Prost, Y'all! Kilgore turned up the Oktoberfest fun

Historic Downtown Kilgore was transformed into a little Bavarian village with a hearty helping of Texas hospitality. We debated traveling south for some famous Oktoberfest activities but we are leaving on vacation in a week so a day trip seemed more logical. Plus, I went to high school in Kilgore and haven’t been back to town since I moved home. Sounds like a couple good reasons to make the drive to Kilgore.

The keg was tapped and a festive energy filled the air. Spirited polka music was performed by several live bands and the smell of sausage was intoxicating.

Warm Pretzel with Cheese Dipping Sauce

I was feeling like eating German food but knowing how small this town was, my expectations were pretty low. We did indulge in a warm soft pretzel. We even splurged for a little queso to dip it in. That’s German, right?

I was excited to get some fresh kettle corn and a frozen lemonade from the Lemonade Taxi. An old high school girlfriend was working in the truck and it was a happy surprise to see her for a second. The tasty Texas-German fusion seemed to be major draw for attendees. Joe had a hard time not getting one of the juicy bratwurst or sausage on a stick offerings. The Biergarten was a popular vendor with a variety of brews, Kids had a blast with a free carnival ride and a root beer stein. There were local vendors set up for shopping for about a city block or two. Most included the typical offerings but there were some unique finds to be had.

Creative Sayings from a Local Woodworker

The center of the road was an oasis from the sun with covered seating. I did think three rows of tables made it a little too tight. Able bodies found it complicated to navigate the inside rows and I would have been nearly impossible for a mobile challenged person. The outer seating was in demand but attainable.

Moving chairs around so it’s accessible

We found a seat under the tents to enjoy our German-Inspired treats and did some people watching. There were a few people that got up to dance and more than a few came dressed up in themed attire. It was very comfortable sitting in the breeze, steins all around. Between the live bands, the dj hosted little activities like a costume contest or the chicken dance.

Joe at one of many photo spots

With a crowd of people in a public setting, I feared we were in for a wait at an overused portable potty. I didn’t see or smell them but walked towards the bathroom signs. The old theater doors were open with conditioned air billowing into the streets so we thought we would take a chance that it had bathrooms. As soon as we walked in, there was an accessible bathroom without a line so I hoped on the opportunity before anyone could tell me it was off limits. I was surprised to find out that a few more feet inside the building was a ladies and a gentlemen’s bathroom that were open to the public and didn’t have a line! What was this fabulous place? We saw signs encouraging venue rentals and then five or six printed posters explaining that the proceeds from the Biergarten benefited an organization called Reel East Texas. They host an annual independent film festival that celebrates and promotes the local film industry.. Beyond screenings, Reel East Texas offers networking events, workshops, and a scholarships for high school students to help cultivate the next generation of creative talent in the region. Hey, drinking for a cause. What could be better.

Seeing the Crim Theatre lit up and the downtown streets bustling with neighbors sharing a "Prost!" is a perfect reminder of what makes this town so special.

Joe and I