Wilkommen to our German-inspired event that brings together our favorite German foods, tasty seasonal beer and of course live polka music! Why Oktoberfest? Because German immigrants were an important ethnic component in the 1880s European settlement of South Dakota. As Heartland Ancestry notes, "South Dakota was built by Germans from Russia and Norwegians above all, with Czechs, Dutch, and the fortune-seekers of the Black Hills gold rush." The University of South Dakota, writing about studying German, says "Over 33% of South Dakota residents identify as German- American according to 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau." In fact, kuchen, a German pastry, is South Dakota’s official state dessert! We're always excited to celebrate our heritage here at 1880 Train, and Oktoberfest is a perfect time to do so.
This year's celebration takes place on September 26 beginning at 11 AM, but book soon because it fills up fast. The train boards at the Hill City station at 2:15 PM. Before departure we'll have a polka band and DJ, yard games, and Oktoberfest activities. We include a welcome beer and snack at the station (more beer is available for purchase) and then we serve a beer on the way over to Keystone with a brat and potato salad. As the train travels back from Keystone passengers will enjoy another beer and a desert. Check out the full menu below:
Welcome Snack at Hill City Depot (Served on Eatery Deck) : Jalapeno Popper dip with pretzel bites
Beer: Oktoberfest from Remedy Brewing Co.
Main Course (Served on the Train from Hill City to Keystone)
Beer: Amber Lager from Gruner Brothers Brewing Co.
German Potato Salad from Alpine
German brats served with sauerkraut, onions, and condiments
Dessert (Keystone to Hill City) : Guinness Brownie
Beer served with dessert: Redcut Red from Sturgis Brewing Co.
Get your tickets soon, our Oktoberfest celebration lasts only for a day!
