Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Anderson
Hi Mike, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Oktoberfest in El Cajon opened over 50 years ago, and I have been chairman of the Oktoberfest committee since 1996 – that’s 30 years this year! I manage a committee of over 20 members, most of whom have been with me for over 20 years. And from that core, plus our club members (German American Societies of San Diego, Inc.), we’ve built a great group of volunteers that man most of our volunteer positions before, during, and after each fest. When I took over the job initially, it was a small festival, attended mainly by club members, and their friends and family members. We took it from this small 4-day festival over two weekends, to six days (Friday-Sunday), typically the last weekend of September and first weekend of October. Our mission is to provide the most authentic German festival around, with all food, beer, and music being Germanic. We promote this as a family event, and although it is our main source of income for the club, we are proud that we remain affordable for families. We have a fantastic selection of German food and beer, but also a great band that flies in from Germany every year to entertain us!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Mostly smooth because of the wonderful help I’ve received from my committee members, and all of our family, friends, and coworkers, who volunteer countless hours to keep costs down, but also to be the smiling faces that our guests encounter as they enjoy the fest. Sometimes personalities clash, with a favorite saying being, “Stay in your own lane!” As we grew from a small intimate fest to a much larger one, some of our older, original members were unhappy with the large crowds, but since we’ve continued to honor the German traditional aspects, and with all the success as our popularity grew, that provides our club with the funds to host other German culture-related events and activies, most are now in full support. We’ve had issues with weather since we’re mainly an outdoor event, and twice we’ve experienced significant power outages. COVID shut us down for a year, but we’ve recovered since. And finally, we sometimes have to deal with local and state laws or requirements that may change the way we prepare for the fest, or how we conduct business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mike Anderson | Coldwell Banker West?
I am a residential licensed real estate agent centered in San Diego’s East County, but I represent buyers and sellers of single family homes, condos, vacant land, and multiple unit properties throughout the County. I have been licensed since 1983; my background includes several years as an appraiser before moving into sales full time. I am active on the local Association of Realtors (PSAR). currently serving – again – on the Board of Directors, and am a member and past chair of the Government Affairs Committee. Coldwell Banker West is a great company to work with, I get a lot of support when needed from out Broker and management team, and like me, the company is also involved with our real estate committees and local activities. I live in Lakeside, have lived there most of my life, and am a member of the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (past Chairman, currently a Director), and served a four-year term as an elected member of our Planning Committee. I believe in supporting our communties, and in doing so, establish great connections that help in my business. And Oktoberfest chairman is just one of the several activities I continue to support, albeit probably the one that’s the most fun!
What were you like growing up?
I attended local schools in Lakeside then San Diego State University, did well in school but faltered as I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life while at SDSU. I finally got my Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation management, worked in that field for a few years before following the paths of my parents into Real Estate appraising and sales. I believe the background I have with my degree has been a benefit to me, especially in building and running Oktoberfest, but also in being sociable and fun-loving with people I meet and interact with on a daily basis. I have always loved sports, and am a big follower of rugby, which I played on an alumni team, Old Aztecs Rugby Club, for a few decades, and I’m still associated with the “Ancient Aztecs” group of former players. I’ve always had a good sense of humor, which is a great personality trait for my business as well as my leadership roles. I am not afraid to make myself the object of my jokes when I’m leading an event or meeting. I have two sons aged 21 and 18, and was very active in coaching sports (soccer, rugby, baseball) and supporting their various school and scouting activities in their younger years. I love to travel, often with the Ancient Aztecs, but also on my own, with the highlight being a year spent living and traveling in Europe. And that travel helped me to become interested in the German American Societies, as well as and Germanic culture, food, and beer!
Pricing:
- Adult admission $15 Friday and Saturday
- $5 adult admission on Sundays.
- Free admission for those under age 21 and active military.
- Meals, beer, drinks all priced reasonably (under $20), subject to change.
- Free admittance to all GAS members.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.OktoberfestElCajon.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OktoberfestElCajon/
Image Credits
Matt Dittsworth
Pacific Photographic Society
