News Release Archive
NS MUSEUM--OKTOBERFEST AT THE FISHERIES MUSEUM OF THE ATLANTIC ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, Lunenburg is participating in Oktoberfest celebrations in the town this weekend, Thursday Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 6. Ralph Getson, museum education curator, said visitors to the museum can find out more about Lunenburg County connections to Europe. He said the people who settled in the county were from central and southwestern Germany, Switzerland, and Montbeliard in France. On Thursday and Friday the genealogical society office on the third floor of the museum will be open from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. for any visitor interested in tracing their Lunenburg County roots. The demonstration room is decorated with foliage, apples, pumpkins and other fall spoils. Visitors can enjoy German music and talk to costumed interpreters about the county's history and traditions. Barbra Spindler, museum interpreter and seamstress, has been working on costumes for the festival since last year. Ms. Spindler said, "We had some interpreters in costume last year. It adds so much to the atmosphere that this year we tried to get everyone working in costume." The costume designs come from folklore patterns and the interpreters making the costumes use the proper fabrics like velvet. The museum began taking part in the Oktoberfest celebrations four years ago. Museum general manager Jim Tupper said, "We had about 380 to 400 visitors daily during Oktoberfest last year. Most of them weren't expecting the celebration at the museum. It was a pleasant surprise for them." Lunenburg has been celebrating Oktoberfest for around eight years but Mr. Getson said an autumn celebration is not a new idea. "In the fall of every year there was some sort of celebration in Lunenburg County." -30- contact: Jim Tupper 902-634-4794 trp Oct. 01, 1996 - 12:55 p.m.