ARCHIVED - Calpe prepares for one of the largest Oktoberfests in Spain
26th October marks the start of the 29th annual Oktoberfest in Calpe
The popular Costa Blanca coastal town of Calpe numbers well over 1,000 German nationals among its 21,500 inhabitants, and this is one of the reasons for the annual Oktoberfest being one of the most popular and best attended events in the calendar.
All is now ready for the 2016 edition which begins on 26th October, and 600 barrels of the finest Münich beer are being rolled into place at the marquee behind the Calpe tennis club.
This is the oldest German-style beer festival in the whole of the Comunidad Valenciana, and as it celebrates its 29th edition it is expected that over 20,000 visitors will attend at some point during the fortnight ending on 6th November. The Oktoberfest is returning to its original venue near the town centre, and this year, while the marquee itself will be slightly smaller, there will also be an outdoor beer garden to accommodate smokers.
According to the organizers at the Creativ Club Calpe this is the largest Oktoberfest in Spain, and the fact that it is frequently affected by autumn rain only adding to the authenticity of the event as it mirrors the climate in Bavaria. Many Germans choose to attend in traditional costume, and both the music and the food, as well as the beer, are genuinely German.
All are welcome to join in the fun, with Lederhosen optional as the dress code is decidedly informal!
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