The Oktoberfest tradition in Schuetzen Park will continue as its 137th anniversary fast approaches.
Sponsored by the Plattduetsche Volksfest-Vereen of New York and New Jersey, The German-American Oktoberfest will be held Saturday, Aug 20 and Sunday, Aug. 21 in Schuetzen Park at 3167 Kennedy Blvd. in North Bergen. The festival will commence at 12 p.m. both days, with admission slated at $6 for adults. Children can enter free.
A long tradition
Beginning in 1874, the festival was held in a large area that would later be transformed into modern-day Schuetzen Park.
“The folk festival used to run for a week,” said John Lawrora, press secretary for Plattduetsche Volksfest-Vereen. “I think the original one was about seven days [and] had almost 100,000 people the first time.”
“We don’t exploit these girls.” – John Lawrora
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Almost 20 years later, in 1894, the PVV purchased the land that eventually became known as Schuetzen Park.
“We’ve been nonprofit almost from the beginning,” said Lawrora, who added the PVV was responsible for the building of the Fritz Reuter, a nonprofit retirement community on the outskirts of the park.
Lawrora said the proceeds from the week’s festival will go to Fritz Reuter.
Worthy of Bavarian standards
While past festivals offered marching bands and other attractions, Lawrora admitted that the PVV has had to cut down on costs in order to better fund their charities.
However, that’s no reason to think that this Oktoberfest won’t be without notable attractions.
The festival offers authentic German food, including potato pancakes, cabbage, bratwurst, potato salad, frankfurters, as well as live music from the Norbert Ludewig Orchestra, who will play outside under a tent from Saturday 1-6, before moving inside to the Senator Lounge.
Lawrora also says that the gathering isn’t exclusive to any ethnicity.
“We encourage people of other ethnic groups to attend our festivals because it’s a fun thing,” said Lawrora, who added that many of the people will come to Oktoberfest to dance or watch others dance to the Orchestra.
The event will also feature prize shooting, an authentic “Coffee and Cake House,” al a carte dinners, and of course, clowns, games, and a “castle bounce” for children.
Not just a festival
On Sunday, Aug 21, during Oktoberfest, the PVV will host a “Little Miss Schuetzen Park Beauty Pageant,” a tradition the PVV has maintained since 1966.
“That’s one of our highlights,” said Lawrora. “The people love the beauty pageant.”
The pageant, which takes place within the Grand Ballroom at 5 p.m., is open to girls ages 7 through 12 who are of German or part-German ancestry.
Of the participants, seven of the girls are pronounced winners of the contest, with one crowned “Queen,” two crowned “Princess” and the remaining four crowned “Junior Princess.”
“We use a point system nowadays which is much fairer,” said Lawrora, adding that criteria are based on German heritage, poise, attentiveness, talent, and beauty.
Lawrora also added that he is not blind to the criticism for beauty pageants.
“We have had very little opposition,” said Lawrora. “The reason [that] some beauty pageants are resented by some people is because of the exploitation.”
The seven winners of the contest receive gowns and ride on the Little Miss Schuetzen Park float, which will be sponsored by the New York Yankees, according to Lawrora. The float will disembark on Sept. 17, a date celebrated widely by German-Americans in order to commemorate the birthday of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a famed military officer.
Lawrora continued, “We don’t exploit these girls. We treat them as ladies. These girls love being on the float.”
For beauty pageant application information, call Kathleen Solorzano at 201-927-5898. For more information on Oktoberfest, call 201-867-3585.
Stephen LaMarca may be reached at slamarca@hudsonreporter.com.