Thousands attend 38th annual Montrose Oktoberfest

As many as 25,000 people attended the annual Montrose Oktoberfest this past Saturday, making the 38th year of the festival “the best year ever,” according to officials with the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce.

Crowds made their way to Honolulu Avenue for a day and night of German culture, rides, live music, games, food and, of course, beer.

At about 3 p.m., the warm, sunny weather wasn’t keeping attendees from strolling the street with a bratwurst or beer — or sometimes both — in their hand.

“So far, it’s going the way it’s supposed to,” said Julie Ann Martin, secretary for the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event. “I think as it cools down, we’ll see more people, but for right now I think it’s a good turnout.”

The street was lined with beer and food tents, several rides — including a Ferris wheel and miniature flying swings — and a sprinkling of carnival games.

La Crescenta resident Valerie Floriano has attended the Oktoberfest from its beginning and used to work the popcorn booth in the early years.

She walked down the streets with her family, including her son, Anton, and her granddaughters. She said her favorite part of the event was “just seeing the kids enjoy themselves.”

The smell of sizzling bratwurst wafted through the air from a grill manned by Glendale resident Randy Holst, who has helped out at the event for six years.

“I do this every year,” he said. “I have a blast.”

Crescenta-Cañada Rotary Club member Joe Kroening worked in one of the beer tents and said the Oktoberfest has “evolved into a family affair” since its early years.

“The first half-dozen years, it was just like a drunken ball and it was older people,” he said, adding that additions such as the Lil’ Master and Lil’ Miss Oktoberfest Contest have helped make the event more family-oriented.

The contest awards the boy and girl dressed in the best German garb including traditional lederhosen and dirndl. In the evening, there was a Mr. and Ms. Oktoberfest Contest, open to adults.

Ten-year-old twins Hudson and Tannen Pritchard made their outfits themselves, complete with knee-high socks, suspenders, hats and some fancy mustaches for good measure.

Both boys were in agreement about the day’s standout — the giant pretzels.

They made the nearly-60-mile drive from Palmdale with their father, Jason Pritchard, and uncle just to enjoy a day at the festival.

Asked about their chances of winning, uncle Jeremy Pritchard said with confidence: “They got it.”

In the end, a mustachioed Tannen was crowned Lil’ Master Oktoberfest as his family cheered in the crowd.