Pete Letkeman wrote:Interestingly enough Oktoberfest (http://www.oktoberfest.ca/) which about 90 minutes from me bills itself as the one of the largest if Canada, possibly even North America.
However this could be marketing speak and there are various other Oktoberfest celebrations held in North America and around the world.
I think "Zinzinatti" would dispute that.
Cincinatti, Ohio was settled in large part by Germans who found that particular bend of the Ohio River to be reminiscent of the Rhine, so my Kentucky relatives told me. The seasonal changes are different, so their festival is supposed to be a week or so off from the German one. This year, it's from Sept 21-23d.
I've never been to it, but the zoo serves brat- and mettwurst. And had, to my surprise, a "bug" house.
The local fest down here isn't large - hardly a German restaurant in town at the best of times, and the 90-degree heat helps kill the authenticity. And since I don't care for beer, I've only been once. I loaded up on wurst and German potato salad and ended up on too many sales call lists.
Some people, when well-known sources tell them that fire will burn them, don't put their hands in the fire.
Some people, being skeptical, will put their hands in the fire, get burned, and learn not to put their hands in the fire.
And some people, believing that they know better than well-known sources, will claim it's a lie, put their hands in the fire, and continue to scream it's a lie even as their hands burn down to charred stumps.