Pretzels, pork knuckle and a plenty of pilsner helped the Harmonie German Club's three-day 2014 Oktoberfest at Exhibition Park get off to a rollicking start.
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More than 2000 Canberrans have made their way out to the event to get a taste of fine German food, beer and fashions.
Harmonie Club volunteer food co-ordinator Kevin Bramboeck said his team had prepared 1.25 tonnes of locally sourced pork knuckle, more than 600kg of sauerkraut and 7000 bread rolls for patrons to wash down with more than 12,000 litres of imported Bavarian beer.
"The most popular order is the German sausage," he said. "We have bratwurst, kransky, bockwurst and weisswurst each for $8."
Candice Freeman had the room chanting as she polished off a half-litre stein.
Standing on the tabletop was a tradition the 31-year-old learned attending Oktoberfest abroad.
"I was petrified getting up there," she said. "I have been to the actual Oktoberfest in Munich twice and so I just thought 'yep I'm going to do it'."
Harmonie German Club president Hans Stoehr said despite the festival being the one of the largest drinking events in the ACT, he and staff made sure the atmosphere was always fun and friendly.
"Everyone is here to have a good time," he said. "Those that go over the line are asked to leave."
More than 12 months of planning has gone into making the event accessible for all ages and brimming with entertainment.
The main stage had performances every 15 minutes featuring the St Raphael German Dancers, Legs Dance Groups and The Canberra SwingKatz on Saturday.
Mr Stoehr said Oktoberfest was the biggest event in his club's calendar and reminded Canberrans German culture was available on tap at the Narrabundah club.
"It's not about being German," he said. "It's just about enjoying it."
Oktoberfest continues on Sunday at the Budawang Building, Exhibition Park from 11am to 5pm. Entry is $10.
