48th Annual Oktoberfest Kicks Off in Loves Park

LOVES PARK - Oktoberfest in Germany is over, but the festivities in Loves Park are just getting started.  The event is hosted by the German Society of Rockford.  There's no shortage of anything German, from clothes to knickknacks. 

The event's especially meaningful for Irmgard Goellner.  She was born in Germany and raised in Austria; the event brings her back.

"I think where you spend your childhood and your teenage years, that is really home," said Goellner.

Goellner is showing off a cultural exhibit at the festival - all traditional German items, some she even made.  She says sharing her heritage is one of the things she enjoys about Oktoberfest, but says one of her favorite things about it is being together with family and friends.  It's a similar feeling shared with Kaitlyn Outzen, this year's outgoing Miss Oktoberfest.

"I love meeting everybody," said Outzen.  "I think it's such a fun time because you meet all these new people and they all love to talk to you."

But who could forget about the food?  Not Outzen.

"The food!  Oh my gosh, I gain like 10 pounds every time I'm here," Outzen exclaimed.

And there's no lack of food at this year's Oktoberfest.  There's potato pancakes, bratwurst, schnitzel, sauerkraut, just to name a few.  The apple strudel is Miss Oktoberfest's favorite, and she doesn't mind the German Chocolate Cake either.  But no Oktoberfest would be complete without a nice cold glass of beer.

The event runs till midnight on Friday and starts back up on Saturday, October 6 at noon and runs again until midnight.