In 1985, Sean and Renie Doherty went to Tulsa Oktoberfest on a date. It has remained a fixture on their calendars ever since.
The Dohertys are not alone. Tonja Carrigg, director of community relations for River Parks, said 60,000 to 65,000 people could attend the multiday annual event by the time it draws to a close with a session from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday at River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave.
Sean Doherty said Saturday that he and his wife keep coming back every year because "it's just a good party. It's a lot of people getting together and having a good time."
The couple, who didn't even let a temporary move to Phoenix derail their tradition, said their favorite aspect of Oktoberfest is the Chicken Dance, an allegiance that was displayed by the chicken-shaped hat that Sean Doherty wore.
Oktoberfest historians say Tulsa was the birthplace of the Chicken Dance, which "went viral" long before "went viral" developed a meaning outside of a medical context. It may be one of the reasons Tulsa's Oktoberfest has become one of the biggest such celebrations in the United States.
People are also reading…
Jerry Muratore, one of the founders of the Tulsa Oktoberfest, said Saturday that nobody knew when the event was founded in 1979 that they were in on the ground floor of something that would grow to such a level.
"Anybody that tells you that they knew is crazy," Muratore said.
Still, Muratore remembers it didn't take long for Tulsa to embrace Oktoberfest or for its reputation to quickly spread across the U.S. and even internationally. He said people from places including Chicago come to Tulsa to attend it and that bands from Germany vie to be chosen to perform.
Carrigg did not want to estimate the impact that Oktoberfest currently has on the local economy. Yet six years ago organizers placed the annual figure at $7.6 million.
Oktoberfest is about more than money or even chicken dancing. Muratore said there's a community spirit surrounding the event that was never on greater display than it was in 2007. That's when high winds from a thunderstorm hit the festival grounds, sending 25 attendees to the hospital after two tents collapsed during the "corporate night" that has traditionally kicked off the event.
He remembers organizers and volunteers were determined to get everything ready for the public even if they had to stay all night to get things back to normal.
Muratore said events like Oktoberfest also offer a chance to soak up different ethnic cultures.
"I think it's a celebration of America," he said.
When it comes to enjoying Oktoberfest, being German certainly isn't a prerequisite. However, it doesn't hurt.
Ludger Schulz, 63, is a native of Velen, Germany, who lived in various countries before coming to the U.S. in 1976 and then moving to Tulsa three years after that.
Schulz, a chef known for his cakes and catering, said he has been offering his wares at Tulsa's Oktoberfest for more than 30 years. On Saturday, he had various relatives visiting from Germany who were helping him serve the public. Schulz describes his current professional status as retired. However, he said he has no plans to stop preparing food at Oktoberfest.
"This is my blood," Schulz said.
David Harper 918-581-8359
