Around 1,000 revellers descended on Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium as Munich met Merseyside for the first-ever Docktoberfest.
Beer, bratwurst, live music and Bavarian entertainment took over the Blues’ waterfront home for the sold-out celebration, inspired by Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest.
The nine-hour event transformed Village Street inside Hill Dickinson Stadium into a huge Bavarian-themed party, complete with brass bands, DJs, games, giveaways and VIP dining.
Guests were able to move freely between five interconnected venues, each offering a different mix of food, drink and entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening.
Kendall’s Social was turned into a bustling ‘bierhalle’ and became the centre of the live entertainment, with performances on the main stage from high-energy Fat Cat Brass and traditional oompah band Boulevard Oompah.
Revellers were also invited to put their skills to the test in a series of Bavarian-inspired competitions.
They included the classic Stein Holding challenge, a timed Pretzel Eating contest and a frantic Bratwurst Relay.
Everton-themed prizes were up for grabs, including the opportunity to watch the Men’s First Team train.
Elsewhere inside the stadium, The Queen’s Head became a dedicated tasting and sampling room, while The Prince Rupert hosted karaoke, games, challenges and an interactive photo wall.
Dixie’s by Budweiser was transformed into a Bavarian food hall serving festival favourites.
Neighbouring Domingos offered a more sophisticated experience, with themed multi-course meals served during the afternoon before the venue became a riverside cocktail lounge as darkness fell across the Mersey.
All The Classics DJ Set then kept the celebrations going into the night as guests raised their steins to the success of Everton’s inaugural Docktoberfest.
The event was the latest example of Hill Dickinson Stadium being used for major occasions away from football, as Everton continues to open its new waterfront home to a wider audience.
Aaron Duckmanton, Chief Revenue Officer at Everton, said:
“A huge thank you to all who attended the first Docktoberfest this past weekend.
“The atmosphere throughout the day was amazing and to see over 1,000 people having a great time made it all worthwhile.
“Once again, Hill Dickinson Stadium has shown its versatility in staging another cultural event that has mass appeal, and going forwards we will continue to explore innovative ways to keep opening up our magnificent stadium to the public.”
