El Paso Oktoberfest attracts army…

Beyond the beers and booze, this year’s Fort Bliss Oktoberfest attracted some military families who were previously stationed in Germany.

“I’m happy to see family, but I miss Germany,” said Tiffany Hooks, who was stationed with her four daughters and husband in Vilseck for close to six years.

She and her daughters wore authentic dirndls from Budapest and Hungary. Now, Hooks calls Fort Bliss her home.

Her daughter, Malaia, said El Paso is much warmer than Germany: “It was way better than this!”

There was plenty of authentic music and dancing throughout the festival.

“Without the culture, you can’t really call it an Oktoberfest, said Terry Cavanagh, lead singer of Terry Cavanagh and the Alpine Express. “Of course, we’ve got traditional German music, from the original Oktoberfest.”

“It’s a taste of a different culture,” said Della Rivera, who also purchased her dress in Germany. “You don’t get it in El Paso too much!”

However, Rivera and her friend chose to drink Angry Orchard (over authentic German beer).

“It tastes different when you have your costume on,” her friend Blanca Hernandez joked.

KVIA 2018