By ROBIN EPLEY-Staff Writer

CHICO — At Sierra Nevada's second annual Oktoberfest, lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged fashion statements, a beer stein in hand is a requirement, and spontaneous toasts that fill the outdoor tent with a roar are completely normal.

More than 2,500 people packed onto the Estate-hops field at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Saturday night, following an equally impressive gathering Friday night of nearly 2,000 people during the brewing company's Oktoberfest celebration.

General Manager Brian Grossman said the event was basically just a giant celebration of what he called "beer culture" and an excuse to wear his lederhosen.

Eight different types of Sierra Nevada beer were served at the event: Pale Ale, Torpedo, Tumbler, Kellerweis, North Hemisphere Harvest, Sidecar, Old Chico and of course, Oktoberfest.

"Oktoberfest is really a great event to celebrate ," Grossman said. "Beer is a very affordable luxury people love. It's a beer event, and that is definitely in everyone's blood. Everything else is secondary."

Secondary to the main attraction was a large lineup of bands, which all followed the German theme of the celebration. Bands who played both Friday and Saturday night were J.D. Limelight, Polkacide and the March Fourth marching band.

Also included in the price of admission, which was $40 for drinkers and $30 for designated drivers, was a plate of contemporary German buffet, provided by the Sierra Nevada Taproom and Restaurant, and a Bavarian Oktoberfest stein, which each visitor received as they walked into the event tent. Pretzels and non-alcoholic beverages were also available.

This year's theme was "Hot Glass, Live Music, Cold Beer," said Hunter Sasser, National Events Coordinator for Sierra Nevada. The "Hot Glass" was provided by several local glassblowers, including Smallhouse Art Glass in Chico, Cherry Tree Studios in Paradise and Shaw Art Glass from Cohasset.

The whole event was patterned after a traditional Munich-style Oktoberfest, Sasser said, from the wreaths and fabric swaths criss-crossing the ceiling of the large tent right down to the communal tables across the floor.

"Our goal this year is to divert 85 percent of our waste from this event," she said.

A popular attraction carried over from last year was the chicken dance contest, which is judged twice: Once for all participants and a second time for just those in costume. This drove nearly half the attendees to come in traditional lederhosen for the men and dirndls for the women.

"Let's state the obvious," said Oktoberfest participant Erin Pollock, 27, talking about why she came, "There's beer, great music and friends."

She said expected to make it to the finals this year in the chicken dance contest and was there to enjoy "Das beer, food and merriment."

Pollock's merriment included participation in a large cheer which spontaneously arose from inside the tent and spread to the ouside area, which she explained was a massive toast to the celebration.

Jen Whiteley, of Chico, said this is the first time she's come to an Oktoberfest celebration anywhere, and only heard about Chico's event because she recently took a tour of the brewery.

"It's great for the community," Whiteley said with a stein of Old Chico in hand. "I love that it gets the community together and we love Sierra Nevada."

Staff writer Robin Epley can be reached at 896-7761 or repley@chicoer.com.