Church members and locals clapped to polka music and cheered, “Prost!” while slinging pints of cold beer in the air, even though it was a wet and dreary day in Columbia.  

The Incarnation Lutheran Church for the past 15 years has celebrated Oktoberfest, a German festival honoring traditional beer, dancing, clothing and food.  

“We feel like that’s part of our role here in our community – just to connect with people,” pastor Emily Willhide said. “It’s sort of our Lutheran history as well. So, it just makes for a good marriage of fun and community.”  

Willhide thinks the church started Oktoberfest as a tribute to the Lutheran German roots. She said the church’s small size makes volunteer support essential for Oktoberfest.  

“We really rely on folks volunteering from the community,” Willhide said. “But we have figured (planning) out so that it is not Oktoberfest all the time.”

The volunteers are church members and locals alike, from children to adults. Everyone comes together to make the celebration happen.  

 Face painter Renee Robbins’ favorite part of the festival is that both adults and children can have fun.  

“The parents can let the littles play and stand outside and drink a beer … and socialize, while the kids socialize in there and it’s a safe environment,” Robbins said. “You can’t take your child to the park and drink a beer.”

“It’s absolutely the best,” said Charles Robbins, agreeing with his wife.  

Robbins has been the face painter for Oktoberfest for eight years and has watched the children grow up.  

“It’s exciting and a little depressing,” Robbins said. “… Some of the volunteers that used to work here can now pour beer.” 

People still did show up, though the rain deterred some folks from coming, hence the absence of the historically huge line for face painting.  

“Even on a rainy day like today, the number of people we have here is a great testament to that being our mission,” Andy Nyland said. “It’s really about fun.”  

Nyland, otherwise known as “the real Martin Luther,” has been at the festival since the first one, even after moving to Maryland eight years ago.  

“They bring me down to do the festival, probably because I’m on all the signs,” Nyland said. “If they don’t bring me down, then they have to change all their signs.”  

Like Robbins, Nyland agrees that the festival is a day of shared enjoyment.   

“The purpose really is for people to come in and have a good time and not be lumbered down by churchy stuff or history stuff or Germany stuff but to come and enjoy themselves,” Nyland said. “If they learn a few things, that’s great. But we really want people to come and enjoy themselves. That’s the whole point.” 

Rows upon rows of folding tables seat families enjoying the traditional German food and beer. Everyone is turned facing the stage to watch the polka band, Appalachian Freunde. 

The crowd roared as the band did a polka rendition of George Strait’s, “Margaritaville,” replacing the song’s name with “Oktoberfest.”  

Appalachian Freunde was accompanied by polka dancers from the South Carolina Music and Dance.  

Dance instructor Maddy Freeman, a 19-year-old “tap dancer by trade,” learned polka dancing for the festival four years ago.  

“We polka only for Oktoberfest every year,” Freeman said.  

She said the event is the most exciting to dance in because it is interactive.  

“I love the people that come to Oktoberfest,” Freeman said. “I love doing audience participation dances, so I get to find someone in the audience to dance with.”

The festival’s energy draws in a crowd even on a cold and rainy day.  

“It’s wholesome and yet fun,” Robbins said. “Sometimes wholesome cannot be fun, but this is fun.”