Oktoberfest celebrations: Difference between revisions

Outside of Germany, the largest Oktoberfest is in [[Kitchener, Ontario]] (formerly Berlin) and surrounding cities in [[Waterloo Region]], attracting over 700,000 visitors annually. The next largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany is mostly regarded as being in [[Blumenau]], Brazil with (700,000+ visitors),<ref name="Blumenau">{{cite web |url=http://www.oktoberfestblumenau.com.br/oktoberfest/estatisticas |title=ArchivedEstatísticas copy‹ Oktoberfest - A maior festa alemã das Américas - Blumenau – SC |access-date=2012-10-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018051623/http://www.oktoberfestblumenau.com.br/oktoberfest/estatisticas |archive-date=2012-10-18 }}</ref> [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], United States (500,000+ visitors)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cincinnati.metromix.com/events/best-of-award/festival/2450131/content |title=Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati |publisher=Cincinnati.metromix.com |access-date=2012-03-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318164832/http://cincinnati.metromix.com/events/best-of-award/festival/2450131/content |archive-date=2012-03-18 }}</ref> and the Denver Oktoberfest [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado]], United States (450,000+ visitors).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thedenveroktoberfest.com |title=Welcome to http://thedenveroktoberfest.com |publisher=thedenveroktoberfest.com |access-date=2014-09-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920190825/http://thedenveroktoberfest.com/ |archive-date=2014-09-20 }}</ref> In New York City, there is even an Oktoberfest held under a big tent along the city's East River.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com|title=Oktoberfest 2017 Events - Info, Dates, Visitors Guide|website=oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-19|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531140201/http://oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com/|archive-date=2017-05-31}}</ref> However, the largest one mostly depends on specific year's numbers and varies with sources.<ref name="Top10">{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscanner.net/news/top-10-oktoberfest-s-around-world|title=Top 10 Oktoberfest celebrations around the world|website=skyscanner.net|access-date=25 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711191818/https://www.skyscanner.net/news/top-10-oktoberfest-s-around-world|archive-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> Currently Oktoberfest is spreading to new geographical locations; starting in September 2007, [[Montreal]] began hosting its own Oktoberfest. One can find Oktoberfest celebrations mixing German traditions, food and beer with local culture outside of Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com|title=Oktoberfest 2016 & 2017 Info, Dates and Event Guide|website=Oktoberfest 2016 & 2017 Info, Dates, Event Guide|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807163103/http://oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com/|archive-date=2016-08-07}}</ref>

In Canada there is an annual nine-day celebration spread over 18 days in [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]], [[Ontario]]. It attracts over 700,000 visitors annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/26-facts-about-kitchener-waterloo-oktoberfest-1.1991001 |title=Archived26 copyfacts about Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest - Kitchener-Waterloo - CBC News |access-date=2017-10-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001004046/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/26-facts-about-kitchener-waterloo-oktoberfest-1.1991001 |archive-date=2017-10-01 }} Colin Butler, CBC News</ref> While its most popular draws are the [[beer]]-based celebrations, other cultural and entertainment attractions also fill the week. The most well-known is the parade held on [[Thanksgiving (Canada)|Thanksgiving Day]]. As the only major parade on [[Canadian Thanksgiving]], it is televised nationally. Coincidentally, the closing day of the Bavarian Oktoberfest also falls on the German equivalent of Thanksgiving, ''[[Erntedankfest]]''.

* [[Nashville, Tennessee]]'s oldest-running festival is the Nashville Oktoberfest,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thenashvilleoktoberfest.com/ | title=Oktoberfest | access-date=2016-03-13}}</ref> in the downtown Germantown neighborhood. In 2015, more than 140,000 people attended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-news/5k-kicks-off-saturdays-oktoberfest-fun |title=Archived5K copyKicks off Saturday&#039;s Oktoberfest Fun - Story |access-date=2016-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418095701/http://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-news/5k-kicks-off-saturdays-oktoberfest-fun |archive-date=2016-04-18 }}</ref> In 2016, official attendance was estimated as over 215,000 people, making the Nashville Oktoberfest the second largest in the USA.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eventespresso.com/showcase/the-nashville-oktoberfest/ | title=Event Espresso Showcase | access-date=2017-01-06 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706012115/https://eventespresso.com/showcase/the-nashville-oktoberfest/ | archive-date=2017-07-06 }}</ref>