In 2020, for the first time in many years, a new event made its way to Alton Towers to celebrate the theme park's 40th anniversary. A take on a classic German festival, known for good times and cold beer, Oktoberfest.
The event runs from the 11th September all the way through to 4th October and is included in your theme park admission. Oktoberfest at Alton Towers takes place on the front lawns, at the bottom of Towers Street and features several food vans, serving up German treats, such as Bratwurst and Lebkuchen and the parks very own Bierkeller serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including German beers Spaten and Erdinger.
The area also is filled with lots of benches, allowing groups to sit down and enjoy the entertainment and as the benches are spaced two metres apart it means the event can be enjoyed safely too. There are also barrels to use as tables and fire pits to keep you warm, when the sun hides away.
Speaking of entertainment, Oktoberfest has two stages, the smallest stage is one near the Skyride station, this stage features two artists that cover popular songs and the largest is at the bottom of the lawns, near to the lake where the two German-centric artists take center stage. Robert Burton, an accordion player and German Jukebox, a five man oompah-band.
The entertainment takes over each over in half an hour intervals meaning that from 2pm, when the entertainment begins there is something constantly on one of the stages meaning there is always something to watch in the area. All of the entertainment does a great job of getting the crowd going meaning the area has a great atmosphere with people clapping / singing along.
As well as the acts on the stages, there is also roaming street theatre, these include a man with a giant horn who loves to play you a song, barrel carrying monks (although sadly the barrel is empty!) and bubble blowing lederhosen wearing bavarians to name a few. All of the street theatre also love to interact with guests as they make their way through the area frequently.
The Oktoberfest atmosphere isn’t just confined to the lawns, throughout Mutiny Bay, the bespoke Oktoberfest theme plays and in the courtyard, the Wunderbar is open, selling Becks and Spaten whilst cheesy, hand clapping, toe tapping Oktoberfest songs play in the area.
Overall, Oktoberfest is an incredibly well thought out event, which feels relaxed and constantly puts a smile on your face with all the entertainment on offer. We sincerely hope Alton Towers consider this event for 2021 as we feel this perfectly bridges the gap between the summer months and Scarefest.
