Oktoberfest: Complaints or Constructive Criticism?

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This weekend, people in and around Chattanooga had the opportunity to party Bavarian style. It was the 8th annual Oktoberfest of the Chattanooga Market and also the Renaissance Oktoberfest, put together by the city's Department of Education, Arts & Culture.

Now, before I share my two cents on the event, let me give you two examples of why I am extremely biased and why anything I say may cast me as an annoying know-it-all:

First, I was born and raised in Bavaria, the Southeastern state of Germany in which the original Oktoberfest has been held since 1810.

Second, Germans are world champion complainers. Even if they mean to make suggestions in a constructive way they tend to come accross as smart-alecks. That is because Germans usually speak their minds openly. They rarely understand that other cultures may interpret their frank straightforwardness as impolite, arrogant or even rude. So should it feel like I am complaining, don't be misled. I intend only to give well-meant constructive criticism.

That said, last weekend at the Market was quite an improvement over last year's Oktoberfest—and Chattanoogans should be grateful for the leadership displayed by EAC in pulling everything together and increasing the footprint of the event.

To be the honest German that I am: There is more room for improvement. All local Germans I talked to during the last couple of days agreed with me on that. And to be fair: The criticism is only targeted at the "Oktoberfest" part. We all understand that a Renaissance Fest doesn't mean copying a Bavarian tradition.

So here are some suggestions for next year:

• Increasing the footprint may not be the best idea just yet. Everything seemed spread out too far. Organizers should try to keep Oktoberfest elements at one location. Once the crowds grow bigger over the years, an expansion makes sense.


• While Chattanoogans with German background do appreciate the fact that EAC and all participating contributors are trying to recreate a foreign tradition, it is what it is: a foreign tradition. Why not pool all German resources early on for next year? Organizers may be surprised at how much knowledgable help they can find.


• The Big River beer was exceptionally good, but where is the competition? Some beer from Munich would be nice, too.


• Add some fairground attractions.


• Find more vendors that can replicate typical Oktoberfest food. Nothing gets people in the mood better than a Leberkässemmel, a Schweinshaxn, a Grillhendl or a Steckerlfisch.


• Well, one thing may indeed be better for creating a festive atmosphere: more music. The Oktoberfest kind, of course.

 

Here are some links worth checking out if you want to do more research:

• Wikipedia on Oktoberfest


• The official Oktoberfest website


• Munich's tourism office


• the Oktoberfest iPhone App

Transcontinental beer connection

 

And in order to honor the German-American spirit of an Oktoberfest in Chattanooga I recommend keeping an eye on a transatlantic collaboration that appears to be unlike any other:

The Bavarian brewery of Weihenstephan and the Boston Beer Co. have teamed up to jointly produce and market a new craft beer which is scheduled to reach shelves in Germany and in the United States in the spring of 2010. I wrote a little more about this Anglo-Bavarian beer partnership on my blog, Southeast Schnitzel.

German-American Business News

 

• Remember the VW-based novelty car Karmann Ghia? Their manufacturer, German contract car maker Karmann, has been operating under bankruptcy protection since April. Now Volkswagen may buy them out in an attempt to save the company and to secure production facilities.


• Wacker Chemie has been "hit hard" by the worldwide recession, according to CEO Rudolf Staudigl. The chemicals company which plans to build a polysilicon factory in Bradley County, TN reported slightly improved figures for the third quarter.


• There had been speculation that VW sister brand Audi may also move production to Enterprise South. Apparently that won't happen anytime soon. The company just announced they'll invest some $2.8 billion in existing plants in Germany.


• Instead, in addition to its new sedan, VW may produce the new "New Beetle" in Chattanooga.


• From the Will-never-happen-in-the-US department: Some rich Germans have launched a web petition to call for the resumption of a wealth tax to help the country bounce back from an economic crisis, because, as one said, he had "a lot of money I do not need."


• Cleveland, TN businessman Ross Tarver received the 2009 Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year Award from the Tennessee Economic Development Council for his work as chairman of the Bradley/Cleveland Industrial Development Board. Tarver was instrumental in bringing Wacker Chemie to Bradley County.

 

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Christian Höferle (or Hoeferle, for those without umlauts on their keyboards) is a German-American entrepreneur who grew up in the Southeast … the Southeast of Germany, that is.

He is the founder and owner of Höferle Consulting, a bilingual/bi-cultural service company, based in Cleveland, TN. Christian blogs (SoutheastSchnitzel) and tweets (@HoeferleConsult) about the many differences and idiosyncracies, as well as some of the commonalities, between the American and German lifestyles.