CULLMAN —
After shattering attendance records last year, Cullman Oktoberfest has officially been named the festival of the year by the regional tourism group North Alabama Mountain Lakes.
Earlier this week the agency awarded the Cullman festival the Peak Award for outstanding festival, following Oktoberfest’s first-ever nomination.
“It’s quite an honor, because there are so many worthy festivals in Alabama,” Oktoberfest board member Elaine Fuller said. “This is the first year Cullman Oktoberfest was nominated and we’re very honored to win. It’s always nice to be recognized for the service and work of the volunteers.”
The festival was founded in 1982 and has grown from a two-day affair to a full eight days of festivities. Fuller noted the first Oktoberfest netted approximately 150 attendees, while last year’s event packed downtown with more than 25,000 throughout the week.
Alcohol sales were added last year, which officials say provided a major boost in attendance and brought national press coverage to the event.
“I think all the hard work over the years is paying off, and along with the ability to have alcohol and attract far more people, it’s made it possible for this to be a showcase for our community,” Oktoberfest board member Ernest Hauk said. “It takes a lot of effort from the volunteers and this volunteer board to pull all this together. It isn’t something that just happens. It takes the community as a whole working together.”
Cullman city council member Jenny Folsom said she wasn’t very surprised to hear the festival had garnered regional acclaim — adding she’s proud of the positive spotlight it shines on the city.
“It’s very exciting to hear Oktoberfest has been named festival of the year, and it just builds on the many successful years we’ve had,” she said. “We’re expecting a lot more entertainment and vendors this year, and hopefully the weather will participate again, after such a beautiful week last year. We look to have an even bigger and better festival this year.”
* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.
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