Snowbird’s annual Oktoberfest celebration kicked off last weekend, and carries on Saturdays and Sundays (and Labor Day) through Oct. 9, 2011. --- Germany’s ginormous Oktoberfest held in Munich is the single largest festival in the world. Over the duration of the two-week celebration, Munich’s Oktoberfest hosts some 6 million visitors. That’s a lot of suds. Annually, an average of about 6 million attendees drink nearly 1 litre of beer each. But what really surprises me is that more than 1 million liters of nonalcoholic beer are also consumed—this, apparently, by designated drivers. In addition, half a million pork sausages, half a million chickens and 59,000 pork knuckles are eaten at Oktoberfest, not to mention 87 oxen.

The scale of Snowbird’s Oktoberfest is a little less majestic than Munich’s. On the other hand, you don’t have to learn German to order a beer here. Just stroll up to Oktoberfest Halle, a big, heated tent located just off Snowbird’s Plaza, and let the fun begin. There’s free entertainment that includes music and dancing, and for the youngsters there’s face painting, inflatable rides, clowns, balloons and more.

But, of course, Oktoberfest is, first and foremost, about beer and food. And this year’s Oktoberfest at Snowbird combines a Bavarian-themed menu with a mini brewfest. First, I’ll usually sink my teeth into the lightly spiced weisswurst: mild cream-colored veal sausage served on a sourdough hoagie with sauerkraut and a pickle. Other wurst options include bratwurst and chicken-apple sausage. Of course, I’m always a sucker for Snowbird’s herbed spaetzle, small egg-and-flour dumplings served buttered and then bathed in rich brown gravy. Other tempting sides include potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce, warm German potato salad just like my grandma used to make and apple-braised red cabbage. Entrees like beef rouladen and paprika chicken round out the Oktoberfest menu, but you’d be nuts to depart without trying the apple strudel or German chocolate cake. The Snowbird culinary team takes pride each year in the German-style cuisine offered at Oktoberfest and, I have to admit, it is excellent.

What would Oktoberfest be without beer? Well, no worries here. There are plenty of beer options—some 20 or so selections (which vary depending on the day) on tap, plus many varieties of bottled beer, both imported and domestic. And, new to Snowbird’s Oktoberfest this year is a Jagermeister tent featuring both shots and cocktails utilizing Jagermeister and Barenjager honey liqueur. There’s a Barenjager honey tea cocktail while the weather is warm, which will become Barenjager with hot cider in cooler weather. The Jagermeister cocktail is the Jager Barrel, combining Jagermeister with root beer.

Admission to Snowbird’s Oktoberfest is free.