Newly installed Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta and U.S. Consul General Susan Abeyta appeared as headline guests at the Lake Chapala Society’s Oktoberfest, sharing the stage with master of ceremonies Hans Boentgen to officially kick off the October 6 event. Huerta opened the party with a warm greeting in Spanish and English, followed by Abeyta who showed off her fluency in German with the customary Austro-Bavarin keg-opening salute, “O’ zapft is!” (It’s tapped).
Although booked for a brief 20-minute visit, Huerta settled down at the dignitaries’ table next to Abeyta and her husband Victor, remaining for close to an hour to take in the live entertainment, pound down a bit of brew and socialize with the sell-out crowd of expats in attendance. Canadian Consul Yvonne Chin and spouse David Gauthier arrived shortly afterwards to join in the fun.
The lively celebration was fueled by an abundant flow of assorted suds served by Guadalajara’s La Minerva microbrewery, including the seasonal Erdinger Oktoberfest Weissbier specially imported for the occasion poured along with the company’s own brands of on-tap stout, kolch, and a pale ale that garnered a gold medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup. A sumptuous buffet of typical Oktoberfest fare was ably catered by the local sausage-making outfit Big Daddy’s.
The entertainment program featured a delightful repertoire of oom-pah-pah tunes put together by an ad hoc sextet of local musicians, songs performed the Harmonizers and the Barbershop Mixed Chorus, and an audience-participation yodeling contest.
The LCS grounds were handsomely adorned with coat-of-arms banners and sky blue and white bunting aptly reflecting the ambiance of the Bavarian Alps. All-in-all, Oktoberfest coordinator Pat Doran and her team of volunteers earned kudos for the smooth run of a fine afternoon of European-style diversion.