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Known for its food, taps, music, and array of games and contests, the annual Oktoberfest returns in Asbury Park.

Hosted by the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, the ‘strassefest’ kicks off at noon Friday and runs through 10 p.m. Monday night under a 120-foot tent in Press Plaza [Emory Street b/w Cookman & Lake avenues].

The cultural celebration not only features the venue’s famous brats and oversized pretzels, but showcases Munich’s top breweries – Hacker-Pschor, Hofbrau, Spaten, Paulaner and Weihenstephaner.

The live performances include:

7 -10 pm Friday – Doppelganger

2 – 5 pm & 7 -10 pm Saturday – Bavarski

2 – 5 pm & 7 -10 pm Sunday, and 4 – 7 pm Monday – The Alex Meixner Band

The Daily Contests schedule includes:

3, 5, & 7 pm Masskrugstemmen contests

2,4, & 6 pm Stein Carrying Competitions

6 pm Best-Dressed Lederhosen/Dirndl Contests

The Festival concludes with a four-course Bier Pairing Dinner prepared by the Festhalle’s Chef Ryan Cook, being held 6 p.m. under the tent. The all-inclusive $40 tickets are available at the door of via oktoberfestbierdinner.bpt.me.

For more information, visit asburybiergarten.com or celebrateoktoberfest.com.

[Photos courtesy of Chris Spiegel]

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