General Mitchell International Airport hosts its own Oktoberfest to celebrate Barons' Beer Garden

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee is proud of its German heritage and love of beer gardens, so it may come as no surprise that a beer garden is now open at General Mitchell International Airport.

 As soon as visitors step foot in the city, they can stop by Barons' Beer Garden inside the airport. 

"We're very well known for beer gardens and German music here," said Mary Bumpke.

Bumpke is from West Bend, and she was soaking in all of the polka music before she headed out to Colorado to visit her son. 

The polka music, along with samples of pretzels, bratwurst and, of course, beer, were part of the Oktoberfest event at the beer garden on Thursday, Sept. 30. The polka music may not be a regular thing, but you can stop by to eat and have a beer every day. 

"A little bit of local flavor of what Milwaukee's all about," said Brian Dranzik, director of General Mitchell International Airport.  

Dranzik said the beer garden opened in March of 2020, but now that travel is picking up again, Oktoberfest was the perfect opportunity to show it off. 

"For people from Milwaukee, they understand the connection right away," said Dranzik. "For those from out of town it sparks some curiosity."

People were curious as they passed the accordion, many sticking around to clap for the traditional German music as they passed. 

Barons' Beer Garden is the result of a collaboration between Milwaukee County Parks and the airport to showcase what Milwaukee has to offer. It's named after Milwaukee's famous beer barons.