St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church Hosts Annual Fall Celebration: The Oktoberfest
An overhead image of the 2022 Oktoberfest. This image is a snapshot of the exciting event, taken at the top of the town on the ferris wheel.
October 1, 2022
September 24, 2015, was one of the very best days of my life. After surviving a little less than a month in the sixth grade, in a new class with a higher level of difficulty, I was ready to enjoy some weekend fun. Lucky for me, St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church was holding its annual Oktoberfest celebration that weekend, and after some cutting-edge debate with my parents, they allowed me to attend the celebration on Friday night with some friends.
I distinctly recall texting my friend group chat and excitedly asking everyone if they’d like to spend the evening at the Oktoberfest with me. Almost immediately, the chat filled with reciprocated excitement, as happy emojis and overjoyed GIFs suddenly appeared all over my phone. At eleven years old, an age where it’s finally appropriate to attend such an event without parents, I had never been so excited to go to the Oktoberfest.
My mom drove my friends and me to the church and dropped us off at 6 pm. The crisp autumn air, the distinct smell of carnival food oil, and the sound of pure excitement mixed with muted carnival songs mixed to create the perfect combination for the evening with my friends. There’s something about the feeling of fulfillment from making it through the first month of school as well as the feeling of independence from being out and about with my friends, with no parents in sight. To top it off, there was good food, music, and rides that filled our time with unfiltered excitement. The feeling of that evening is seared into my mind permanently.
I’m not the only one with fond childhood memories of this anticipated event. Ryan Oh (12) recalls joyfully awaiting the Oktoberfest every year as a young girl. She remembers waiting for the days when she could “have fun with her family at a safe and fun event so close to home.” Similarly, Alexandra Herrada (12) has memorable experiences with the Oktoberfest herself. Having just barely moved to Yorba Linda in August of 2018, she remembers attending the Oktoberfest that year to be a “real introduction to the culture of Yorba Linda.” Her recollection includes memories of enthusiastic volunteers, exciting activities, and an overall sense of community, as the greater Yorba Linda came together to make the wonderful event possible.
With that being said, Yorba Lindians can proudly rejoice because this weekend marks the forty-second annual St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church Oktoberfest. The entire church parking lot and parish hall will be utilized as grounds for this fair, and people from all around Yorba Linda are preparing to attend this event. As the “largest event in Yorba Linda,” this year’s Oktoberfest is projected to host around 30,000-35,000 people (smdpyl.org). In addition, there are going to be over one thousand volunteers who have and are consenting to pour their hearts into making this event possible.
Like always, there will be several carnival-style ride options, with the upside-down swirling thriller ride, The Zipper, and the spinning circular ride, Zero Gravity, remaining the two most popular. Classic carnival gaming booths are going to take the stage too, where attendees have the opportunity to enjoy themselves with a variety of classic games. Furthermore, there will be the same menu of foods from all different cuisines, where baked potatoes from Germany and Pancit from the Philippines can be purchased from the same wonderful area. Funnel cake, slushies, and a slew of other sweet treats will be available for purchase as well.
