Get Off The Couch: 2-day Market celebrates local German culture

BARRY COURTER: You know, Lisa, that one of my favorite pretend-you're-from-another-country-for-a-day celebrations is coming up this weekend. Chattanooga Market is again hosting its Oktoberfest event and, once again, it will be a two-day affair, Saturday and Sunday, at First Tennessee Pavilion.

The only thing better than a brat and a beer is getting to say the word "lederhosen" all day long.

LISA DENTON: Volkswagen's arrival has certainly ramped up this celebration. I'm not saying you couldn't hear German spoken here previously, but now it's being spoken by actual Germans. And "willkommen" to all y'all.

It is fun to say "lederhosen," but I'm thinking it would be more fun to see you walking around in a pair.

BARRY: I had a pair, but they had a checkerboard pattern, and everyone mistook me for the Big Boy of Shoney's fame.

LISA: I don't know if the Germans made up the song "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," but there will be 99 varieties in the Biergarten at the market, so that makes me want to sing it. Classic Volkswagens will be on display, and the Worstbrats Oompah Band will play. Plus, you can see pop stars Anoop Desai and Kat Graham, among others.

BARRY: A couple of local food places will be serving up German food also, and there is a 5K race on Saturday.

LISA: You know my favorite thing about lederhosen -- and I just discovered this -- is that they have a drop-down front flap. Talk about convenience.

BARRY: German engineering. If you're going to sample 99 beers, you have to plan ahead.

And, while you are in the neighborhood -- sort of -- you might as well stop by Ross's Landing to check out the Nina and Pinta, replicas of two of the ships Christopher Columbus sailed on his first trip to the New World. These ships -- officially known as caravels -- are part of our history, good and bad, and seeing them up close and personal is worth the trip. You can go on the ships for a fee, but you can also see them from the bank or the Chattanooga Pier.

LISA: If you want to go out of town for a festival, you could catch Ketner's Mill in Whitwell, Tenn., or the Cleveland Apple Festival. Both run Saturday and Sunday. Or you could support the Cumberland Trail at Hiketoberfest, a hiking, nature and music festival that takes place Sunday at Shackleford Ridge Park on Signal Mountain.

BARRY: We do love us some festivals, and those are three good ones. The Rooftop Hop to benefit GreenSpaces is Saturday, also. The main party is on the parking deck next to the Majestic movie theater downtown, and there are satellite parties on five other downtown rooftops. Hence the name, right? The WTM Blues Band will be opening for T-Bird & The Breaks at the main party. Rhythm & Brews will host an official after-party.

LISA: All those lofty elevations? You should wear your lederhosen to that, too. Pretend you're in the Alps.

Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.

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