a great thing to stop by at to play some games, which is the founding idea of Oktoberfest, having fun,” he said.
