Grand Hilton Seoul presents 10th Oktoberfest

This year’s Oktoberfest scheduled on Sept. 3 at Grand Hilton Seoul celebrates the 10th anniversary. / Courtesy of Grand Hilton Seoul

Bernhard Brender

By Kim Se-jeong

Oktoberfest is a German beer festival held in Munich for 16 days in September through October. Begun in 1810, the festival is an important annual event in southern Germany known as Bavaria, drawing people from all over the world to taste the region’s beer and experience its atmosphere.

Continents away, Seoul has been holding its version of Oktoberfest for the past 10 years. The one-night event, held at Grand Hilton Seoul, is one of the biggest activities for the expat community, drawing more than a thousand guests who want to enjoy beer, food and a laugh.

This year’s event will be held on Sept. 3, and in celebration of the event’s 10th anniversary, Bernhard Brender, the hotel’s general manager, is preparing something extraordinary.

Germany dishes are ready to be served at Oktoberfest last year.

“It is not bigger than the one in Munich, but it’s more personal and even better,” the general manager, who is from Germany, said. “It is cheaper to come to Grand Hilton Seoul and enjoy this original event than flying to Munich. Do not miss this once-a-year valuable event for networking with people from around the world, dancing, drinking beer all night and having fun.”

The main drinks that will be served are Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier and Weihenstephaner Original Larger on tap.

In addition, traditional German dishes will be served throughout the evening, including Bavarian white sausage, Schweinshaxe and Black Forest ham, Franconian meatloaf, smoked pork loin with sauerkraut, homemade apple strudel with vanilla sauce, roasted potatoes with bacon and onions and deep-fried shrimps in beer batter with German tartar sauce, prepared by the hotel’s chefs.

The legendary Anton Band from Munich will fly in for the night to perform live music.

Pretzle and other desserts are on display.

This year’s festival will also include games such as beer drinking and “hammering the nail,” complementary gifts for guests, including a beauty mask pack, a voucher for premium cosmetics brand TREEANNSEA to all visitors and perfume samples for participants for the 10th anniversary special event.

A lucky draw will also give prizes like a Lufthansa airline tickets and hotel vouchers in Germany and two footballs signed by Uli Stielike who is the current manage of the Korean national football team.

The festival stage will open from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m., and the hotel will also have rooms at a special rate available for those who wish to stay.

This is 10th anniversary at Grand Hilton Seoul, but the festival took place before at Millennium Seoul Hilton and the former Renaissance Hotel Seoul.

The general manager has witnessed many stories at the event during the last 10 years, including a surprise marriage proposal that he helped one guest put together two years ago.

Oktoberfest used to be an event for the expat community alone but has been attracting more local guests.

It also helps promote Grand Hilton Seoul, one of the city’s renowned luxury hotels.

The hotel has almost 400 rooms, a swimming pool, aerobic rooms, fitness center 2,500-capacity ball room and shuttle bus service to major attractions in the city.

The hotel’s business center is outfitted with all one needs for meetings.

The hotel’s three restaurants offer a variety of cuisines to cater to guests from Europe to Asia and Middle East.

Tickets cost 140,000 won per person. For more information and reservation, call (02) 2287-7456.