Oktoberfest

WALHALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Each year since 1979, Walhalla residents and visitors have donned their dirndls and lederhosen during the 3rd weekend of October for Walhalla’s Oktoberfest to celebrate and share the town of Walhalla’s unique German history and heritage.

Since the town’s settlement in 1850 by members of the German Colonization Society from Charleston, Walhalla has blended its German heritage with its American identity to create a culture and community all its own.

In the decades that followed, Walhalla would grow to become Oconee’s County seat of government and a gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. South Carolina’s “garden of the Gods” continued to attract diverse newcomers to the area, just as it had the original German settlers. Over the years these newcomers joined with descendants of Walhalla’s original German settlers to celebrate the town’s achievements and reflect on its humble beginnings. Today, Walhalla welcomes tens of thousands of people during Oktoberfest to enjoy Walhalla’s small town charm, distinctive culture, and immense natural beauty.

Charleston & The German Colonization Society

On October 6, 1848 a group of German immigrants in Charleston, South Carolina, met to discuss “the German situation”. An influx of German immigration into Charleston had left many immigrants feeling crowded and in need of better opportunities beyond the city. These German immigrants, led by John A. Wagener, formed the German Colonization Society that night, and immediately began seeking land that its members could call home.

“The immigrant today is leaving behind everything: home, customs, language, nation; not out of a fear of the weapons of his enemy; not because the heavens shine better someplace else than over his own hut; not even because the land is not repaid the effort he has put into it.  No, he is leaving a world which has become an unbearable burden to him; a world from which there is no other way of escape.”

John Wagener to SC Governor Manning in 1853

The German Colonization Society explored available land across much of upstate South Carolina. Eventually, the Society approached Reverend Joseph Grisham of the Pickens District regarding available land that he owned in the northwestern corner of South Carolina. After much negotiation, the German Colonization Society purchased 2 tracts of land from Grisham totaling over 17,000 acres on December 24, 1849 for the sum of $27,000, or over $910,000 today. The German Settlers named their prospective new town “Walhalla”, or “Valhalla”, after the paradise of the Gods in Norse mythology.

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The Protocol

The German Colonization Society was well-organized and its members kept meticulous records. The meeting minutes of the German Colonization Society are commonly referred to as “The Protocol”. This record book documents the formation of the Society, its members, the group’s activities, its struggles, and successes as the Society worked to build a town. Much of The Protocol is handwritten in German. Flip through the original record book below to see Walhalla’s history firsthand. Use the link below to read an English translation of The Protocol.

CLICK HERE for a full English translation of the Protocol of the German Colonization Society

Source: Oconee History Museum collection.

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From the Ground Up: Building A Town

Members of the German Colonization Society were no less organized as they set about making plans to build a town.  Having seen the unplanned growth of Charleston, they brought with them many lessons learned.  A plan for residential lots and farmland was laid out. The individual lots were assigned to paid members of the German Colonization Society by a lottery drawing. Each member of the society received a ½ acre lot in town and a 1 acre farm lot outside of town.  Members were required to build a house worth $300 within 3 years.  Dietrich Biemann completed the first house in town in 1850. Streets were arranged along a grid for easy navigation and made very wide to accommodate wagon traffic.  These thoughtful design elements remain in place today.

Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

To meet the spiritual needs of the town’s new residents members of the German Colonization Society quickly began work on a church.  The German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized in November 1853.  Master carpenter John Kaufmann constructed the church using lumber from the site and peg construction.  The architectural designs reflect many German influences.  Unexpectedly, the first sermon at the church was delivered by Father J.J. O’Connell, a Catholic priest from nearby Tunnel Hill.  Today, many members of the German Colonization Society occupy the church cemetery along S. Church Street.

A Lukewarm Welcome

Much of South Carolina followed the progress of the German Colonization Society with great interest, particularly their friends and family in Charleston. However, some looked at the efforts of German immigrants in Walhalla with anti-immigrant sentiment and prejudice.

