COLUMBIA, S.C. — The annual German celebration, Oktoberfest, is officially back in the South Carolina Midlands, where folks in Columbia got a taste of German food and culture.
Hundreds gathered at Incarnation Lutheran Church, with many visitors coming for the first time, including sisters Renee and Darlene Coleman, who are new to the area.
“I told my sister because, like, she stated, we come out; we come to different events; we want to learn about different cultures," Renee said. "We want to try different foods, so we want to have fun and fellowship."
The German celebration even brought two lifelong friends, Suzanne Papp and Brandi Williams, back together for the first time in years to make even more memories.
“It’s actually the first Saturday in a couple years that we both have off together, so we’re, like, you’ve got to come with us this year," said Papp.
"I’m ready to dance; I am hoping and ready to learn some German dances and spend time with my friend and just have a good time," Williams said.
At the event, visitors could experience German culture, including Polka dances, which dancers like Zanna Mills say she had prepared for weeks before taking the stage.
"We do a lot of practices before we come out here, so it's a lot of work," Mills said. "Plus, my mom is the person under the tent cheering for everyone, so that helps to know this place welcomes these dances."
For others like Uriel Rengel, seeing a glimpse of representation of German culture closer to home convinced them to attend after a trip to Munich, Germany, in April.
“I was in Munich earlier this year, so, like, April and last week, I saw an ad for Oktoberfest in Columbia, and it reminded me of Germany because I went to beer halls there and thought it was kind of like [what] I experienced in Germany. Might as well come here, closer to home,” he said.
“Although a lot of people, I hear them come, and it will be their first time coming here, and they say, 'I’ve never been here; I’ve never heard of this before,' and they come and say, 'I am going to make this a yearly trip now.'”
The last day of this event is Sunday, Oct. 13, from noon to 6 p.m.