The German American Social Club in Cape Coral has announced the annual festival will not take place this month.
Here is a statement from club president Stephen Bauer:
“Please accept this notice as official confirmation that our annual Oktoberfest scheduled for the last two weekends of this month has been cancelled due to the devastation from Hurricane Ian.
First, we acknowledge that our club is located within a federally proclaimed disaster area and that our local infrastructure cannot support such an activity while providing extensive relief and recovery efforts anticipated to continue far beyond this month.
Secondly, we recognize this is not a time for celebration but is a time of mourning for the victims as well as compassion for the survivors dealing with loss of households, property and places of employment resulting in unforeseen hardship.
Finally, it should be understood the German American Social Club of Cape Coral and its members have experienced their own property damages and continued long-term lack of utilities that make it logistically impossible to prepare for and hold the event. We hope to make repairs and reopen to the community as conditions improve over time.
Any advertising that may have witnessed in the past few days was pre-arranged well in advance prior to the forecast of this storm’s probable path and intensification and will be discontinued at the earliest convenience. Thank you for your understanding and patience. God bless the restoration of all Southwest Florida as we strive to gain strength together.”
It’s time once again for the community to come together to enjoy life and experience Southwest Florida’s biggest party – the 37th Annual Cape Coral Oktoberfest.
The German American Social Club is getting ready for Munich in Cape Coral – the event for fun, great food, German beer, live music, laughter and dancing – from Polka to Fliegerlied, to the Chicken Dance. Simply put, Oktoberfest represents German heritage at its finest, also known as German Gemütlichkeit. It is a time the German American Social Club looks forward to every year when it can invite the community to come on out and celebrate with their clan or crew, significant other, or even by yourself – everyone is bound to meet like-minded friends at this fest.
With German music and local bands, German food, and beer, there’s plenty of fun to go around, for everyone of any age. So, dust off your dirndls, launder your lederhosen, and join the club for an EPIC time of stein slurping with beste Freunde, even those you’ve just met.
This year, from Oct. 21 – 23 and Oct. 28 – 30 – the last two full weekends of the month, the Southwest Florida community will come together for some original Gaudi – leg-slapping, joyous fun, where everyone feels welcome and a part of something special. Whether for a brat and beer to sit with family in the Bavarian Gardens, to join the fun and dance under the big tent, or to come for a full German meal of Sauerbraten or Schnitzel inside the Von Steuben Hall.
Festival hours are Fridays from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from noon until midnight, and Sundays from noon until 8 p.m.
This year, the German American Social Club is thrilled to be able to feature a music ensemble arriving directly from Germany again, which has not been possible since 2019. The Maselheimer Musikanten, the German original big band that the community welcomed in 2017, will be doing the Bob again this year, and the Aichers, arriving just off their stint at the Munich Oktoberfest, will set the festive mood.
The event will also feature local favorites such as Deb & the Dynamics, The Boots, A’Finnity, Cape Coral’s own Hafenkapelle, Manni Daum Trio and many more. There will be non-stop foot-tapping music in the tent, the gardens, and inside in the Edelweiss Hall; something for every ear.
Featuring outdoor exhibitors, food vendors that offer both German food and international, Oktoberfest has so much to offer. Looking for a photo opportunity? Stop for a photo shoot with Lissette Ortiz-Teleweck, Ms. Oktoberfest 2022, or with one of several Ms. Oktoberfests from previous years wearing their pretty dirndls and elegant blue sashes.
For more details, visit www.capecoraloktoberfest.com. The club is located at 2101 SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral.
