NEWBERRY — We are days away from Newberry Oktoberfest and while this German Festival is sure to be a fun time for all, it will be even more so for foodies and those who enjoy expanding their palate with new flavors.
Mary Alex Kopp, tourism and events manager for the City of Newberry, revealed they have 15 food vendors this year — with only two vendors being new to Newberry Oktoberfest. What is Kopp most excited about this year? The variety.
“Lots of variety this year, I’m really excited about that — I think it is even more so than last year,” Kopp said.
When it comes to Newberry Oktoberfest, Kopp said they not only require the food vendors to submit their menus to them prior to the event, but they must also have at least one German inspired dish.
“I’m astonished, year after year, with what people end up coming up with — which is very cool,” she said.
While two of the vendors are new to Newberry Oktoberfest, they are not new to Newberry. In fact, every food vendor has participated in a City of Newberry event in some way or form.
“The food vendors we have coming back, some of them are people who have been with the Oktoberfest since its inception, some we recruited back when we revamped our qualification system five years ago,” Kopp said. “These are people who stuck it out with us, and they are offering a product that the folks coming are looking for. The folks that we do have are very confident in their product and their ability to sell. Some are local, some are not — in fact, quite a few are local this time.”
Kopp added that she is really excited about the food vendors they have — and what is being offered.
“I think we have something for everybody. We have great options for people who are looking for that authentic German experience, you don’t have to go to one vendor for that — you have lots of vendors you can go to,” she said.
However, if German food doesn’t get your mouth watering, Kopp said you’ll have other options — including fair food or barbecue.
The food vendors will wrap around Community Hall, and will take up the entire block. Kopp suggests that if you come with a group to split up, have everyone get something different, and then share. With vendors offering unique sides, or a variation of a classic, that may be the best way to get your fill — literally.
“The Wurst Wagen,” Kopp said, is by far the most popular vendor on the roster.
“The couple that owns the business, the husband is German and the wife is actually from Newberry. They have been with us since we revamped. They are definitely who I’d consider our ‘most traditional’ at the event,” she said.
As their name suggests, they will have lots of bratwurst and sauerkraut. However, they have a dish that Kopp is quite fond of — currywurst.
“I like the presentation, it is relatively simple — it comes pre-sliced, with the sauce over the top, sprinkling of curry dust and it usually has a hard roll that goes with it. Then you can get a side, I usually do German potato salad or sauerkraut,” Kopp said. “It comes in the little tray, perfectly easy to hold — one hand to hold and the other to eat.”
However, being easy to carry isn’t what draws Kopp to this dish. She said in her life, she has been privileged to travel Europe a few times and currywurst is something she looks for when she is there.
“Tastes and smells are some of the biggest things that tie us to memory — and that currywurst does that for me,” Kopp said.
The Haute Dog Lady is another vendor where the owner is actually German. Kopp said on her application her German dish is called the Oktoberfest Dog, and on top of that you can get a whole host of toppings, which include a seasoned–kraut or her fire-kraut — which is spicy.
“Her food is fantastic, she has this little cart, and let me tell you it might be little, but it is packed full of flavor,” Kopp said.
Kopp added that the Haute Dog Lady’s variety comes in with the toppings, which essentially allows customers to create whatever they want.
St. Marks Catholic Church will be one of the vendors to satisfy your German sweet tooth. They will not only have hot dogs and soft pretzels, but they will also have German desserts, like German chocolate bars, German chocolate cake and German apple streusel.
“They will also sell tamales and Mexican street corn on the cob,” Kopp said.
Kopp said that while they are a church, they have the same level of expectations that the City puts on all of their food vendors — and they deliver every year.
“It’s not one to miss if you are looking to take a break from German food, but are still hungry,” Kopp said.
Crossroads BBQ is a vendor Newberry is familiar with — they have not only been to Oktoberfest previously, but also Pork in the Park and Taste of Newberry. Kopp said their German inspired dish is German beer braised brisket — just try and say that without your mouth watering.
Outside of the brisket, they will have everything you’d expect from a barbecue booth, pulled pork and all the sides.
The Grille on Main will also have a vendor space, as well as their restaurant being open. Kopp said they will have bratwurst and sauerkraut, but also hamburgers.
“And hamburgers are technically German,” she said.
The Palms will also be back, and while they will also have bratwurst, what many people may be on the look out from them is liver nips.
“The only place you can get liver nips during Newberry Oktoberfest. They will also have German potato salad, sausage on a stick, raw fries, they are going to be doing street corn too, but more of an American style festival street corn,” Kopp said.
