SPRINGFIELD — It only seems natural that a Springfield institution like The Student Prince, known for their German cuisine, would want to bring a longtime tradition like Oktoberfest to their home on Fort Street.
Dating back to 1810, Oktoberfest is celebrated each year in Munich, Germany, and today in America, Oktoberfest celebrations feature many of the foods brought to America by German immigrants alongside the star of the show — beer.
On Friday, Oct. 10, the Bean Restaurant Group will continue that tradition by hosting the 11th Mighty Oktoberfest. The fall celebration, first started by the late Rudi Scherff, longtime owner of The Student Prince & Fort Restaurant, features a traditional beer tapping, live music, German brews, brats, pretzels, and more.
“I would describe our Mighty Oktoberfest as a very jovial event with a lot of energy. It is a fun experience with plenty of smiles to be seen throughout the crowd, who every year turns out for a fun and safe activity celebrating Oktoberfest,” said Nathan Yee, hospitality director for the Bean Restaurant Group, in an interview with The Republican.
“Mighty Oktoberfest is also about community. This year we are celebrating the 90-year history of The Student Prince, a true icon in Springfield which predates the Yee’s involvement in the restaurant. Many generations of families and friends have gathered here over the years to celebrate special occasions, and Mighty Oktoberfest is an opportunity for us to celebrate our milestone anniversary with the community,” he added.
While Yee has never attended Oktoberfest in Germany, he did say that he has participated in the next best thing.
“While studying abroad I was able to attend Springfest in Munich, which is much smaller than Oktoberfest, but captures the same exciting atmosphere. It was definitely one of the top weekends of my life — other than marrying my wife and the birth of our daughter,” he said.
The two-day event kicks off on Friday night at 5 p.m. with the ceremonial keg tapping featuring Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
The tapping of the keg mimics Germany’s Oktoberfest, where Munich’s mayor taps the first barrel of new beer along with shouting ”O’zapft is!” which translates to: “It is tapped.”
“It is strictly ceremonial. Our keg is small and there will not be any beer served from it,” Yee said.
But there will certainly be plenty of beer on tap at the fest to enjoy.
The Student Prince will have their own Oktoberfest bar located near the stage, serving up authentic German beers. The street also will be lined with local breweries including Amherst Brewing Company and Shipyard, and three German beer vendors — Ayinger, Radeberger, and Weihenstephaner.
Yee noted there will be a special focus on sausages from the grill outdoors.
“We will be serving up brats, spicy gator, spicy chicken, and wild boar sausages or you can go indoors and enjoy a meal from a special menu of our popular German favorites,” he said.
Two days of bands and DJ sets will cross genres and deliver both traditional German tunes and crowd-favorite hits. Friday night kicks off with Berkshire Mountain Wanderers, The 413s, and 7 Roads, while Saturday features The Brat Pack, DJ Adapt, and The Eagles Experience.
Saturday’s festivities will begin earlier this year at 2 p.m.
“Many people are off from work on Saturday, and our early opening will give them more time to come down, meet with friends and enjoy all we have to offer at our special celebration,” Yee said.
Tickets, priced at $20, are available in advance at beanrg.com or at the entrance gate.
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