A CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE AND HARMONY:
OKTOBERFEST 2025 AT SCHLOSS BLÜHNBACH

Billie Jordan

23 October 2025

On October 11th, Schloss Blühnbach came alive with the joyful sounds of accordions, laughter, and clinking glasses as the Frederick R. Koch Foundation of Austria hosted its Biennial Blühnbacher Oktoberfest. Beneath the autumn colours of the valley’s mountains, friends, neighbours, and guests gathered to celebrate the enduring spirit of Austrian tradition, community, and culture.

The festivities opened with a warm welcome from the Foundation team, followed by lively performances from “Duanix Musi”, a talented ensemble from Chiemgau and Mangfalltal. Their authentic folk melodies, led by accordionist Tobias Lerner, guitarist Fabian Eibl, bass trumpeter Franz Schwarzenböck, and double bassist Tobias Winkler, filled Blühnbach with Bavarian charm and convivial energy.

Guests enjoyed a hearty Oktoberfest luncheon featuring Bavarian-style Brezn with Liptauer dip, traditional Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad and wild cranberries, and an assortment of homemade cakes served with coffee. The celebration was accompanied by Ruperti-Bernstein Märzen, an amber-hued beer from Salzburg’s oldest brewery, and the Foundation’s now-signature Alpine Gin Liqueur, infused with 30 alpine herbs and berries - a fitting toast to craftsmanship and heritage.

A highlight of the day was the crossbow shooting competition, organised by the local club Heimatverein D’Blühnbachtaler. Guests were invited to “give it a shot” for a good cause. Proceeds were donated to support the Heimatverein’s preservation of local cultural traditions.

HONOURING CULTURE THROUGH COMMUNITY

While the day brimmed with merriment, the Blühnbach Oktoberfest also reflected the core mission of the Frederick R. Koch Foundation of Austria: to foster cultural appreciation and community connection.

By welcoming local residents alongside international guests, the Foundation seeks to bridge past and present, local and global, through moments of shared joy and understanding. The Oktoberfest, much like the Foundation’s musical and educational events throughout the year, embodies the belief that culture flourishes when people come together, whether through art, music, or the simple pleasure of raising a glass in good company.

LOOKING AHEAD

As Schloss Blühnbach looks toward future events, the Foundation remains committed to nurturing cultural dialogue and celebrating the traditions that make Austria’s heritage so vibrant. The 2025 Oktoberfest was more than a festive afternoon; it was a living expression of the Foundation’s spirit: honouring beauty, supporting community, and finding harmony between history and the present day.