New York is home to many people from around the globe, so New Yorkers love cultural celebrations. Now through the end of October, New Yorkers will be celebrating Oktoberfest. Even though the festival originated in Germany, everyone likes to celebrate it. This festival started over 200 years ago in Munich and included a horse race. The first celebration was when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. The biggest Oktoberfest events take place in Central Park in Rumsey Playfield and Waterfront-Watermark Bar on Pier 15.
You can find Oktoberfest events in all five boroughs of New York City in many different public places. There are various festivities and most of them are family friendly. Festivities include wearing traditional German clothing, drinking beer, and eating traditional food (such as bratwurst and sauerkraut) and snacks, like pretzels. There are also a lot of contests like stein holding. Just remember that in the U.S. you must be at least 21 years old to enter a bar or biergarten. Do you know what a biergarten is? It’s an outdoor area where people enjoy drinking beer or other alcoholic beverages.
When you study English in New York there are so many exciting activities to participate in. When you go to these events you can not only have an enjoyable experience, but you can also meet other people and practice using English. It’s important to challenge yourself to meet others while you are studying abroad so that you make friends from all over the world and also use English as much as possible while you’re here.
Whether you attend Oktoberfest or not, make sure to find ways to practice your English every day! Other ways to practice your English speaking in NYC or any city are to attend language exchange groups in the city, invite your classmates to explore the city together, and participate in volunteering activities. You won’t improve your English unless you use it!