Oktoberfest Backers Can Toast Garden Grove’s Decision to Allow Beer

Jolly Al Srnka stood before the members of the Garden Grove City Council, lederhosen on his slender frame, a pleading look on his face and a tone of heartfelt entreaty in his voice.

“How can we have an Oktoberfest without beer?” asked the 60-year-old Al, whose full name is Alfred S. Srnka but who goes by Al as leader of Jolly Al’s German Band. “An Oktoberfest without beer is like . . . Thanksgiving without a turkey!”

The centerpiece of the traditional German celebration will be on hand after all, thanks to a compromise. The plan permits the festival--complete with brew--to go on as scheduled on Garden Grove’s Main Street on Saturday.

Earlier this month, Srnka and other local supporters of the fourth annual Symphony Oktoberfest had petitioned the council to reverse its decision to deny their request for a one-day license to sell beer.

What is Oktoberfest, they asked, without beer?

The Main Street Merchants Assn. and the Garden Grove Symphony are combining this year to jointly sponsor the event. Previous Oktoberfests were more modest affairs, held indoors at various locations in the city.

But the sale of liquor on public property, namely the sidewalks, ran afoul of the city’s rules.

“We have a longstanding policy against issuing permits for this sort of use,” said George Tindall, Garden Grove’s city manager. “How can we tell the Strawberry Festival that (it) can’t have a permit to sell beer and grant one to this group?”

But the deal between festival organizers and city will allow the show to go on.

“There’s a small lot behind The Cutest Little Store (12908 Main St.) that we’re going to use,” said Yaakov Dvir-Djerassi 43, general manager of the symphony. “We’re also renting the courtyard area on the grounds of the Festival Amphitheater, (12852 Main St.) for $200.” The Garden Grove Assn. for the Arts, a private nonprofit organization, administers the Amphitheater, and has an on-site liquor license.

“We’re going to build a beer garden in both places,” said Dvir-Djerassi, and beer sold and bought will have to be consumed in those locations. “You can’t drink and drive so I guess you can’t walk, either,” he added.

In addition to German beer and music, Oktoberfest will feature German foods for sale, including a three-course sit-down dinner. It’s scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and “end when the last person goes home,” Dvir-Djerassi said.