Oktoberfest hearkens to Brooklyn’s German heritage

September 23, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATIONS, which originated in Munich, Germany, as a major horse race, later transitioned to an agricultural celebration. In the 20th century, Oktoberfest celebrations became beer-focused. Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Heights hosts an Oktoberfest for the entire neighborhood each year to introduce them to German culture and cuisine from bratwurst to the savory potato salads and other treats.

This year’s Oktoberfest at the 169-year-old church takes place on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 4 to 9 p.m., with food, live music, dancing and more, the parish’s president, Fred Hansen, told the Brooklyn Eagle on Monday. A banner promoting the Oktoberfest is also posted to the church’s front gate and shown on its Facebook page. There is usually an admission price to the meal. For more information email [email protected].

German immigrants have played a significant role in shaping the cultural fabric of Brooklyn since the 19th century, when many settled in areas such as Williamsburg and Bushwick, drawn by the thriving brewing industry. Brooklyn was home to numerous German breweries, such as the once-famous Rheingold Brewery in Bushwick. Intent on helping even-more-recent newcomers establish new roots, a group of settled immigrants founded Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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