Oktoberfest coming to Marion Bridge

A Cape Breton community with deep Scottish roots is going to put some 'oompah-pah' into its cultural repertoire this weekend.

In Marion Bridge this Saturday, revelers will roll out the barrel at the Mira Centre between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The idea originated from a comment by German immigrant Bridget Benz.

As a member of the local seniors and pensioners' club she was asked what she thought would make a good fundraising project.

"Everybody was excited and then they said 'Yes, of course, we will do Oktoberfest, and then it starts to get complicated," she said.

Its complicated because Benz is a stickler for authenticity.

"We need original tables and benches from Bavaria, which they are using at the Oktoberfest tents in Munich," she said.

So Benz imported them along with traditional clothing for the servers.

Traditionally, German women wear dresses called dirndls. Men wear leather shorts with suspenders called lederhosen, with kneesocks.

Cape Bretons Big Spruce Brewing has made Das Sprucbier! which is an Oktoberfest amber ale brewed specially for this celebration with malted barley imported from Germany.

The cheese will also be a special Oktoberfest variety, and there will be bratwurst, complete with sauerkraut and potato salad.

Benzs husband Joe Macholl says since the Mira Centre has seating for only 100 or so at a time, they've decided to hold the event over seven hours.

"Because it's getting viral, everybody is so excited about it. Everybody is so happy that we have something like that," he said.

The Benzs say they really don't know how the event will be received, but hope to make it a yearly tradition.