By Adam Casadevall
Good day, my friends, or more appropriately guten tag meine freund!
This weekend you can enjoy some beer–and learn something too, courtesy of the Morris County Historical Society in Morristown.
Acorn Hall is hosting Oktoberfest: Knock Back Some History, from Thursday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013.
It’s inspired by the traditional German fair, held in Munich for about two-and-a-half weeks from late September to early October.
But “this is not your traditional Oktoberfest,” says Amy Curry, director of Historical Society. The event parallels Acorn Hall’s exhibit, Bottoms Up! How Morris County Taverns Revolutionized History.
According to Curry, taverns serve a single purpose today: Drinking. They had a different function in the past. “What went on at the tavern served as the center for the community,” she said.
The Historical Society also is working on an Historic Dining guide, to showcase Morris County restaurants either built before 1979, or located in an historic building.
Oh yeah, there will be beer too.
For its first Oktoberfest, the Historical Society will feature beers from the High Point Brewery, out of Butler, and the Long Valley Pub and Brewery. There also will be food from restaurants across Morristown, like the Washington St. Bistro, specializing in serving food with an 18th- and 19th-century flair.
And there will be lectures and presentations–the learning part–covering the history of Oktoberfest, Restoring an 18th Century Tavern and the process of beer making, among other topics. Games for the children will be held in the back yard.
“We want the event to be family friendly” said Curry.
Photos by Adam Casadevell. Please click icon below for captions.
The festivities start on Thursday at 3 pm, with a tea tasting, held in Acorn Hall’s dining room. Friday’s events start at 5 pm, with a presentation by Dr. John Rossi on the history of Oktoberfest. Activities resume at 11 am on Saturday with a presentation by Virginia Vogt on the grisly Sayre murders.
Ron Witowski kicks off the final day, Sunday, with a talk about beer making at 11 am.
Tickets range in price: $10 per day Thursday and Friday, and $15 for Saturday and Sunday. Combo packages: $35 for all four days, $25 for Saturday and Sunday.
The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall is at 68 Morris Ave., Morristown. Directions to the site can be found at Acorn Hall’s website.
