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German culture will be celebrated Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16, during the Germania Singing and Sport Society's Oktoberfest at 543 S. Front St. in the Brewery District.

The Germania Singing and Sport Society's upcoming Oktoberfest promises plenty of food, beer, music and dancing.

The 54th annual event, the oldest Oktoberfest in central Ohio, will be held from 4 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, and noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Germania club, 543 S. Front St. Events will be held inside and outside of the facility.

Admission is $5 Saturday, free for children 12 and younger. There is no charge for admission on Sunday.

John Kneller, chairman of the Germania's Oktoberfest committee, said the atmosphere is a big draw.

"This is what it's like in Germany when there's a small-town festival," he said.

Several different homespun dishes will be on sale, including traditional bratwurst, weisswurst, cabbage rolls, potato salad, sauerkraut, Bavarian pretzels and homemade pastries.

The official tapping of the keg, accompanied by the Germania Singers, is at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Beers on tap include Warsteiner Premium Dunkel and Oktoberfest, and Koenig Ludwig Weissbier.

Other by-the-bottle selections, as well as a few spirituous-alcohol options, will be available.

Folk dancing will be held throughout both days of the festival. Among the attractions is the schuhplattler, an animated form of Bavarian dancing that's very entertaining and very skillful, said Kathleen Megown, a Germania singer and publicity chairwoman of the festival.

Sunday will be flush with singing, as the Germania, Newark Maennerchor, Swiss Club and Columbus Maennerchor and Damenchor take the stage at different times throughout the day.

Those who attend also can participate in polkas and waltzes.

Thea Klabunde, president of the Germania, called the festival the "real deal." It was founded by Germans and maintains the rich tradition of German culture and the club, chartered in 1866.

"The reason we're still there and are upholding our club -- which is hard to do by the way -- is because we're a volunteer society," she said.

"We have been forever and forever. We are trying to keep our heritage going."

More information is available at germaniacolumbus.org.