St. Louis

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!

2025-26 School Year–Week Three

This has been a busy week! We had a short day of school on Labor Day, and in honor of our book club also celebrated Back to Hogwarts with Butterbeer:

In religion we talked about the two natures of Christ. Chickadee reviewed adding and subtracting polynomials and multiplying monomials in algebra. She finished the first chapter in science. We continued to read The Wind in the Willows. In writing, she reviewed what makes something common knowledge and the rules about plagiarism. She read about David Livingstone as well as Garibaldi and the Young Italians in history. This week’s recipe from the American Girl Sweet & Savory Treats Cookbook was another dessert…Courtney’s Chocolate, Vanilla & Raspberry Swirl Cake (only we made it with strawberry extract instead of raspberry!).

We also took a field trip to the Central Library in St. Louis to take a self-guided tour of the historic building:

And we stopped at The Soda Fountain at Union Station to share a banana split!

I feel like we’re getting into a pretty good routine with the 2025-26 school year!

Scenes from the 2025 Greek Festival

Yesterday we went downtown for the annual St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival. It’s always a great opportunity to see lots of people, try some good food, and listen to some fun music.

Chickadee and I looked in on the dancers…I love the gorgeous dresses and the interesting movements!

The real reason we wanted to go to the festival, though, was for the church tour. We’ve probably gone on it at least four times, but I always learn something new, and it’s a beautiful, sacred space!

I love local heritage festivals…they’re such a great opportunity to experience other cultures!