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8 Can’t-Miss Oktoberfest Celebrations Across the U.S.

By U.S. News & World Report

As the leaves change colors, the air turns crisp and harvest season begins, thoughts turn to some of the great joys in life: beer and chicken dancing. It’s finally Oktoberfest season, when polka is popular, traditional dirndls become high fashion and beer is celebrated across the globe. Oktoberfest celebrations worldwide owe their origin to the Oct. 12, 1810 marriage of Prince Ludwig of the German State of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The happy couple invited all Munich citizens to a huge party thrown in a field in front of the city gates and all things Bavarian were celebrated, namely beer and horse racing. The fete was such a hit that it eventually became an annual event. As German immigrants settled in different parts of the world, they brought this beloved celebration with them. Today, countries worldwide party like its 1810 with German beer and cuisine, polka bands and folk dancing, while adding local elements that make each Oktoberfest unique. Here are eight annual Oktoberfests celebrated throughout the U.S. in that are worth pulling out the lederhosen for.

[See: 9 Flavorful Fall Festivals.]

Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

When: Oct. 20-23

Tulsa‘s Linde Oktoberfest celebrates its 38th year from Oct. 20-23 along the banks of the Arkansas River. Credited with introducing the chicken dance to the U.S. (the polka tune was called the bird dance, but organizers could only muster a chicken costume and the name stuck), Linde is one of the nation’s largest and oldest Oktoberfest celebrations. Bavarian beer, cheesecake, Dachshund races, German polka bands and carnival rides give this event a state fair feel perfect for families and friends who want to celebrate Oklahoma’s German settler heritage and its (finally) cool fall nights.

Leavenworth Oktoberfest
Leavenworth, Washington

When: Oct. 7-8; Oct.14-15

This multi-weekend party bills itself as the next best thing to being in Munich; after all, the entire town is modeled after a Bavarian village. Festivities commence each Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Leavenworth mayor ceremoniously taps the keg, and the beer starts to flow. Bands flown in from Germany keep the polka beat throughout the weekends, and families will enjoy the Kinderplatz play area with a climbing wall and bounce house. Plus, the surrounding streets are lined with vendors selling steins, brats and all other things Bavarian. After celebrating Oktoberfest, don’t skip checking out the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum and its collection of 5,000 shell smashers.

Worstfest
New Braunfels, Texas

When: Nov. 4-13

Texas Hill Country loves to celebrate its German heritage, and no more so during Wurstfest, which has taken place every November since 1961. Originally created as a one-day event to celebrate the local bratwurst and other German cuisine, Wurstfest has grown to a 10-day extravaganza. New Braunfels was established in 1845 by hundreds of German settlers sponsored by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, and this celebration of German heritage is still an important part of the community. In addition to days filled with authentic German food, German and local craft beer, music on five stages, art and carnival rides, make sure to check out what was once billed as the 17,000-bottle-strong “World’s Largest Beer Bottle Collection” showcased in the Der Spass Haus. Though no longer the largest beer bottle collection across the globe, it’s still worth checking out.

Hermann Oktoberfest
Hermann, Missouri

When: Every weekend in October

Known for its vineyards and wineries established by German settlers in the 1840s, Hermann adds beer to its repertoire each weekend in October. Hermann’s Oktoberfest emphasizes music from polka to rock, and a variety of acts perform at various wineries throughout the month. The Hermann Wurst Haus and other restaurants offer their finest German cuisine, and the Deutschheim State Historic Site, the Historic Hermann’s Museum and Pin Oak Farms explain the area’s rich German history.

[See: 13 Spooky Places to Visit for Thrills and Chills.]

New Ulm Oktoberfest
New Ulm, Minnesota

When: Oct. 14-15.

Modeled off of the Munich celebration, New Ulm’s Oktoberfest extravaganza kicks off with a Germanic-American Day Parade, horse-drawn trolley rides, stein-holding contests, Glockenspiel concerts and, of course, tours with plenty of samplings from the local Schell’s Brewery.

Panama City Oktoberfest
Panama City, Florida

When: Oct. 22

German beer and music flow through downtown Panama City, along with the favorite Florida pastime of college football in traditional biergartens across the area. Local breweries, such as Props Craft Brewery out of Fort Walton Beach and Nivol Brewery from Panama City, are well represented as well. Check Panama City’s Oktoberfest Facebook page for complete music and activity updates.

Ruidoso Oktoberfest
Ruidoso, New Mexico

When: Oct. 14-15.

You might think of the arid desert when you picture southern New Mexico, but Ruidoso sits surrounded by snowcapped mountains that contain the country’s southern-most ski area and buildings that mirror a Bavarian style. Plus, the area boasts a healthy love of sausage and beer. Members of the German Air Force train at nearby Holloman Air Force Base, and this influx of German families has brought an appreciation for German culture to the area, as well as to its grocery stores, where you can find all manner of imported German goods. For the past 34 years Ruidoso has hosted an Oktoberfest to make its German guests feel at home, and after all, who doesn’t love a good party? Albuquerque polka bands Die Polka Schlingels and Swingshift provide the oompah, and the Kinderhall will keep the kids entertained with games and activities. Art booths line the streets downtown and beer from New Mexico’s impressive craft beer scene, as well as labels from Germany, abound.

[See: 11 Can’t-Miss Hiking Trails in the USA.]

Helen Oktoberfest
Helen, Georgia

When: Throughout October

Helen lives up to its slogan as “the charm of Bavaria in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains” for the whole month of October with a nonstop Oktoberfest celebration. When logging in the mountainous area declined in 1969, the city reinvented itself as a Bavarian alpine town and courted tourists. The move paid off, and today Helen is the third most-visited city in Georgia. With the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, cobblestone streets and shops and hotels styled after Bavarian cottages, Helen feels like Oktoberfest year-round. Bus tours bring in guests from Atlanta to clank steins and revel in the Gemütlichkeit (friendliness) of this unique city.

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8 Can’t-Miss Oktoberfest Celebrations Across the U.S. originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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