Come check out an Oakland tradition tomorrow, when the Schuhplattlers Dance Group and Internationals Band perform at Biergartenfest 2008.

Hosted by the German Tourist Club, the Fest takes place at the Nature Friends’ headquarters, 3115 Butters Drive (map).  The celebration begins Sunday at 1pm, with $10 donations requested to cover food and beverages.  Kids are free.

The Schuhplattlers will perform German folk dances, which they have been doing for over 50 years!  Check out these photos, with the costumed dancers from 1957, 1980 and today.

Besides the dancing and music, this celebration is an early Oktoberfest too.  The outdoor biergarten will serve German brews along with sausages, pork chops and more – so come with an hearty appetite.

The annual Biergartenfest is taking place at Nature Friends, which seeks to “foster, perpetuate and preserve the European Alpine social activities, cultural heritage and customs.”  They also encourage berg frei or freedom in the mountains, and maintain a Donner Pass lodge.

Why not visit the Alps in Oakland?  Our local Germans offer a taste of Alpine bierseligkeit (that’s beer guzzling merriment) and traditional entertainment, tomorrow in our hills.