Oktoberfest, popular festival will come alive for the 15th consecutive year at the Hilton Colombo from October 23 to November 1 at the Sports Club car park.

Oktoberfest was originally started in Munich as a royal wedding on October 12, 1811. The famous beer tents were introduced in 1896 and have now become the main focus of the festival. The German beer festival is usually scheduled for only two weeks ending in the first weekend of October. 30% of the annual production of Munich's breweries is consumed in these few days.

Hilton Colombo started the event in Sri Lanka for the first time in 1993 with a local jazz band. Today, it is held at the Sports Club car park with a huge marquee constructed by sponsor exclusively for this event, which can accommodate upto 400 people.

'Authentic ingredients are used for German brews and traditional German cuisine using authentic ingredients can also be savoured like Bratwurst sausages, large garlic sausages' said Gigi de Silva, the hotel's Marketing Communications Manager.

The traditional Bavarian band will be flown for the festival and the band will be the top attraction of the event. 'Traditional Bavarian bands are not available early October due to the beer fest in Germany, hence the hotel celebrate this event at the end of October. In addition to the above, interesting traditional Oktoberfest games such as power hammer, wrestling, dancing on tables are planned for the promotion' added De Silva.

The authentic, Bavarian recipes used for this event have been provided by Hilton Munich to Keells Food Products' added Executive Chef Rohan Fernandopulle.