The golden nectar is cascading down the side of the stein. The early echoes of yodeling are warming the chill autumn air.
All across the northern hemisphere, the harvest has been gathered and the goodness of the yield has been salted, dried, canned, pickled, smoked, sealed, frozen, boiled and bottled.
It is now time to raise a glass and celebrate the blessings of the season.
All over the northern world, it is October but only in certain places is it Oktoberfest. The Senior Activity Centre in Prince George is one of those bountiful places.
The star of the Oktoberfest show is Sound of the North, the longtime local band that had gone dormant in the mid-2010s but came out of hibernation a few years ago when October came calling.
"The Mackenzie Rotary Club found us through our old band website," said co-founder Beth Bowman-Bressette. "They made contact about doing an Oktoberfest event for them. We hadn't thought of reviving the band until they asked, but for that, we did it. That was October 2016."
The band did not get fully revamped, but a habit formed around the Oktoberfest theme, said band member Heidi Burtenshaw who comes from the German state of Bavaria, not far from Munich where Oktoberfest is a way of life.
"It's all about having fun, relaxing, celebrating the harvest, and appreciating the joys of life," said Burtenshaw, who is so committed to Sound Of The North's new autumn tradition that she commutes back to Prince George for it every year.
She has lately been living on Gabriola Island. Her old-time music stylings, including an ability to yodel, has made her as much of a mainstay of the busy Gabriola arts scene as she is around here. Burtenshaw is one of more than 20 acts included on the soon-to-be-released double album of Gabriola Island musicians, along with name players like Nathan Tinkham and another ex-northerner Gary Fjellgaard.
"I love coming back to do these shows," said Burtenshaw. "I enjoy Gabriola and I like living there, but my heart is still in the north country. This always feels like coming home."
These Oktoberfest concerts are more than a standard band performance. Many of the songs are polkas and other authentic German party tunes, with a blend of familiar old-style dance favourites from this continent. There is a lot of food (a hearty German-style evening lunch will be available), toasts, and interaction.
Bowman-Bressette and Burtenshaw will be supported on stage Friday night by bandmates Terry Receveur, Ken Maddox and Ken Ogilvie. Everyone in the audience is encouraged to dress up in traditional German clothes like dirndls and lederhosen, or at least dress in your finest happy mood.
Tickets are available now at the Senior Activity Centre located in the old library building at 425 Brunswick Street. For a yodeling good time pick your up for $25 while supplies last. Call 250-563-1915 for more information.
