Forres and District-Vienenburg and Goslar Twinning Association is hosting Octoberfest at Forres Town Hall on Saturday, October 21
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OCTOBERFEST is coming to Forres!
Forres and District-Vienenburg and Goslar Twinning Association (FVGTA) is holding the celebration of German-style beer at Forres Town Hall from 7.30-10.30pm on Saturday, October 21.
FVGTA chairman David MacFarquhar confirmed the event is open to everyone, including accompanied youngsters.
He said: “Come along, grab your sausage, fill your glass, stand up and sing ‘Ein Prosit! Ein Prosit! (Cheers! Cheers!)’”
The original Oktoberfest is held annually in Munich with more than six million attendees. It is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810.
Plenty of beer will be available at FVGTA’s version, as well as wine and soft drinks. All attendees will be offered a free first drink and German sausage. Music will be provided by Glenn Munro’s Stein Brass Oompah Band, alongside members of Forres and District Pipe Band. They will combine with Stein Brass like last year when the pipe band joined a full German orchestra for a rendition of ‘Highland Cathedral’ during twin town Goslar’s 1100th anniversary celebrations.
Mr MacFarquhar added: “There will also be a special ‘dance’ moment when the band will display its virtuosity!”
Vienenburg, population 11,000, was twinned with Forres in 1984. It lies six miles from the city of Goslar, capital of the Goslar district, into which it was incorporated in 2014. It is close to the old Iron Curtain which separated east from west Germany until 1989. It has a lake, an open-air swimming pool and the oldest railway station in Germany. Goslar, of Germany’s Harz Mountains, has a population of 42,000 and was twinned with Forres in 2016. It is known for its medieval old town, half-timbered houses and 11th-century Imperial Palace. The nearby Rammelsberg Mountain has a mine which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
FVGTA was created to promote and foster friendship and understanding between the people of Moray and Lower Saxony. The association encourages visits to and from the linked towns.
Mr MacFarquhar said: “The pipe band and Forres Area Soccer Sevens have visited Vienenburg and Goslar where they enjoyed unstinting hospitality!”
Copies of children’s book ‘Fantastic Forres’ will be on sale at Octoberfest.
Mr Macfarquhar finished: “Authors Ewen Watson and Sathya Schloesser are recruits to the association. Membership forms will be available on the night.”
Tickets priced at £15 for adults and £8 for under-18s are available at Pearl’s (Pet Care),The Bike Bothy and Home Comforts. Alternatively, call Pearl on 01309 671166.
