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| Offical website for the Nation's Best authentic Oktoberfest |
The Spartanburg Oktoberfest was an idea of a
German immigrant. Gerhard Faulstich hit the shores
of the United States in 1956 & never looked back. He
advertised himself in a New Jersey newspaper as a
young German man looking for work. The owner of a
small wire company, an Italian man by the name of
Tony Rizzuto, called him and gave him his first
break. After his first day of work, Mr. Rizzuto noticed
Mr. Faulstich leaving the plant with his suit case. He
asked him where he was going. Mr. Faulstich
responded in a thick German accent “I don’t know
yet”, for he had no accommodations. Mr. Rizzuto
invited Mr. Faulstich home with him that night. He
stayed with the Rizzuto family for two weeks until he
could afford his own apartment.
To make a long story short, Mr. Faulstich rose from
being a third shift machine operator to Vice-
President of International Wire Products, and
became Mr. Rizzuto’s “right hand man”. The
company relocated its headquarters to Spartanburg
in the late 60’s. There Mr. Faulstich settled down &
started a family & ultimately lived the American
Dream
Mr. Faulstich never forgot about the customs and
festivities of his birth nation, and decided that not to
share them with others was selfish. It was at this
point that he and his wife Hannelore decided to host
an Oktoberfest of their own. For 25 years they held
the event to sold out crowds. After a ten year hiatus,
their son, Gerd decided it was time to bring it back,
and revamped the event in 2005.
The Spartanburg Oktoberfest's parent non-profit
organization is titled “The International Festival
Society” with its mission being to “encourage,
promote, support and assist worthwhile musical
events in the area, and to use the funds derived
from such events to promote and support programs
for underprivileged children and foster homes”.
We would like to express our sincerest thanks and
gratitude to the many people who have given their
time and effort to the success of this event, and to
you for considering attending this very worthwhile
occasion.
German immigrant. Gerhard Faulstich hit the shores
of the United States in 1956 & never looked back. He
advertised himself in a New Jersey newspaper as a
young German man looking for work. The owner of a
small wire company, an Italian man by the name of
Tony Rizzuto, called him and gave him his first
break. After his first day of work, Mr. Rizzuto noticed
Mr. Faulstich leaving the plant with his suit case. He
asked him where he was going. Mr. Faulstich
responded in a thick German accent “I don’t know
yet”, for he had no accommodations. Mr. Rizzuto
invited Mr. Faulstich home with him that night. He
stayed with the Rizzuto family for two weeks until he
could afford his own apartment.
To make a long story short, Mr. Faulstich rose from
being a third shift machine operator to Vice-
President of International Wire Products, and
became Mr. Rizzuto’s “right hand man”. The
company relocated its headquarters to Spartanburg
in the late 60’s. There Mr. Faulstich settled down &
started a family & ultimately lived the American
Dream
Mr. Faulstich never forgot about the customs and
festivities of his birth nation, and decided that not to
share them with others was selfish. It was at this
point that he and his wife Hannelore decided to host
an Oktoberfest of their own. For 25 years they held
the event to sold out crowds. After a ten year hiatus,
their son, Gerd decided it was time to bring it back,
and revamped the event in 2005.
The Spartanburg Oktoberfest's parent non-profit
organization is titled “The International Festival
Society” with its mission being to “encourage,
promote, support and assist worthwhile musical
events in the area, and to use the funds derived
from such events to promote and support programs
for underprivileged children and foster homes”.
We would like to express our sincerest thanks and
gratitude to the many people who have given their
time and effort to the success of this event, and to
you for considering attending this very worthwhile
occasion.
About Fest