New Brunswick Shows It Knows How to Party with Two Festivals on One Afternoon

Whether it was bratwurst and beer at Monument Square Park or churros and chocomiles at Joyce Kilmer Park, New Brunswick partied in style on Sunday.

The New Brunswick Oktoberfest was a party on George Street and Livingston Avenue, complete with stein-holding contests, an oompah band, and at least a few people dressed in lederhosen.

The Mercado Esperanza welcomed children performing traditional Mexican dances in brightly colored dresses and shirts, followed by the boisterous beats of a 10-piece band that got everyone up and dancing to salsa, cumbia, and merengue music. 

The longest line on George Street was to greet Kelsey Grammer, the star of the stage and screen best known for his roles in “Cheers” and “Fraiser.”

Fans took photos, asked him to sign items, and sampled beers made by his Faith American Brewing Company.

Grammer said he had never been to New Brunswick to grace the State Theater stage or dine in one of the fine restaurants around City Center, but he was here when he was 5 or 6.

“I know I was here as a little boy to see a doctor about my psoriasis,” he said. “I lived in Colonia, New Jersey, and my mom was trying to get me some help. We came to see a guy. I think he said I had to take all kinds of tests and my mom said, ‘Forget it, you’ll be fine.’”

Grammer said he was never much of a beer drinker until making his own brew.

“It’s a beer that I can drink and there’s a lot of beer out there that I can’t because it just tastes like kerosene to me,” he said. “I’m a flavor-forward, enjoyable, drinkable beer. I don’t want people to get (too drunk), although I have a few beers that are a little higher in the ABV (alcohol by volume) count.”

There was a local celebrity leading the fun over at Joyce Kilmer Park.

Manuel Castaneda, the director of community health for New Brunswick Tomorrow, a member of the New Brunswick Planning Board, and a candidate for one of the newly created seats on the City Council, served as lead singer for Yanikeke.

After a string of traditional dance songs, he did a version of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” in English and Spanish.

Couples created a makeshift dance floor right in front of the stage and New Brunswick Tomorrow President and CEO Jaymie Santiago danced with two of his daughters.

Story and Photo Credit: Chuck O'Donnell