Hundreds attend, taste Bavarian delights at Oktoberfest in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 30

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Am Samstag fand das Oktoberfest in Detroit Lakes Statt.

Oktoberfest took place in Detroit Lakes on Saturday and hundreds gathered along Holmes Street to sample authentic Bavarian delicacies, beer and participate in stein and sausage-based competitions throughout the afternoon.

First up was the yodeling competition that drew a handful of brave competitors, followed by stein racing, which saw participants race steins full of water through a weaving course of side steps and hops.

Derek Pihlaja of Snellman won the competition with the first place time of 13.68 secs.

Competitors race steins full of water during Oktoberfest in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 30, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)

Competitors race steins full of water during Oktoberfest in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 30, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)

Competitors race steins full of water during Oktoberfest in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 30, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)

Derek Pihlaja of Snellman wins the stein racing competition at Oktoberfest in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 30, 2023 with a time of 13.68 secs.

Next was the stein holding that saw competitors extend their arms with full steins for minutes at a time to see who could hold their arms out the longest.

Then, in a climax of competition, participants paired up for a sausage toss.

Separated by about 10 feet, the partners tossed the cooked sausages back and forth until one team emerged victorious having never let their grilled meat touch the ground.

Austin Anderson of Cromwell, Minn., and Bridger Mathern of Edgeley, N.D., were the winning team and received their winning gift bags following the toss.

The event seemed crowded, which Tricia Geffre, an event organizer for the Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary, was extremely happy about. She also said Mark Knutson, the general manager at Detroit Mountain who was killed in a bicycle accident in July, was looking down on them with a big smile since he was instrumental in the early-planning of the event. 

“It’s been six to eight months of planning, and I really think that Mark Knutson is here with us today,” said Geffre. “Just a legend. He started the whole ball rolling and I just want to thank him. He brought us our community. That’s what he was all about, bringing our community together and there are so many people here that I’ve talked to and know from our town.”

She also said they hope to expand the event next year, but that is going to take a lot more volunteers and organizations to lend a hand once planning starts for 2024.

“We want even more people involved, I think that is the goal,” she said. “It’s always been a community activity and we just want to make it bigger and better. And we’ll see if we can get more people out there to help us.”

Sandy Lia, the master of ceremonies for the event, said she loved how excited some of the kids were competing in the games.

“The kids have been one of my favorite parts of the event,” said Lia. “I’m glad it’s family friendly.”

And while she said she was incredibly happy with the event she also added something that was reiterated by numerous other attendees – they need brats and sauerkraut at next year’s festival.