Oktoberfest is a Bavarian word. The “okto” part means eight, “ber” means cold, and the “fest” part means beer. Oktoberfest thus translates to “eight cold beers” which is pretty much the focus of that type of gathering.

New Ulm is purported to have one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the nation. My wife and I decided to motor to New Ulm to assess this matter for ourselves.

The first stop on our investigation was the August Schell Brewing Company. The Schell brewery is located near New Ulm and is perched on the bluffs of the Cottonwood River. It’s an impossibly beautiful, park-like setting. Negotiating the winding road that leads to the brewery, one can’t help but wonder what it’s like to pilot a truckload of beer on those curves in the wintertime. It’s probably enough to drive you to drink.

The brewery features a beer hall that’s similar to something that you might find in Germany. Numerous patrons had gathered there to drink from the proverbial fountainhead. Conversations flowed as freely as the waters of the Cottonwood River.

The brewery has a gift shop. My wife seems to think that gift shops have some of the best deals on the planet, so she availed herself of several of their “bargains.”

A two-block section of downtown New Ulm was set aside for the Oktoberfest festivities. There were food vendors galore; the aromas of good things cooking caused me to salivate like puppy with a new chew toy.

There were fun activities for the kids such as bouncy houses and a sandbox-like area that was filled with corn. An ax-throwing booth was available for adults, because nothing says, “safe and fun!” like combining alcohol with hurling objects that are tipped with super-sharp steel blades.

Many Oktoberfest attendees wore traditional German apparel. You couldn’t swing a beer stein without hitting someone in a dirndl or lederhosen. There seemed to be no age limit regarding this; I saw a mom carrying a baby who was wearing a little red dirndl.

I was curious as to why people attend this festival — other than for the beer, of course. I chatted with Darnell and Renate King, who hail from Brainerd and were decked out in splendid Oktoberfest regalia.

After chatting with them for a few moments, I noticed that Renate had a distinct accent. I inquired about it and learned she is from Germany, so I asked her how this Oktoberfest compared to those in the Old Country.

“I never went to an Oktoberfest when I lived in Germany,” she replied. I found this astounding, as if a native Minnesotan said that they had never experienced snow.

“We’ve been to only one other Oktoberfest, and that was in Michigan,” Darnell said.

“This one is much better,” Renate said. “People here are so friendly and open.”

Our conversation was interrupted when a group called the Concord Singers began to belt out lively Oktoberfest songs in German. I don’t understand a word of German, but that did nothing to lessen my enjoyment of the music.

I sat next to my wife and simply soaked up the tunes. The music proved to be infectious. Many people were swaying in time with the songs, and I saw several who knew the words well enough to sing along.

“There’s something wrong with your foot,” I said to my wife. “It’s tapping in rhythm with the music.”

“I can’t help it!” she replied, smiling. “It’s the German in me coming out!”

I’m 100% Norwegian and noted that my foot was having the same issue.

It was nearly 90 degrees out, an uncommonly warm day for southern Minnesota in the first week of October. All the clapping and tapping caused us to perspire, so I made sure that we stayed hydrated. The Schell Brewing Company had thoughtfully set up a hydration station nearby. I liked their Oktoberfest flavor best.

A pair of ladies sat down across the table from us. Barb Anderson and Jan Sandstrom are sisters who grew up on a small dairy farm at Moose Lake, Minnesota.

“Our parents listened to this kind of music all the time when we were kids,” Jan said as she tapped her fingers in time to the tunes. “People were friendlier back then. Nobody just drops by for a Sunday afternoon visit anymore.”

“This is the second time that we’ve been to New Ulm’s Oktoberfest,” Barb said. “Everyone here is so friendly and we’re having such a good time that we’re already making plans to come back again next year!”

It might take some arm-twisting, but I bet my wife could talk me into coming back again too.

— Jerry’s book, “Dear County Agent Guy” can be found at www.workman.com and in bookstores nationwide.