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Growth & Achievements

Walhalla’s founders predicted that their settlement’s location would be advantageous and allow for quick growth and prosperity. The Blue Ridge Railroad brought visitors, commerce, and prosperity to Walhalla, and the efforts to construct a series of tunnels through the mountains above Walhalla offered a chance to connect with the westerly expanding nation. Although the Blue Ridge Railroad never extended beyond Walhalla, the town still became a waypoint for travelers heading West beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many of these travelers would stay at Walhalla’s Biemann Hotel and enjoy entertainment at the Kaufmann Opera House before continuing into the mountains via stagecoach. The fledgling town of Walhalla struggled through the Civil War years, but became the County seat of the newly formed Oconee County in 1868. This necessitated the construction of a County courthouse and jail in Walhalla. Downtown businesses began to thrive in the late 1800s and many of these prominent business owners built fine homes along Main Street.

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Source: Oconee History Museum collections
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Interview: Catherine Hughs, a Walhalla settler descendent

Listen to this interview with Catherine Hughs, a descendent of the Biemann and Hughs founding families of Walhalla, for a look back at old Walhalla.

Click here for a transcript of this video.

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Walhalla at 50: Semi-Centennial

Walhalla celebrated its 50th birthday in August of 1900. Local dignitaries addressed the crowd, and the German Artillery Company of Charleston fired 50 shots to honor Walhalla’s 50 years. This celebration culminated in the unveiling of the Wagener Monument (sometimes referred to as the Founders Monument) by John A. Wagener’s granddaughter Miss Cherrie Wagener. Initially, this monument was located on the East end of Main Street near the intersection of Main Street and Spring Street. In 1953, to improve traffic safety, the Wagener monument was relocated to its present location at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street.

Walhalla at 100: Centennial

The town of Walhalla celebrated its 100th birthday in August 6-11, 1950. This souvenir program booklet showcases Walhalla’s history and immense progress over the preceding 100 years. Notice the tremendous amount of local civic engagement, local business support, pride and enthusiasm illustrated by this program.

Source: Oconee History Museum collections.
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Walhalla Centennial Queen

Walhalla’s Amy Louise Smith was crowned Walhalla Centennial Queen in 1950. Her pageant dress is on display at the Oconee History Museum in Walhalla.

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Source: Oconee History Museum collections.
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Walhalla at 150: Sesquicentennial

Walhalla’s most recent milestone was its 150th birthday in the year 2000. As the new millennium began, Walhalla historians and civic leaders once again partnered together to bring Walhalla’s history to centerstage with pageants, plays, parades, and community fellowship.

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OKTOBERFEST

Walhalla had always been a waypoint for many travelers, but by the 1970s many began to see Walhalla’s potential as a tourist destination all on its own. By this time Walhalla had become neatly nestled between the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains and the newly created Lakes Jocassee and Keowee. Certainly Walhalla had natural beauty and small town charm, but it was the German history and culture that could really set it apart. Seeing the success of nearby Helen, Georgia, local leaders saw no reason why an authentic German town like Walhalla should not also have a thriving tourism industry. By the late 1970s local leaders had created a Chamber of Commerce for Walhalla and the town was marketed and advertised to potential visitors in South Carolina and beyond. The town’s German history quickly became a focal point in these marketing efforts, and by 1979 civic leaders were inspired to host their own Oktoberfest in Walhalla. Oktoberfest was met with some challenges, but became a quick success, putting Walhalla on the map for many visitors, and giving local residents an annual opportunity to showcase their town’s history and hospitality.

Wilkommen to Walhalla

Check out these brochures to see how Walhalla has promoted its German heritage and the Oktoberfest to visitors. Notice that visitors were encouraged to support local businesses and to explore local areas and attractions beyond Walhalla’s city limits.

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Interview: Corky Moss, a founder of Oktoberfest

Local realtor and civic leader, Corky Moss, was instrumental in establishing the Walhalla Oktoberfest. Listen as he discusses the inspiration for Oktoberfest, and its early goals and challenges.

Click here for a transcript of this interview.

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The German-American Club

The success of a large-scale, multi-day festival like Oktoberfest depended entirely on volunteers from the local community. The Blue Ridge German-American Club was founded in the early 1980s and later renamed The Greater Walhalla German-American Club. Members of this club worked tirelessly to prepare and serve traditional German food at the annual Oktoberfest.

