Put on your lederhosen, whet your appetite and ready your beer belly for the 43rd annual Oktoberfest hosted by the Sacramento Turn Verein this weekend. With brew imported from Munich, traditional folk music and dancing troupes, costumes, food and much more, the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest will not disappoint fans of a good party. Previous years have gathered as many as 1,250 people in a single evening. “Attendance has been growing each year. This year we expect even more,” said Turn Verein Secretary Heinz Ludke. Proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit the various Turn Verein programs, including the Soccer Club, the Turner Harmonie, and the German-Americ

 Red and white ribbons dangled from the top of a Maypole that stood near the Rose Garden in McKinley park on Sunday, signaling the Sacramento Turn Verein's Maifest. The group brought a little piece of its German heritage to the park with traditional German food, a beer garden and a traditional Maypole dance performed by the Sacramento Alpentänzer Schuhplattlers (Alpine Dancers). The event helped people from different walks of life learn a bit more about the Turn Verein group and its traditional German roots. The dancers were dressed for just the occasion, with the men in lederhosen and the women in dirndls, traditional German dress. The celebration raised money for the Turn Verein's Germ

Sacramento Turn Verein celebrates its 42nd Oktoberfest tonight and Saturday, Oct 3, starting at 3pm. Good beer, brats and dessert! And you don't have to be German to have fun! Here's some shots from Friday's event:                                   Sacramento's Turn Verein is located at 3349 J Street. It's a huge double story hall. Lots of room to have fun drinking beer, dancing and singing! Check out http://www.sacramentoturnverein.com/history/  for information. Photos | Kati Garner