There are a few things necessary for a good Oktoberfest event — music is one of them.
The saxophone, percussion, clarinet, trombone, trumpet and accordion are some of the instruments found in the Villages German Band that come together to make beautiful Bavarian beats and melodies.
With Oktoberfest celebrations happening throughout the month across various cities, The Villages German band continues bringing the festive tunes to communities.
The 15-member band has been performing shows in and around The Villages for more than a dozen years, playing live folk music from Bavaria.
“The German Band has a long history here in The Villages,” said Susan McMarlin, of The Villages German Band. “In the past few years the band has been actively entertaining clubs, churches, breweries and other organizations. It is especially active during the Oktoberfest season when everyone wants an oompah band.”
Though the band occasionally plays shows throughout the year, the busy weeks are those surrounding Oktoberfest — a two-week celebratory festival that originated more than 200 years ago around 1810 in Bavaria to celebrate the marriage of a crown prince and a princess.
“We often receive compliments, but the ones I most have appreciated are from Germans,” McMarlin said. “They often say it’s been years since they’ve heard some of their songs, and they have totally enjoyed thinking about good times from their past.”
The band was scheduled to perform at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg, on Oct. 11, but the performance needed to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Milton.
“We will be rescheduling the event. People who registered for the program will be notified by social media or they can always give us a call,” said Deborah Bussinger, the Leesburg Public Library program coordinator.
Registration for the program is required and can be done at mylakelibrary.com
“There’s nothing they like more than festive crowds who clap and sing along with them! It’s especially fun when polka dancers ‘take to the floor’ or form a conga or polka line that weaves around the room,” according to the band’s website.
If you aren’t able to attend the band’s performance at the Leesburg Public Library tomorrow, check your calendar’s to see if you can make it to one of the groups other upcoming performances in and around The Villages:
Oct. 17: Villages German American Club, 6 to 9 p.m., Laurel Manor Recreation Center, 1985 Laurel Manor Drive, The Villages.
Oct. 22: Feel free to dance and sing as you celebrate German culture with band from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Freedom Pointe at the Villages, 1550 El Camino Real, The Villages.
Oct. 27: Enjoy the Oktoberfest activities properly with specialty beer and food with a performance from the Villages German Band from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ednas on the Green, 5227 Marsh Bend Trail, Wildwood.
Oct. 28: Groove with the residents of The Village of Tamarind Grove as they celebrate the German festivities with dinner and live music from the Villages German Band from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at Sterling Heights Recreation Center.
Oct. 31: March to the beat of the Oktoberfest drum as The Villages German Band performance for the Hawthorne Military Club from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hawthorne at Leesburg 100 Hawthorne Blvd, Leesburg.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
