Oktoberfest on Base

Every year on the NATO Airbase in Geilenkirchen is an Oktoberfest celebration.  Put on by the German officer's club on base, tickets can be purchased by anyone who works on the base and they are welcome to bring guests.  Obviously security is enforced and all guests require passport identification.  Before entering the hangar, there was also a bag search and a pat-down (albeit not as thorough as the TSA...).

Oktoberfest ticket

inside the hangar on base

There were several things I liked about the Oktoberfest on base versus the one in München last year.  First of all, this one was smaller with about 3,000 people.  This means there was enough space to find a table and still be able to walk around without losing your seat.  Second, this was at a location where I already knew people.  Although there were a lot of people at the event, I saw someone I knew every few minutes and was able to do a lot of socializing!  Third, it was on a military base.  I wasn't worried about someone stealing my wallet or kidnapping me or anything stupid.  This Oktoberfest was just a big party with people I knew in a safe and comfortable environment!

Prost!