Happy Oktoberfest in Newberry, SC!

Newberry, South Carolina, is a sleepy southern town and on most days reminds me of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith show.

With a population of just 10,000 in the city limits, chances are that if you bring up someone's name in conversation, a relative of theirs will be within earshot.  We're known as the City of Friendly Folks for a reason - everyone smiles, waves to passing cars, and is happy to spend a few minutes chatting to find out what's new with you.  

You'll find EuroLux Antiques right on Main Street in an Art Deco building dating to 1910.  You can't miss us - we have European flags flying over an original black and white tiled entrance.

On every first Saturday of October, crowds descend and Newberry celebrates its German heritage with an Oktoberfest festival held on Main Street in our historic Downtown.  This year, Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, October 1st from 10 am until late afternoon.

The streets will be filled with arts and crafts vendors and local churches will offer delicious, home-baked goods.  New this year will be pottery demonstrations held in front of the big, yellow community hall throughout the day.

Stroll around the square in front of the Newberry Opera House to see a Classic Car Show.  There's a good bit for the kids to do too: jump around in the inflatables, make a project at the Lowe's kid's tent, or attempt to scale a climbing wall hosted by the South Carolina National Guard.

Of course, the best part of Oktoberfest, in my opinion, is the German food and the Biergarten!  You'll find schnitzel-a-plenty, sauerkraut, bratwurst, German potato salad, and more!  Stop in at the culinary stage where three local chefs will give demonstrations and don't miss Wendy Steiner of Gasthaus zur Ellie at 1:30 pm!  You may have heard of "that German restaurant in Prosperity" that was named one of the top German Restaurants in America!  I can personally attest that Wendy's restaurant is AWESOME and you should definitely go eat there!

You'll find a large selection of German beers in the Biergarten right next to the Opera House, which will help you wash down the liver nips.

What is a liver nip, you ask?  I'm not exactly sure since I'm not originally from around here (Bless my heart, I'm from Florida), but the Newberry Chamber of Commerce hosts the Annual Oktoberfest Liver Nips Contest.  First prize is $250!

And Oktoberfest wouldn't be Oktoberfest without entertainment and oopma music!  Polish and German polka starts at 10 am, followed by different types of music throughout the day (classic rock and 80's music), and ending with a German blues musician taking the stage at 4 pm.  Be sure to catch the free puppet shows put on by the Bremen Town Musicians (The Patchwork Players from Columbia, SC) at the Ritz Theater throughout the day.

So put on your lederhosen and dirndl and come on down to Newberry, home of the best Oktoberfest in South Carolina!

(Okay, you don't have to wear a German costume, but it will give you an excuse to drink more beer if you do!)

Greg and I hope to see you in Downtown Newberry for Oktoberfest!  Grab a Hefeweizen and a plate of Schnitzel and be sure to stop in to EuroLux Antiques to say hello!

Happy Oktoberfest!  And thanks for stopping by the EuroLux Antiques blog!

Prost!