Beer among the bushplanes (16 photos)

A large, enthusiastic crowd gathered to celebrate Oktoberfest at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre Saturday.

“This is our second year doing Oktoberfest…we thought there should be something on Thanksgiving Weekend, a get-together for family and friends in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Steve Alexander, Loplops owner/operator and Oktoberfest organizer.

Alexander estimated 300 people had come to the Bushplane Museum by mid-afternoon to enjoy Oktoberfest, which ran from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sault breweries Northern Superior and Outspoken Brewing were on hand with their own brands of beer for Oktoberfest guests to purchase and enjoy.

Outspoken Brewing offered a special brew (a pale ale entitled Dirndl, named after a type of traditional dress worn in Bavaria and Austria) just for the occasion Saturday.

Oktoberfest staff and some guests wore lederhosen and dirndl dresses. 

Sault eateries Dish, Prime Cuts and Superior Home Bakery provided sausage and pretzels, with live entertainment provided by local group Polka Smolka.

The $25 admission price included food and a 32 ounce glass Oktoberfest mug to take home.

“Hopefully we’ll grow this event…if we can do our events properly, I can see tourists coming into town for this,” Alexander told SooToday.