The ‘Old Comrades’ lead Va. Beer Museum through a 5th Anniversary Oktoberfest

On Saturday, September 25, the Virginia Beer Museum celebrated both its fifth Oktoberfest and anniversary with a special guest appearance of the Fairfax City-based Alte Kameraden (“Old Comrades”) Bavarian-style German brass and wind band. It was noted by event host Eric Bartok that the booking of the internationally recognized “Old Comrades” was made possible by a COVID-related event cancellation.

We’re VERY experienced at this, just follow our lead ‘Old Comrades/Alte Kameraden’ front man Randy Dahlburg implores Va. Beer Museum crowd. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

Founded in 1977 by the band’s first “Kapellmeister” Samuel Laudenslager, in 1995 it became the first American band to receive membership in the “MON” – Bavaria’s association of village bands”. Other recognitions include the 1990-bestowed “Federal Republic of Germany’s German-American Friendship Award”; the 1997 induction into Germany’s Honorary Society for bands and military music – “Deutsch Gesellschaft fur Militarmusik”; among others. According to the band’s bio they have also played at an annual Open House hosted by the German Embassy, at a Swiss Embassy “National Day of Celebration”, and at a German military staff Oktoberfest at Dulles International Airport.

Let it be said that with those credentials it was a successful propelling of Virginia Beer Museum patrons through a cheerful late September opening of the Oktoberfest season.

And this is where we pause, raise our beer, and toast – and the VIP section seems to get the message, below.

And it wasn’t just the adults having a good time, as this dancing daughter makes mom proud; and below international celebrity Chihuahua ‘Rico’ awaits his beverage, a lighter water – Rico was the ‘designated walker’ to point his crew in the right direction home.

Hmm, what might be brewing in there??