When I first arrived to Canalside yesterday to see what was going on with the Buffalo Harbor Oktoberfest, I was not sure if I had made the right decision, as there were not many people about. Thankfully my first impression was dramatically altered once I entered the giant beer garden tent. Inside there were throngs of people sitting, row after row, at long tables, drinking, eating, singing and cheering to the band. I had never seen Buffalo’s Big German Band play before and I must say that the members were some of the most entertaining musicians I had ever witnesses. The way that they interacted with the crowd was marvelous. Members of Edelweiss not only put on a tremendous show, their members added greatly to the authenticity by sporting traditional German garb and dancing on stage and out amongst the crowd. When the pros weren’t on the stage dancing, the crowd was. From beginners to experts, young and old, costumed or not, there was an air of inclusion that prompted everyone to join in on the fun.
I spoke to Randall Bracewell (photo top left), the organizer of the event (along with the German American Musicians Association), who told me that the turnout was much better than expected. I heard from others that there were three times the number of attendees that were expected, making the event a huge success. Between the people, the dance floor, and the beer garden atmosphere I couldn’t help but feel proud of my own German heritage. Knowing that there was once so much German fanfare in Buffalo, it was hard not to feel nostalgic. Randall has already filed a request to host the event at Canalside next year in September. This is one event that I will try to come back for each year… it was well organized, well attended, and there was not one minute that went by that was not filled with energized entertainment.