VIDEO: Celebrate Oktoberfest All Year Long at Epcot’s Biergarten

Munich’s Oktoberfest, the 16-day traditional German festival, officially kicks off for 2012 on September 22, but in the Germany Pavilion at Epcot, guests celebrate with a crackerjack quartet every week of the year. The Oktoberfest Musikanten (German for “Oktoberfest Musicians”) plays polkas and waltzes inside the Epcot Germany Pavilion while lunch and dinner guests at the Biergarten Restaurant enjoy bratwurst, sauerkraut, pork schnitzel and spaetzle.

Bandleader Martin Gross is from Buffalo, NY, but is of Austrian heritage and grew up hearing classic folk music around the house. Martin took what he expected would be a one year position with Oktoberfest Musikanten before Epcot even opened in 1982. He’s now been with the band for all 30 years of its existence. In this, you’ll also hear from accordion player Edi Hadner, who’s originally from Austria and joined the band (only) 20 years ago.