Dirndls and lederhosen on men, women and children of all ages were abundant this Friday and Saturday at the Sacramento Turn Verein (STV). Friday evening and all day Saturday the organization, founded in 1854 as a gymnastics club, hosted its 44th annual Oktoberfest. The Turn Verein is a place “where folks with German ancestry and people with an interest in German culture congregate.” From the atmosphere this weekend, the STV has made it easy for families in the Sacramento area to keep their German heritage alive and thriving. Surrounded by Bavarian blue and white, nearly every moment was filled with great German food, entertainment and company. Differing from typical Oktoberfest celebrati

Following the hot summer months of pilsners, pale ales, IPAs and golden ales, beer lovers are now preparing their palates for the tastes of fall and winter ales. This weekend, local beer enthusiasts will come together for a late summer afternoon of drinking great beer, fundraising for charity and enjoying Sacramento’s picturesque river views. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 17, Discovery Park will host the 17th Annual California Brewers Festival. The Saturday afternoon event is the perfect way to prepare for Oktoberfest and the beautiful canopy of trees at Discovery Park will surely be the perfect setting. The day’s activities, besides beer tasting, will include food venders, l

I'm not German and yet I enjoyed Oktoberfest at Turn Verein's 43rd annual celebration this weekend. The beer was cold, the music fun and the crowd engaging.Some were dressed in their mock dirndls and leather pants. Most of us weren't! Massive quantities of good food was consumed. Here's some snaps from Saturday night:     The cups tumbled one second later! SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

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

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