You're very nice, Cal, I somehow knew how you've meant it to be understood by us Germans, I had to smile when I read that yesterday, and I thank you for that ...
Of course, many people might think that the Oktoberfest is a very German tradition and embraced by all Germans, but I can tell you that that is not necessarily so, and I am glad about that fact and development in Germany that we're more and more free of 'old traditions' and such patriotic and (old seemingly) cultural (german) stuff, which in the end (not necessarily in the beginning) is just big business and leads to unnecessary separation and distinction (in the sense of alienation) from 'others' (humans, nations, cultures and whatever life forms etc.) ...
What I want to say, Cal, is that we're more and more international, some or even many are celebrating the Oktoberfest and just enjoying it, esp. children in the daytime, but also other traditional, international festivities/holidays are being honored, because we're almost flooded with brothers and sisters from around the world lol, so this is happening naturally, and so, sth like Oktoberfest doesn't ring anything special inside of many of us anymore (for many still, but for many not anymore ... like that) ... Thank you very much for your lovely thoughts and goodwill however ...

I'd like to add that I'm of course not speaking for our TOC team here, I just said it the way I've sensed and understood it from just my humble point of view ...
