PubClub Classics: Remembering Alpine Village Oktoberfest In Torrance

A Look Back At L.A’s Largest German Beer Tent Oompha Band Celebration

Nein, Prost! Alpine Village Oktoberfest no longer exists, but for decades it was one of Southern California’s signature fall traditions. This PubClub Classics looks back at the giant German beer tent, the authentic oompah band, oversized beer steins and the party buses that brought South Bay crowds to Torrance each September and October.

Oktoberfest at Alpine Village in Torrance, CA, was not exactly Munich.

For starters, there was only one beer tent.

But there was a beer tent and, like the ones in Germany, it was pretty big, in L.A.’s South Bay Beach Cities. It was rocking with people drinking big beers to an oompha band on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Alpine Village hosted its final Oktoberfest in 2010, bringing an end to the tradition.

While there are Oktoberfest celebrations throughout Southern California, Alpine Village was the big one. Every fall, thousands of people from Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach partied in its big beer tent for authentic German bands, giant beers and chicken dancing.

What Alpine Village Oktoberfest Was Like In Its Heyday

Here’s what it was like when it was open and hosting the Oktoberfest parties.

There was a large stage, picnic tables full of friends and strangers, a constant chatter of music and conversation between individuals dressed in lederhosen and German barmaid outfits and people hoisting huge mugs of beer.

They rolled out the barrels of beer for a pleasant change of taste pace) and with it came barrels of fun.

It’s not Munich but it was for a night at Alpine Village.

Was It Good For Singles?

From a singles standpoint, it was okay. For some reason, many of the South Bay’s singles don’t go or care about Oktoberfest anymore. At least the ones who live in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach.

Oh that’s it – they don’t like to leave the Hermosa Pier for anything! Convincing them to go out to Alpine Village when they can drink closer to home is as difficult as getting a table reservation on opening day at the real Oktoberfest.

Still, a few did make it out, and your best bet for finding them was on a Friday night. And there were singles from other cities – Torrance, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Redondo Beach – who welcome the opportunity to guzzle large quantities of beer under a tent and do the chicken dance to a band from Germany.

What you foundas much as anything were groups of friends (most of whom are not single) and couples.

Beer Steins, Ooompa Band From Germany And The Chicken Dance

The huge mugs, reminiscent of the real deal in Munich, were part of the atmosphere. In fact, people not only bring their own year after year, but try and outdo others by drinking out of some whose size borders on ridiculous.

Alpine Village brought in an authentic band from Germany – more than a dozen strong, with a full brass compliment – to set the mood. As a result,there’s many people wanting to know, hey baby, if she wants to be their girl. Ooom. Ahh.

Perhaps the are just curious about Alice and want to know who she is exactly.

But one thing’s for sure: They definitely wanted to do the Chicken Dance.

The band invited people on stage with them and when this happend, patrons poured up there as fast as the Spaten flowed. The band also took a large flag and handed it to a partier, which resulted in a conga line that makes its way through the entire tent.

Oktoberfest at Alpine Village was a South Bay party tradition  and it was common to find groups of people who arrived via party bus from the Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach Cities.

By 11 on weekend nights, it was almost as crowded as the real Oktoberfest in Munich (well not really but you get the idea). The dance area is almost always the liveliest place to party.

Ein Prosit!

Alpine Village Oktoberfest Facts (Historical)

The information below reflects pricing and event details from Alpine Village during its final years and is preserved for historical reference.

The beer tent was open 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday from 1-6 p.m….Entry was $15 and $5 on Sundays (there are no longer discount coupons in the Easy Reader or Beach Reporter; it’s $10 in September)…Beers were $7 and the optional large 1-liter mugs – which are empty upon purchase – were $15…There were two food stations at a corner by the entrance and by the stage…A German brat or half chicken dinner with two full sides (potato salad, saurkraut or cole slow) was $10…Tickets were required for food and drink purchase.

Address: 833 W. Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA

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