Get ready for a lively Oktoberfest celebration with your residents! Memory Lane Therapy offers a fun-filled day of Oktoberfest activities – from music games and activities to delicious treats. It’s the perfect way to bring the spirit of Oktoberfest to your aged care facility and create lasting memories.
Oktoberfest is an annual German celebration for worlds largest beer fest and traveling funfair! It is a great theme day to celebrate in aged care and there are many fun activities you can do based around this event! Don’t worry, they don’t all have to be about beer drinking – we have provided some helpful ideas below!
When to Celebrate Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest, a vibrant celebration of Bavarian culture, stretches from mid-September to the first weekend of October. While the traditional festivities take place in Munich, aged care facilities can capture the spirit any day during this period! Let’s raise a glass and immerse our residents in the fun of Oktoberfest with engaging activities, delicious treats, and a touch of German flair.
Oktoberfest Themed Decorations
Decorate the activity room like a German beer house with one or two long tables for people to eat and drink at with bright colored tablecloths. Print out German flags and decorate with cardboard cutout beer mugs and pretzels.
Print out decorations for tables, walls and add some colorful balloons hanging in the German flag colors black, red and yellow.
Dress Up for the Occasion
Get ready to transform your staff into a festive bunch! Women can embrace the spirit with charming dirndl-inspired outfits – think comfy dresses adorned with colorful aprons, and playful braids or pigtails to complete the look.
Men can channel their inner Bavarian with knee-length shorts, striped socks pulled high, and sturdy braces holding it all together. Top it all off with a jaunty hat (if available) for an extra touch of Oktoberfest!
Food, Drinks & Music!
Transport your residents to the heart of Bavaria with a delightful German luncheon! Set the scene with lively German music playing softly in the background. Then, tantalize their taste buds with a feast of authentic German fare.
Don’t forget the perfect finale – a slice of decadent Black Forest cake! To complete the immersive experience, if you have access to steins, proudly display them and offer a selection of beverages. For a touch of authenticity, serve some German beer alongside cool drinks or refreshing fruit punch – all perfect for raising a toast in these iconic mugs!
Quiz Time
Run a German Quiz after lunch and finish with a singalong such as “Roll out the Barrell”, “There’s a Tavern in the Town” and the staff can stand out the front and do a display with actions to the” Birdie Dance” with the music and everyone clapping to end a great day!
Gentle Games & Competitions
Consider bringing some extra fun and laughter to your Oktoberfest celebrations with these simple, low-impact ideas. These activities are easy to set up and perfect for residents of all abilities to join in or cheer from the sidelines.
Pretzel Toss
Test your aim with a classic Pretzel Toss! Set up a dowel or a sturdy hook stand, and let residents take turns tossing soft pretzels to see who can land the most. This game is excellent for hand-eye coordination and makes a wonderful icebreaker to start the festivities.
How to Play:
- Place a dowel, hook stand, or small pegboard on a table or sturdy surface.
- Give each participant 3 soft pretzels.
- Players stand or sit about 1–2 metres away.
- Take turns tossing the pretzels to try and hook them onto the dowel.
Scoring:
- 1 point per pretzel landed successfully.
- Write down each person’s total score.
Tip:
Offer small prizes or certificates for everyone who plays!
Beer Stein Relay
Get everyone moving (just a little) with a Beer Stein Relay. Fill plastic steins with water instead of beer, and have participants walk carefully across the room without spilling. Adjust the distance to suit your group, and cheer on each attempt—there’s always plenty of laughter when water starts sloshing over the rim!
How to Play:
- Fill a lightweight plastic stein with water.
- Mark a start and finish line.
- One at a time, participants carry the stein to the finish without spilling.
- For added fun, time each attempt or measure how much water remains at the end.
Scoring Options:
- Fastest time wins.
- Least water spilled wins.
Tip:
Adjust the distance to suit your group’s mobility.
Yodeling Contest
Invite residents and staff to showcase their vocal talents in a Yodeling Contest. Whether it’s a shy attempt or a confident trill, every performance is worth celebrating. Hand out fun awards like Most Enthusiastic Yodel or Best Effort to keep the atmosphere light and encouraging.
How to Play:
- Invite each resident or staff member to take turns yodeling.
- Applaud and encourage every performance—this is about fun, not perfection!
- Optional: Play a short yodeling clip beforehand as inspiration.
Award Categories:
- Most Enthusiastic Yodel
- Funniest Yodel
- Sweetest Yodel
- Loudest Yodel
Tip:
Have simple certificates or ribbons ready to present to participants.
Bavarian Hat Ring Toss
Finish your games with a round of Bavarian Hat Ring Toss. Arrange decorative alpine hats or steins on a table and let residents toss rings to see how many they can land. This simple activity is easy to adapt and adds a festive touch to your themed day.
How to Play:
- Arrange 2–3 alpine hats or steins on a table.
- Give each player 3–5 rings.
- Participants stand or sit about 1 metre away.
- Take turns tossing rings to land over the hats.
Scoring:
- 1 point per ring landed.
- Add up each player’s score.
Tip:
Use different coloured rings to help track turns if you have a large group.
