Celebrate Oktoberfest This Saturday at Santa Anita

L.A.'s month of Oktoberfest celebrations continues this Saturday at the Santa Anita Park. Among the offerings: 28 German and craft beer breweries including Golden Road, New Belgium, Stone, Epic, Bootleggers, Speakeasy and Angel City among others.

Dog Haus will also be there, serving its "Best of the Würst": Beer Brat Dogs, sausages and tater tots. Music on site includes Bavarian Wunderband, The Spazmatics and Boogie Knights. A kid-friendly zone includes a visit with SeaBiscuit, pony rides, face painting, a bounce house and photo booth.

General admission to the infield is $5, but attendees dressed in German attire will have the general admission fee waived. Special packages are also available, including beer tastings, pretzels and food: Go here for ticket info.

Santa Anita's Oktoberfest takes place this Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.

Alpine Village's Oktoberfest Is Kinda Disappointing

I really wanted to like the Alpine Village Oktoberfest. Really, I did. I have zoomed past Alpine Village (located in Torrance) countless times over the years on the 110, but never actually visited until this past Sunday. The reason, of course, was Alpine Village's Oktoberfest, which they claim is the largest in the Los Angeles area.



What's not to love about Oktoberfest? Alpine Village found a way to make it a little less lovable. The menu is limited -- either a brat, Polish sausage, chicken breast or pork chop. ($10 for the sausage and two sides.)



I also got a 16 oz. beer for $11, because hey, this is Oktoberfest. There's an $8 giant pretzel, a $4 cream horn... and well, that's about it.



Again, that lack of real food options would be fine, I suppose. But Alpine Village can't keep up with the demand for the pricy $8 pretzels. They were out of 'em, but sold one to me anyway. After waiting in the food line for 15-20 minutes, I was told to come back in 10 minutes. When I did, they told me the pretzel *still* wasn't ready. You know, I didn't even want the pretzel. So I asked them for my money back. They said no -- and instead gave me *two* pretzels.



The event takes place in a massive tent -- not much ambience, but it meant there was plenty of room to move around.



The live band, flown in from Germany, gave the event the right amount of oomph and got the crowd up and moving.



On Sundays, the event is geared toward families and just $5 for adults -- with kids under 12 free. OK, so I do love that.



By the way, I believe you get in for free -- at least on Sundays -- if you're in proper Oktoberfest attire.



The real reason to visit Alpine Village is the actual village -- a mini re-creation of a small German village, with stores, restaurants and a grocery store boasting a wide variety of German and European products. Overall, I suppose I'm glad we stopped by for the experience.



At the "Alpine Market" we bought several chocolates, as well as spicy mustard.



The tiny Alpine Village chapel



Above, inside the mini chapel.

Oktoberfest continues until the end of the month. Location:
Alpine Village Center
833 West Torrance Blvd
Torrance, CA 90502
Tel. 310.327.4384