By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Aug 31, 2022 at 5:00 PM

Continuing decades of beer-soaked tradition, The Bavarian Bierhaus brings back Milwaukee’s Original Oktoberfest, which runs over five consecutive weekends at Old Heidelberg Park at The Bavarian Bierhaus, beginning this Friday, Sept. 2.

As always there will be German beer, music, dancing, Hammerschlagen, carnival games and more. Food will include classics like Spanferkel, Roll Braten and rotisserie chicken.

There's plenty of space, with more than 300 picnic tables and the awesome pavilion, with performances by bands like Altekameraden, Alpine Blast Trio, Biermen and others.

The event is family and dog-friendly and takes place rain or shine.

The season kicks off with a free keg tapping on Friday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. with Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy. The Oktoberfest is free until the keg runs out.

Hours are Thursdays, 4-9 p.m., Fridays, 4-11 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sundays, 11 -7.

You can reserve a table on Fridays for $30 per table of eight and Saturdays for $35 for a table of eight. Details on reservations and tickets can be found at the website.

Download the Bavarian Bierhaus mobile app and you can get free admission on Thursdays and Sundays and $5 off on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.