Source: Nancy Todd James scrapbook/photo collection

Oktoberfest Traditions

It did not take long for Oktoberfest to become synonymous with Walhalla. Food, drink, music, dancing, and the carnival became the backbone of Oktoberfest. Spectacles like fireworks, sky diving, and hot air balloon rides added a sense of wonder. Over the years additional community events were added, including a community kickoff luncheon, volksmarch, 5k race, and Miss Oktoberfest pageant. Collectible memorabilia like wooden nickels, buttons, pins, and more also became popular.

Food, Drink, Music, & Dancing

Food and drink are always central to any cultural festival. In keeping with German tradition, Oktoberfest has offered a wide variety of delicious foods to guests, including the quintessential German bratwurst. This delicious German sausage is typically served on a roll with mustard.

Oktoberfest begins each year with a community luncheon held the Friday of Oktoberfest. For a donation guests are served bratwurst, sauerkraut, and German potato salad. Local dignitaries, civic leaders, and Miss Oktoberfest pageant winners are recognized while the community gathers to celebrate another great Oktoberfest.

The Little German Band and the Walhalla Oktoberfest Dancers provide authentic German entertainment during Oktoberfest.

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Source: Nancy Todd James scrapbook/photo collection
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Volkswalk & Oktoberfest 5k

Volkswalk, or volksmarch, is a group fitness walk that is non-competitive. People would gather together for a communal walk. Developed in Germany in the mid 1960s, the popularity of Volkswalking increased in the United States as U.S. Military Servicemen returned from being stationed in Europe. Walhalla Oktoberfest used the Volkswalk as a way to celebrate German traditions and to showcase all the community has to offer.

The Volkswalk would later transition into a certified 5k race known as the Walhalla Oktoberfest Classic. In the 1990s the 5k was sponsored and organized by the Oconee Road Runners Club and later the Rotary Clubs of Oconee County. Proceeds from the 5k are donated to local charities. The Rotary Oktoberfest 5k will be held Saturday October 22, 2022 at 9am. For more information click HERE.

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Source: Nancy Todd James scrapbook/photo collection & Helen Westmoreland
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Miss Oktoberfest Pageant

The Miss Oktoberfest pageant began in 1982, three years after the first Oktoberfest. The first pageant was held under the tent on Sertoma Field during Oktoberfest before a packed crowd.  Deborah Gilbert was crowned the first Miss Oktoberfest.  After such a popular turnout and success, the pageant was held in larger community venues leading up to the festival each year. Each Miss Oktoberfest receives an educational scholarship.  Miss Oktoberfest also has several duties to complete, including opening the Oktoberfest, opening the dance floor on Friday night, dancing with the Mayor, welcoming vendors and guests, and participating in other community events. The pageant has been produced by Walhalla Junior Women’s Club, Walhalla Women’s Club, and currently GC Pageants.

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Source: Nancy Todd James scrapbook/photo collection & Greg Bearden
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In the Sky

Visitors to Oktoberfest often looked forward to the arrival of the annual sky-diver, who would land on target amidst the festival-goers. Hot air balloon rides offered a unique view of Oktoberfest, and Saturday night closes with an enormous fireworks display.

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Source: Nancy Todd James scrapbook/photo collection
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Memorabilia

Local radio station WGOG, whose call letters are often said to stand for Walhalla Garden Of the Gods, always provides great coverage of the Oktoberfest. Each year WGOG creates a commemorative wooden nickel and button for Oktoberfest.

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Wooden Nickels

Source: Gary Butts, WGOG radio collection
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Buttons

Source: Gary Butts, WGOG radio collection
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Giving Back

The Oktoberfest Committee has used the proceeds from the annual Oktoberfest to support the local community. In 2020 the Oktoberfest Committee provided banners on Main Street Walhalla for graduating seniors who were denied a graduation ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Oktoberfest also allows local non-profit organizations to operate the ticket booths in exchange for a portion of the ticket sales.

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Experience Walhalla’s German history at Oktoberfest!
Join us in Walhalla October 20 – 22.

Oconee History Museum would like to thank the Walhalla Oktoberfest Committee, Oconee County Public Library, Nancy Todd James, Gary Butts (WGOG Radio), Corky Moss, Greg Bearden, & Helen Westmoreland for their assistance with this exhibit and digitization project!

Additional recognition and thanks to Alexis Thomas (Clemson University), Josh Johnson (Lake Hartwell Country), Jennifer Moss (Oconee History Museum), and Leslie Hagerty (Oconee History Museum).