COEUR d’ALENE — Joel Laker came prepared for the tapping of the keg to kick off Oktoberfest on a warm and sunny Friday.

Besides lederhosen and a Tyrolean hat, the Coeur d’Alene man wore a necklace with sausage, cheese and pretzel attached.

“If you’re going to any beer festival, you need to have snacks with you and this is the most convenient way, is around your neck,” he said. “It keeps you mobile.”

Ben and Jennifer Drake, owner the Crown and Thistle pub on Fourth Street, were once again emcees for day one of the celebration that continues today.

Ben Drake welcomed the crowd with a few German phrases.

“That’s all my German for tonight,” he said, smiling as the crowd laughed.

He led the crowd in singing, "Ein Prosit Der Gemutlichkeit,” which means "A Toast to Good Cheer.”

The dark beer flowed fast when Jennifer Drake used a mallet to free it from the keg and as is tradition, people rushed forward with steins and mugs to catch it.

“The more beer that hits the ground, the worse luck you’re going to have in the next year,” she said.

It didn’t look like a drop touched the green grass at Second and Sherman.

Amber Sorenson, a fan of Oktoberfest, was beaming as she held her mug high to catch the stream of beer.

“What’s not to love here?” she said.

Tammy McCann two-fisted it and filled two mugs.

She said Oktoberfest in Coeur d’Alene means great beer, great music and great friends.

“It’s a fun place,” she said.

Husband and wife Bryan and Holly Lehrman were dressed for the affair, with Bryan wearing lederhosen and Holly wearing a dirndl, a traditional dress for women and girls in the Alps.

“Coeur d’Alene does a wonderful job of letting you have a good time in the downtown area,” Bryan Lehrman said.

“Every year, we amp it up a little bit more,” Holly added.

Shelly Lehrman recently visited Germany and still had the pretzels she picked up in Frankfurt.

She said the beer in Germany was “amazing, very German.”

Better than here?

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “The local beer is amazing.”

Oktoberfest is organized by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association. It includes live music, stein-holding and costume contests, about 30 beers and ciders, biergarten locations and kegs scattered throughout downtown. Participating businesses will also serve beer. Restaurants will offer special Oktoberfest menus with German specialties.

Tickets, if available, are being sold at the Plaza Shops.