Tag Archives: The Oktoberfest German Band

October 7, 2017 · 9:20 PM

Gardiner’s 8th Annual Swine & Stein Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Water Street, Downtown Gardiner, Maine

I lived in Gardiner for a decade, but moved back to Brunswick last summer to be closer to work. I am always glad to spend the day in my former town at one of my favorite events, our eighth annual Swine & Stein Oktoberfest. Sponsored by the dedicated folks at Gardiner Main Street, it combines Maine beer and pork, games, and live music from Maine artists. There’s even more fun to be had at Swine & Stein, though, and it’s truly family friendly. There’s a hilarious beard and mustache competition, a frozen t-shirt contest, (impressively partially blindfolded) butchering demonstrations led by Leon from Emery’s Meat and Produce), a rock-paper-scissors competition, giant Jenga, and even a chicken fling.

I was thrilled to be asked back as a local judge for the fourth annual Swine & Stein Beard and Mustache Competition, sponsored by Monkitree. We love hosting the guys from the Maine Facial Hair Club, and they were out in full force. Gardiner Main Street’s Executive Director, Patrick Wright, emceed the entire day and did a fabulous job.

We were treated to Maine musical acts on the main stage all day—Oktoberfest German Band, Spare Parts Band, Duquette, The Jason Spooner Band, and OC and the Offbeats. I had to take off early in OC and the Offbeats’ set to make it to school to chaperone the Homecoming dance (quite a Saturday, eh?), but they were really fun and I’d like to see them invited back for an earlier set.

The VIP tent hosted by Craft Beer Cellar was steadily busy all day. The 6th Annual Rock-Paper-Scissors Competition was fiercely competitive. The finalists were a couple, and I hope they’re okay since only one of them could win. The chicken fling competition was hilarious, as always, and Amy and Steve won a second year in a row! I love the fire that folks bring to these friendly competitions.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make Swine & Stein a great day! Gardiner Main Street and all of the many, many volunteers I saw in bright orange t-shirts—you rock! See you next year! I posted lots more photos below, so please check them out. If you’d like to use one somehow, please give photo credit to whatbreesees.com. Thank you!

xo,

bree

Gardiner’s 7th Annual Swine & Stein Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Water Street, Downtown Gardiner, Maine

I lived in Gardiner for a decade, but moved over the summer back to Brunswick to be closer to work. I really grew to love that sweet little town and miss it a lot. I was excited to spend the day in my former town at one of my favorite annual events, our seventh annual Swine & Stein Oktoberfest. Sponsored by the dedicated folks at Gardiner Main Street, it combines Maine beer, Maine pork, and live music from Maine artists. Add in a hilarious beard and mustache competition, a frozen t-shirt contest, butchering demonstrations, and a rock-paper-scissors competition, and you’ve got a great day. Swine & Stein is always wonderful, and this year, with warm temperatures and some sunshine, was no different.

Beautiful downtown Gardiner, Maine

I was thrilled to be asked back as a local judge for the third annual Swine & Stein Beard and Mustache Competition, sponsored by Monkitree. It was ultimately the reason I got my concussed self (I hit my head a bit too hard during Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a couple of days earlier) up to Gardiner even though I was feeling a little dazed. The men who compete are always smiling and come back from year to year and we have a great time.

Nearly all of the competitors in the 3rd annual Swine & Stein Beard and Mustache Competition!

We were treated to talented musical acts on the main stage all day—Dominic Lavoie, Oktoberfest German Band, Gunther Brown, Tricky Britches, and The Scolded Dogs. Last year’s cool new additions to the schedule were both back—the “Beer U” tent hosted by Craft Beer Cellar and butchering demonstrations by Emery’s Meat and Produce. I ended up missing the 5th Annual Rock-Paper-Scissors Competition because I ran into old friends and we chatted through it. Next year. It’s one of my favorite things!

Dominic Lavoie

The Oktoberfest German Band

Gunther Brown

Tricky Britches

The frozen t-shirt contest!

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make Swine & Stein a great day! Gardiner Main Street and all of the many, many volunteers I saw in bright orange t-shirts—you rock! See you next year! If you’d like to use one of my photos somehow, please give photo credit to Bree Candland of whatbreesees.com. Thank you!

xo,

bree

Gardiner’s 6th Annual Swine & Stein Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Water Street, Downtown Gardiner, Maine

I’ve lived in Gardiner for over nine years now and have come to love my sweet little town and am proud to call this fabulous place home. Gardiner continues to grow, and much of that energy and progress has to do with the efforts of Gardiner Main Street. One of my favorite annual events, sponsored by the dedicated folks at Gardiner Main Street, is our Swine & Stein Oktoberfest. It combines Maine beer, Maine pork, and live music from Maine artists. Where else can you get all those things and a beard and mustache competition, a frozen t shirt contest, a rubber chicken toss, AND a rock-paper-scissors competition?! Swine & Stein is always a great day, and this year—the 6th annual—was no different.

Gardiner’s 6th Annual Swine & Stein Oktoberfest

I was thrilled to be asked back as a local judge for the second annual Swine & Stein Beard and Mustache Competition, sponsored by Monkitree. Mike Miclon, Executive Artistic Director of Johnson Hall, called it a “dog show, but with less touching.” It’s such good fun.

The impressive winners of the Second Annual Swine & Stein Beard and Mustache Competition

Sometimes, the bearded and mustachioed must dance!

Bronwyn took home the 4th Annual Rock-Paper-Scissors Competition!

We were treated to talented musical acts on the main stage all day—Emilia Dahlin, the Oktoberfest German Band, Muddy Ruckus, The Pete Kilpatrick Band, and The Colwell Brothers. A couple of new things this year—the “Beer U” tent hosted by Craft Beer Celler (opening very soon on Water Street in downtown Gardiner) and a butchering demonstration by Emery’s Meat and Produce that was quite well attended. I don’t eat pork because I think pigs are wicked cute, but I dropped by the butchering demonstration and it was fascinating.

Emilia Dahlin

The Pete Kilpatrick Band

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make Swine & Stein a great day! Gardiner Main Street—you rock! I had the pleasure of introducing The Colwell Brothers to the main stage for their set, and I mentioned to the crowd that we love having everyone visit Gardiner for Swine & Stein, but that we are also here and open for business all the time! Come back and visit us soon! And, of course, we’ll see you next year at Swine & Stein! I took lots more photos, so please check them out below. If you’d like to use one somehow, please give photo credit to Bree Candland of whatbreesees.com. Thank you!

xo,

bree