It’s that time of year when The Villages German Band is sought after to perform Bavarian-style folk music for Oktoberfest celebrations. On Saturday, the band showcased Southern German, Austrian and Czechian melodies at the Leesburg Public Library.
Member Susan McMarlin, of the Village of Bridgeport at Mission Hills, said this year’s Oktoberfest celebration is rooted in tradition.
“The 191st Oktoberfest is going full blast in Munich, and that’s where the annual celebration first began,” she said. “When the Germans immigrated throughout the globe, they took their customs with them. What began in Munich has now become the world’s largest folk festival.”
Oktoberfest first was celebrated in 1810 as a royal wedding celebration for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and has since turned into a worldwide experience.
The 15 members of the band were dressed to impress, wearing traditional Bavarian clothing including a classic wool-felt hat known as an Alpine hat, a tyrolean or a trachtenhut.
“The official attire for Oktoberfest is known as trachten clothing, or traditional Bavarian attire, which has roots dating back to the 15th century,” McMarlin said. “Men typically wear lederhosen and the women enjoy donning their dirndls. Wearing these outfits not only reflects Bavarian culture but also enhances the atmosphere of the festive occasion.”
Playing instruments such as accordions, tubas, trumpets and drums, the band kicked off the performance with “Beer Barrel Polka” followed by “Oktoberfest ist heute!”
After a performance of “Schöne Maid,” the band performed “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.
The band’s music library has greatly expanded over the years, McMarlin said.
“In addition to music from Southern Germany and other countries that share the Alps, we’ve added numerous tunes to satisfy customers who request a variety of music styles,” she said. “In addition to polkas and folk tunes, playlists often contain waltzes, schottisches, tangos, blues and even the occasional line dance, along with pop classics and beer-drinking anthems that encourage audience participation and dancing.”
This is the fifth year the band has performed at the Leesburg Public Library. Hosting the band is a beloved tradition, said Robert Voyles, Leesburg Library program coordinator.
“We deliberately scheduled the performance during the authentic German Oktoberfest window in September,” he said. “That timing makes it a true highlight on our calendar, drawing a full room of around 100 enthusiastic attendees even before our seasonal snowbird residents return. We strive to serve as an active community gathering place where patrons can connect with neighbors and experience rich cultural traditions that they might not encounter every day.”
Audience members love the lively, interactive atmosphere where clapping, singing along and smiling are the norm, Voyles said.
“Some band members fully embrace the spirit by performing in traditional Bavarian attire, which adds wonderful visual authenticity to the music,” he said. “One of the most meaningful moments we experienced was when an audience member originally from Austria shared that the concert vividly reminded him of his family, his home and the music of his childhood. That deep emotional connection and pure celebration are exactly what our audience treasures each year.”
The band is all about gemütlichkeit — a state of warmth, friendliness and good cheer, McMarlin said.
“When they are invited to clap, wave arms and sing along, the crowd heartily responds,” she said. “The band loves playing tunes that involve the audience’s participation. After our performances, people have come up and said they were surprised at the variety or they told us, ‘You are special because you are preserving German culture.’”
Those who want to be a part of the experience can catch the band at several other performances in October.
On Oct. 13, the band will be the opening act for The Villages 2026 Heritage Celebration happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at La Hacienda Recreation, 1200 Avenida Central.
On Oct. 18, the band will help congregants celebrate Oktoberfest at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4886 County Road 472 in Oxford.
On Oct. 25, they will celebrate Oktoberfest with specialty beer and German food from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ednas’ on the Green, 5227 Marsh Bend Trail.
And on Oct. 29, the band will play for the Hawthorne Military Club from 1 to 2:45 p.m. at Hawthorne at Leesburg, 100 Hawthorne Blvd.
For more information about The Villages German Band, visit villagesgermanband.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
