Octoberfest With The Patchogue Kiwanis Club

Attending Octoberfest with the Patchogue Kiwanis Club was one of my most enjoyable evenings of 2011.  The fact that it was for charity made it even better.  When we arrived at the beautiful Greek Orthodox Church Hall in Port Jefferson, it was just winding up.  Many families and friends were enjoying themselves, some had brought snacks and appetizers.  It was a welcoming place to settle in.  We enjoyed Hofbrau beer poured by the friendly members of The Kiwanis Club.  The members of the Club were volunteers and set up a great room, with great food, beer, soda and music.

The Unterschuetz Family Band entertained the room with traditional tunes – many feisty and upbeat songs that had the crowd happily singing along.  I felt like I was at an event in Bavaria.  I loved when the singer Renate sang out that we all love Long Island!

This family rocked the house and at the same time made me want to be friends with them!

The food.  Ah, the food!  We were served a wonderful Bavarian dinner buffet of sauerbraten, red cabbage, potatoes (with bacon ), German sausage and sauerkraut.  I was in heaven and it brought back great memories.  My mother was a German-American and I have enjoyed similar plates.  The food was donated by J & R’s Steakhouse and cooked to perfection by the Kiwanis volunteers.

Our table was full of fun people.  We ate, drank and were merry.  Some children started to make paper airplanes from the place-mats and we joined in.  Soon the entire half of the huge hall were joining in.  What fun!  I know that we were all feeling like happy children again.

After the hijinks and dancing to the band we were offered cake donated by Entenmann’s and coffee from Starbucks.  Everyone was well fed and happy.  The tasty beer didn’t hurt either!

The entertainment continued with the stellar party band die Schlauberger.  They are a bunch of cute men who put a modern twist on German favorites.  The crown was dancing and toasting to the familiar sounds of Siggi Saki! Siggi Saki! Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!

One of the highlights of the night was the traditional opening of the Octoberfest keg which came all the way from Germany.  This was preceded by a beautiful and rousing rendition of “God Bless America” where the entire room sang along and cheered!

I will download the Band die Schlauberger, the “God Bless America” and the keg opening videos on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/VirginiasLI.  The happiness and friendliness in the room are on display in these videos.

Next year, I am planning on asking my family and friends to join us.  The happiness and friendliness just resonated through the room and I want to feel that again.

Siggi Saki! Siggi Saki! Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!