Nick Smith and his wife Elisabeth Smith ham it up for the camera at first Shilo & Region Service Club Oktoberfest held at the Canadian Armed Forces Base on Oct. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag News

Zicke, Zacke, Hoi, Hoi, Hoi, Hoi, were the night’s words when Shilo & Region Service Club hosted the first Oktoberfest in more than 20 years at the Canadian Armed Forces base on Oct. 14.

The service club sold more than 540 tickets to the evening of traditional German frivolity and fun.

“I’ve never seen so many people up dancing and having fun,” Rozy Lebel, office of primary interest (OPI) for the event, said halfway through the night.” I love the band. They are so engaging with the audience.”

The 22-member band, Germann Society of Winnipeg Band, Blaskapelle, blew dancers away with their catchy oompahpah tunes, while nine dancers from Dirndl Meister dance troup had participants on their toes stepping out to various melodic polkas.

Festival goers were treated to freshly baked pretzels with cheese dip and bratwurst dinner, potato salad and sour kraut. A selection of German and Canadian beers was available at the beer hut, complimented by a unique tribute shooter bar in honour of long-time service club member Fokko Buurma.

Burma had worked tirelessly to re-ignite the annual Oktoberfest this year; however, he died in the late spring before he could see his project launch in full festive mode.

The event could not have been such a huge success without the assistance of more than 60 volunteers who worked on preparations, food and decorating to ensure the night was a blast, said Lebel.

Lebel explained to Shilo Stag News that the service club started off small this year to test the waters after such a long gap without the annual German festival. The event was top-rated when German troops were posted at CFB Shilo and was disbanded after they left in the early 2000s.

Pretzels were sold out before dinner was served and the novelty beer mugs were almost all sold halfway through the evening. A 50/50 draw saw the winner take away a purse of $1,700, with the proceeds being split equally between the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society in Fokko Buura’s name.

Door prizes were awarded, champion yodellers and Nerf-marksmen were crowed during the evening’s activities.

“[The night] is Fantastic, absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t ask for anything better,” the OPI said. “It’s been great. We’re going to go further next year – bigger, better.”

Lebel’s final words on the outstanding success were for people not to take their time with ticket purchases to next year’s event, as it will surely be a sellout.

WATCH VIDEO – Oktoberfest 2023 at CFB Shilo

Photo Gallery of Oktoberfest 2023 (Photo: K-J MIllar/Shilo Stag News):