Did you hear the news about Oktoberfest in the Smokies? We just brought this time-honored Bavarian festival to Townsend, Tennessee on the traditional kick off date of September 17th! It was a day full of fun and games including a stein holding contest, a live Polka band, imported German beers, and grilled Bavarian eats, craft brewery tents, and entertainment galore.
Our craft beer garden was lined with brewery tents from our favorite local craft brewers like Crafty Bastard Brewery, Print Shop Brewing Co., Elst Brewing, Barrelhouse Gypsy Circus, Schulz Brau Brewery, Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery, and Founders Brewing pouring some of their special seasonal creations.
In addition to the guest brews, we featured a bier trailer pouring cold imported German biers like Spaten, Hofbrau Lagers and Festbiers.
The biers paired deliciously with our traditional German grilled Bratwursts, Bavarian Pretzels + Bier Cheese, Chicken Quarters + House Coleslaw, and Bavarian Snacking Nuts.
Executive Chef Jeff Carter was all hands on deck for our First Annual Oktoberfest. You even spotted his wife and 3 children volunteering to make sure the event ran smoothly!
Red Hickey, Tennessee’s Barbie Doll entertained the crowd and announced to the stage a seven-piece Polka ensemble, the Wurstbrats, which performed 3 sets of live Polka music and led the crowd through the Chicken Dance, an Oktoberfest tradition.
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont did a price-sealed bid auction giving a chance for the highest bidder to participate in the annual Monarch tagging in Cades Cove. If you would like to give to Tremont Institute or learn more about their programs visit their website at gsmit.org
Team BUSAR our Great Smoky Mountains Search + Rescue team, was onsite leading games like a Tug O’ War for the kids, an adult pull-up challenge, and search + rescue inspired demonstrations. The winners of the pull up challenge received a $25 gift card that can be used at any of our peacefulside.com properties. BUSAR is our Great Smoky Mountains search + rescue team and 501 (3)c nonprofit. Learn more about them at their website teambusar.org
Troubadour Blue from Nashville wound down the evening with their Americana bluegrass tunes including a fiddle, guitar and banjo. Some of their songs include “Loved Me,” and, “Other Woman.” Learn more about this band at troubadourblue.com and follow us on social media to see when they might return!
Dog owners enjoyed the dog-friendly options and we enjoyed seeing so many different types of dogs! Our festival was also kid-friendly including family friendly foods, games, and the play spaces remained open.
We look forward to doing it again next year with even more festivities, so follow along on our social media to stay in the know for next year’s main event at Peaceful Side Social in Townsend, Tennessee!
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