Grant’s Farm

Oktoberfest 2025

Time to look back at all of the Oktoberfests we attended this year! I had a great time wearing my favorite Rare Dirndls various places and celebrating my heritage!

First Chickadee and I went to Grant’s Farm in mid-September. This was a first (or at least the first time in a long time) for us. We were there pretty early, so we didn’t get to see the entertainment, but we did share a pretzel and it was top-tier…super buttery and one of the best we had!

Next was Belleville Oktoberfest, which is always something of a disappointment to me…the pretzels weren’t even very good! But it was an excuse to wear a dirndl and walk down Main Street.

Third was my favorite local Oktoberfest in St. Charles, MO. The music and dancing were amazing and the pretzels were delicious! Plus, it seems like the most authentic one in our area (says the woman who has never been to Munich…).

We always celebrate Oktoberfest at home. I made our standard German feast of schnitzel and spaetzle and red cabbage, with Black Forest cherry torte for dessert (not to mention fondue with pretzels, pickles, and brats for lunch), and not to brag, but the pretzels at our establishment are pretty good, too!

For the second year, we went to Soulard’s Oktoberfest, and I have to say, I really love this (relatively) small event! The pretzels were only so-so, but the cheese sauce was excellent, and the brass band was one of our favorites!

I was worried we weren’t going to make it to Zootoberfest at the St. Louis Zoo, but we managed to get there on the final day. As always, the pretzels are the best in the region (and the beer cheese they serve with them is outstanding), and I got to hear a polka band, complete with accordion!

This was a really fun season of festing…I’ll leave you with Brasshaufen Brass Band (a group we enjoyed both in St. Charles and Soulard) doing one of my favorite Oktoberfest numbers. Prost!

A Summer Saturday at Grant’s Farm

It’s been a while since we’ve been to Grant’s Farm, so yesterday we made the drive across the river for a visit. It was an unbelievably nice day given that it’s July in St. Louis…the sun stayed hidden behind clouds, and while there was a brief drizzle which caused it to be humid, it wasn’t very hot at all…probably one of the nicest summer visits we’ve had there!

And just for a fun, a bonus picture of Das Bevo…we decided to drive the long way through the city so we could see the old halfway point between Grant’s Farm and the Anheuser-Busch brewery. I’m always surprised to see such a building in the middle of St. Louis!

A Little Slice of Germany

When we visit The Hill, I always feel like it’s as close to Europe as I’ve ever gotten…but the Grant’s Farm Bauernhof is a close second, and I feel like it’s a little slice of Germany right here in St. Louis!

Sartorial Saturday–The 2024 Charity Apron

Following the lemon apron of 2022 and the sunflower apron of 2023, Rare Dirndl is back with another charity apron…this time, they’re supporting the Clean Air Task Force, whose mission is “to achieve a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.” In keeping with the earthy theme, the print on the apron features mushrooms, flowers, and foliage in natural colors, with grey denim ties.

I accessorized with a floral crown, my stag statement necklace, and an edelweiss wrap bracelet and clip, which I wore as a brooch:

I felt like my Herbology dirndl and Birkenstocks were the perfect folksy pieces for this look!

This was the outfit I chose for Maifest at Grant’s Farm…I got tons of compliments (and was also mistaken for one of the dancers!)!

Here’s a closer look at the print and lovely bow:

I love that Rare Dirndl supports charities, and also that I get introduced to new charities I hadn’t heard of before!

I’m already looking forward to seeing who they’ll support next year!

Sartorial Saturday–The Top Five Dirndl Looks of 2023

I know I said yesterday that I was sharing my last “Top Five” photos list of the year, but those were photos I took…today I’m sharing my favorite dirndl looks that I wore this year, which are photos take of me, not by me!

I’m starting back in May, when we went to Maifest at Grant’s Farm. I really love the pops of pink of the apron and ribbon against the darker background of the dress, and I also really love the setting of the picture!

My second Everyday Dirndl was purchased specifically with paying homage to the Austrian flag in mind, and the full look is even better than I hoped. I love the white “Surprise Me” apron Erika created for me, and I think my accessories, which featured lots of edelweiss and pops of white and red, are the perfect accompaniment!

Next up is the look I wore to Belleville Oktoberfest. I borrowed an apron from another dirndl to go with my purple dress, and added my iridescent Docs and some purple accessories to complete the look.

Speaking of borrowing an apron, this is the dress that goes with the apron in the previous photo. This time, I added a fancy, sheer floral apron to my harlequin print dirndl for St. Charles Oktoberfest…I love the autumnal color scheme!

And finally, a look featuring my new Christmas apron. Not the look I wore on Christmas Day (which I also love), but the one I wore to the Belleville Christkindlmarkt, adding a green ribbon and red accessories for a festive look.

I really love finding new ways to mix and match my pieces, and I can’t wait to see what I come up with next!