What were the organizers of Oktoberfest thinking (they weren’t)? Oktoberfest was the last great festival that many locals attended. My wife and I have been attending since the many (and best) years on Wall Street. This is our last one!
I am attaching a picture for you. The glass on the left is the size of beer cups we originally got at the Oktoberfest for $25. The middle glass (6 ounces) is what we received last year. The cup to the right is the 4-ounce “stein” we received this year for $40!
The beer lines were very long, so if you wanted to drink beer throughout the day, you had to get a beer and get back in line right then — saw everybody doing this.
Next was the entertainment, or lack of. Where were our Vermont Boys we had for years and years? The crowd loved them, and I heard many, many people talk about the differences and not in a good way. These folks couldn’t even fake a German accent or play the traditionals we love!
Well, city of Asheville, you did it again — you took away the last downtown festival that was worth attending, and I’m sure many others feel the same way. Lesson to be learned: Sometimes it’s better to leave well enough, alone. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — money is the root of all evil!
— Jeff and Anna Coffey
Sherrills Ford
Editor’s note: Meghan Rogers, executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association, offered this response:
“First of all, I thank the letter writers for their comments. We do take feedback into serious consideration when planning future events. The size of a beverage sample is dictated by the state of North Carolina. To be in compliance with this regulation, we needed to decrease the size of our sampling mug. I agree that this caused longer lines, and we are looking at ways to address this.
The Stratton Mountain Boys from Vermont were not able to include Asheville Oktoberfest in their travel schedule this year. Lagerhosen is a local band comprised of talented, hardworking musicians who perform in many other groups and bands as well.
One point of clarity, the Asheville Downtown Association produces Oktoberfest, not the city of Asheville.
Again, thanks for your feedback. I’ll be sure to share it with our team.”
This exact scenario is indicative of every Asheville festival. It’s at first reasonably priced and consumer oriented, but word spreads and the festival organizers price gouge AND the laws of supply and demand go into effect; attendance eventually doubles; yet beer vendors and cup sizes are halved…. Beer city, brew grass, and winter warmer…. We used to go also; but NOT anymore. Last years Oktoberfest was a nightmare; and by far our worse beer fest experience.
Maybe you shouldn’t go to an event just to get drunk.
‘festivals’ productions costs WAY more now than ever before, because SO MANY MORE people have their hands in on the action around here/everwhur…add in WAY MORE government rules, restrictions and CONTROLS and you’ve priced yourselves right out of the market…thanks BIG government, and all you local ‘progressives’ for implementing all your CONTROLS. See how
such does not ‘pay’ ? the ‘festival’ fad/trend will slowly fade away.
“Yeah. Everything should be free and that way stuff I like would not cost money. It has nothing to do with the entrepreneur’s rising cost of doing business being transferred to the end-consumer.” -Asheville Progressive
I’m sure the point the reader is making is that; what once seemed to be a reasonably priced and not so crowed beer outing; is now a blatant rip off. Which surely isn’t do to a 3 fold increase of an “entrepreneur’s rising cost of doing business.” Sorry Tim; this isn’t an appropriate column for you to go off on your ignorant NEO CON rants.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. Or why you’re talking.