When it comes to the liver nips, Kopp said this is a very traditional Newberry German food. Kopp said that when immigrants came over they brought their cooking traditions with them, and those traditions morphed into more southern style cooking traditions.
“Newberry has always been exceptional with our cooking tradition roots, and one of those is liver nips. That was left over from a time you’ve got the whole cow, and you’re trying to do right by this animal you raised, and use as much as possible,” Kopp said. “So liver nips is primarily made out of beef liver, and it is stretched food — so you’re not getting giant chunks of liver, it’s more of a hash like dish.”
Bill and Fran’s will be back with their fair style menu — which Kopp said is so much fun. Their German style dish will be bacon wrapped bratwurst over sauerkraut. They will also have bacon wrapped sausage dogs, corn dogs, fries and apple pie sticks with a caramel sauce.
TKO Concession is another Newberry festival favorite, as they have participated in Pork in the Park and Groove N’ Brew, as well as Oktoberfest. However, they are not doing barbecue — according to Kopp.
“He does more fair side items, his German dish is German potato salad with bacon. He’ll have fresh squeezed lemonade, funnel cake, deep fried Oreos and ribbon fries,” she said.
O’Shield’s Concessions will be another with a lot of fair food, including Philly cheese steaks, Italian sausages and chicken tenders. Their German item will be a schnitzel sandwich.
“If you are wanting to try schnitzel, but want to stay on the go — O’Shields is where to go,” Kopp said.
Smell my Smoke BBQ is one of the new vendors this year, but many may recognize their name from this year’s Pork in the Park.
“He’ll be doing bratwurst, sausage dogs and things like that as his German focus. Outside of that, he’ll have the whole barbecue menu with fix-ins,” she said.
The other new food vendor this year is Meals Made Simple — but this vendor use to run a restaurant in Newberry called Goodies by Design.
“They were an arts and craft vendor last year, she also sold some homemade candies and things like that. She called me up and said she wanted to be a meal vendor,” Kopp said.
Their German dish will be beer bratwurst, and outside of that they’ll have unique items like Cajun shrimp and grits, pimento cheeseburgers, slow roasted chicken plates with baked beans. Kopp also said they will have something called tater logs, which is basically an oversized tater tot with different toppings.
The Bavarian Roasted Nuts vendor will also make their return — Kopp said Bavarian roasted nuts are a very common German street food that you’ll see at holiday markets. He will also have 21 flavors of fudge for those with a sweet tooth.
Icy Treats will return with the popular frozen dipped cheesecake on a stick. Kopp said he’ll also have Italian ice and frozen dipped bananas. His German item is a super pretzel bar, which is just a pretzel with a variety of flavors to choose from.
“He will also sell a beer cheese you can dip it in,” she said.
Carolina Cookin will be another option for bratwurst and sauerkraut — but, if anyone remembers this vendor from Taste of Newberry, they’ll recall the grits with a variety of toppings to choose from, like shrimp and alligator. Kopp said he also does a soft shell crab sandwich which she said is awesome.
The Blended Bakery is a food vendor many will remember as they are in a gigantic red trolley. Kopp said their German item will be pfeffernusse cookies — a traditional holiday spiced cookie.
“They are a great stop if you get there at 10 and are not ready for lunch, and want more breakfast. I think they had a breakfast item in the first few hours last year,” Kopp said.
Now, with all of this mouthwatering food everyone will need a beverage, and with two Biergartens, there will be plenty to choose from.
The Jaycees Biergarten, also known as the charitable Biergarten, will have Schöfferhofer Grapefruit, Radeberger Pilsner, Michelob Ultra and Devils Backbone Oktoberfest.
“Any sales they make, the profits of that are going to go to their Youth Services Account — which benefits different projects throughout the community. Some of the money goes toward the Boys Farm donations, they sponsor recreation leagues, and other things in addition to the Christmas shopping spree for children,” Kopp said.
The official Biergarten will have lots of German beers to choose from: ACE Pumpkin Cider, Bitburger, Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Sierra Oktoberfest, Spaten Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Pilsner.
Please note, in order to get the over 21 wristband (which you need in order to have a beer at the event) you must have your ID — Kopp added there will be no exceptions. IDs will be checked at both Biergartens and all of the downtown restaurants and bars that sell alcohol. In fact, if you get a beer or a glass of wine inside any restaurant or bar, they can provide you with an approved plastic cup to take with you outside.
“Sit down, get something to drink and eat don’t feel like you have to throw back your drink, make sure it is in the plastic cup they are offering and walk outside,” Kopp said.
With that being said, Kopp noted that all restaurants in Downtown Newberry will be open and will more than likely be on theme for the day.
