Whenever I can get a free dinner on someone else’s dime—especially when that food is not from the dining hall—I feel that it is my civic, moral and legal obligation to consume it. That is exactly how I ended up at UPBeerless Oktoberfest last Thursday, Sept. 19. While the food was delicious, I found the event to be a tad confusing at times but well worth the time it took to stop by.

My confusion started from the very first time I read about UPBeerless Oktoberfest in the University Program Board newsletter, with an event named “Oktoberfest” taking place in September. Now, that’s not to say all Oktoberfests have to be held in October. Cleveland’s Oktoberferst, for example, was held in late August and early September. Though to be fair, Cleveland’s version of the event did not even occur in Cleveland, but in Berea, OH.

Aesthetically, September was just not the best time to hold a fall-themed event. There was an odd juxtaposition between a very warm summer evening, which is what we got on Sept. 19, and also the ideal version of any fall event. Even if “Christian Girl Autumn” is a meme, many people, including myself, associate fall events with pumpkin spice and wearing an abnormal amount of sweaters and cardigans. A toasty September day is not what I had in mind for this type of event.

This is notwithstanding the “Beerless” part of the name of the event, which was just funny. I reasonably doubt that anyone would have expected there to be freshly poured beer on tap at a UPB event. It produced a memorable and slightly humorous name, which oddly rallied some of my friends to attend the event. Consuming alcoholic beverages on East Bell Commons, however, does occur with some level of frequency—for the past few years, Springfest has had an over-21 section where they served restricted beverages. RHA’s Upperclass Community Council also held an Oktoberfest celebration last October, and to UPB’s detriment, it did have beer for those over the age of 21.

When push came to shove, a group of friends and I arrived with our 6-7:30 p.m. tickets promptly at 6 p.m. To UPB’s credit, the event did start within 10 minutes of the posted starting time. We were promptly swiped in using one of their new keycard readers.

From the onset, the main draw of the event was the ability to enjoy an Oktoberfest-themed dinner, and this is something that UPB did not disappoint with. For example, each attendee received one large German pretzel topped with a healthy amount of cheese sauce. While the sauce was a tad watery, such a large pretzel with the right amount of salt was the perfect way to start the event.

Next, each student received a choice of either two different German sausages or pierogies. For the former, this included a choice between a weisswurst or a bratwurst. The bratwurst reminded me of a pork knackwurst and was excellent. It was flavourful but not at all overpowering for my American taste buds. It was served with a healthy side of sauerkraut, which added a variety of texture and flavor. The pierogies, on the other hand, which I did not have, had a bright yellow-colored filling.

In addition to the main meal, UPB also provided a dessert option: apple strudel. While it is native to Vienna, it was a delightful way to end the meal. Unlike a lot of other pastry desserts, the ratio between its flaky crust and apple filling was spot on without being too sweet or tart. There were also two types of drinks available: sparkling and still apple cider. I found the cider to be pungently apple flavored, and I only had a few sips before several bees decided to circle around it.

While the main draw of the event was the food, there were other activities advertised as well. For example, there was cookie decorating and wreath making, which were popular and well received by those who did it. This observation leads to my primary criticism of the event—specifically, the lack of any Oktoberfest theming. For instance, a stereo blasted pop music, and I wouldn’t exactly associate Chappell Roan with Oktoberfest. In all, it created an atmosphere very similar to that of Thwing Tuesday, another UPB event, which is not a bad thing, but it did stray away from the Oktoberfest vibe.

Any time I can get new food from a different restaurant or caterer, it is an opportunity I can wholeheartedly endorse and recommend for all students. No matter how bizarre or mistimed an event is, the allure of getting a free dinner is frankly worth it, and UPB can put on a show with their choice of catering. Regardless, the event itself was mostly forgettable for its generic UPB corporate nature. Should the next event fill up before you can register, I would not stress about it too much and maybe just eat a pint of ice cream for dinner.