Cullman Oktoberfest

History:

The first Oktoberfest goes back to a horse race in 1810. The occasion was the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburg-hausen. Around 40,000 people attended the event in Munich, Germany.

The celebration soon developed into a harvest festival, and as time passed, it became more and more extravagant. Beer was first served in 1818; since then, the Munich Oktoberfest has become an international event. Millions of visitors come from all over the world to attend the festival. 

During the war years, there was no Oktoberfest. After World War II, a fall festival was again started, but it didn't return to its original form until 1949. 

Cullman's Oktoberfest began as a one-day festival in 1977 celebrating the centennial of Sacred Heart Church. Also serving as a fund-raiser for the school, it turned into an annual event. In 1982, the Cullman Downtown Merchants Association promoted a week-long festival that ended with Sacred Heart's fair. This became the first official Oktoberfest. 

This year marks the 30th Oktoberfest celebration in Cullman. Many events remain unchanged year to year, while new events are added and old ones expanded upon, under the direction of the Cullman Oktoberfest Committee. One thing that remains unchanged is the absence of alcohol, since Cullman County is a dry county. Instead of beer, a sparkling apple cider has been appointed the official beverage of the Cullman Oktoberfest.