About Entertainment

The Express Band is Southern California's "Premiere German Band". They are seasoned entertainers drawing crowds wherever they perform. The Express have been performing at the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest for more than 15 years and have collected a definite following.

Their unique versatility separates The Express from being just another polka/oompa band. They offer a variety of styles ranging from Swing, Rumbas, Cha Chas, Tangos, Waltzes and Polkas to 50's rock 'n roll, Country, Pop, and Classic Rock. The band's energy will keep you dancing, singing and tapping your toes!

Contests

COUNTRY'S ONLY BEER STEIN-CARRYING CONTEST
FEATURED AT THE BIG BEAR LAKE OKTOBERFEST

She Who Carries The Most Is Crowned Queen
Past Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest queens have lifted and carried an average of 80 pounds in full beer steins. Some queens have carried more weight in beer steins than their own body weight. A contest unlike any other in the country, the Oktoberfest queen works hard for her title, chosen by how many one litre beer steins she carries.

The Queen Stein Carrying contest has a been a part of the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest since it began in 1971 and is one of the highlights of the six-week festival. The contest was fashioned after a tradition in the beer tents in Germany in which the bar waitresses actually carried beers in one litre steins to the tables, often carrying up to five steins in each hand... and they continue to carry all day/night long.

The world record holder for carrying beer steins is a former Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest queen who still resides part-time in Big Bear. Bonnie Kelso successfully carried 21 one-litre steins, or approximately 105 pounds. In 1974, shortly after her record-setting carry, a challenge came from the Lowenbrau Brewery in Germany. They could not believe that an American had carried that many steins at one time. Bonnie was flown to Germany, where she once again successfully carried 21 steins. It was a good day for the Americans.

The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest queen is crowned the fourth weekend of the festival after competing in two preliminary events. Each girl must pick-up the steins, carry them a distance of 20 feet and set them back down without spilling more than three ounces out of any one stein. The contest runs for three Saturdays. It is not unusual for the contestants to carry three times in one evening by the finals, this year set for October 7, 2006.

BIG BEAR LAKE OKTOBERFEST TO FEATURE NEW BEER DRINKING CONTEST

The Safe Slam
Big Bear's 37th Annual Oktoberfest will once again feature a beer drinking contest when the festival kicks-off in September. However, this beer drinking contest has a definite twist. The Safe Slam pits festival-goers against each other to see just who is the fastest beer drinker... the beer will be O'Doul's, a non-alcoholic beer.

The beer drinking contest was traditionally the festival's favorite contest until it was discontinued in the mid 80s. Beer drinkers who were up for the challenge would 'slam' a one liter beer from an Oktoberfest beer stein. The fastest drinker won a T-Shirt and a dance with the Oktoberfest Queen.
The Safe Slam will be held every Saturday evening after 7:00 pm with similar rules. Winners will receive a complimentary Oktoberfest beer stein. The event is timed and logged. Each weekend's winners are invited back for the championships to be held the final weekend of Oktoberfest, October 27th, where the 2007 Safe Slam King and Queen will be crowned.