Photo gallery: Addison Oktoberfest, 2008

by John P. Meyer

Tough duty, granted, but someone had to do it: attend Oktoberfest at Addison Circle Park, that is.

Eat smoked sausage, drink beer, walk around in the sun, watch strangely-garbed people in weird hats dancing weirdly, drink more beer, eat more sausages... as stated, tough duty.

What's the coolest thing about Oktoberfest in Addison? (I mean, aside from the smoked sausages and beer.) There's none of that bullshit metal detector routine to put up with, and nobody's hanging around at the entrance gate demanding to search your camera bag or (if you happen to be carrying one) purse. Plenty of police presence: just no overt exercise of draconian authority.

(As opposed to the State Fair of Texas, where last year I was forced to leave my pocket knife in the custody of parking lot attendants for fear of having it confiscated by security goons at the entrance.)

Also, the parking on Sat. (Sept. 20) was easy (and FREE): the city opened up the gates of a nearby multi-level garage and just allowed people to drive on in there and park - for NUTHIN'! (What the heck were they thinking? Trying to make it a wholly positive experience, or something?)

Since I showed up rather early, I had a chance to do a quick circle of the festival grounds prior to the crowds arriving, which served me well later in the day when I needed to know quickly where to go to find - for instance - beer and sausages. And coupons, because everything in the area of food and drink can be purchased only with the coupons you purchase on either end of the grounds.

There's a big white tent at the far western edge of the site which encloses a grassy area filled with tables and a performance stage; on one side of the enclosed area are a slew of folks selling beverages and comestibles (for coupons, of course).

I unfortunately had to leave before the keg bowling, but at least did my part toward emptying a few kegs.

You're welcome.

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