Now imagine organizing a party for more than 800 people. Like Gerd Faulstich, the 35-year-old Spartanburg engineer, who has taken on the tremendous task of planning Spartanburg's Oktoberfest.

For Faulstich, it was a family affair. In 1970 his parents, both German immigrants, founded the International Festival Society in Spartanburg. The society organized Oktoberfest in the Upstate for 25 years before hanging up their bier steins nine years ago.

The pressure is on for Faulstich. Not only does he have to make his mutti und vater proud, he has to live up to how he's billing the event as "the most authentic Oktoberfest west of Munich."

But the guy with no marketing or event planning experience seems to have it under control.

[Q] Why did you decide to take over? I've lived in Germany for three-and-a half years working with different BMW suppliers and got to experience the original Oktoberfest in Munich firsthand, there's definitely a lot of inspiration there. I knew that the event that my parents put on was very successful and felt that there was a need to revamp it, especially now with the influx of not only Germans, but a large number of Europeans in general. It also provides a good outlet and a good opportunity for all these different cultures to come together and celebrate this, basically this, worldwide known event.

[Q] How much time do you have to dedicate to this event? I have been planning this event since November of last year and right now I'm probably working about 60 hours a week on it. It has just increased, you know, exponentially, it has increased. Started maybe 10 or 15 hours a week and maybe two or three months ago it was 20 hours but now it's like a full-time 60-hour week.

[Q] And you also have a full-time job? I do.

[Q] So, how do you find the time? I make the time and fortunately my manager-slash-father is allowing flexibility in my schedule.

[Q] At this point in time, since it's getting so close, what do you do in a typical day that's dedicated to Oktoberfest? Predominantly working on the marketing, sponsorship letters, T-shirt orders, finalizing issues with the caterers. And we are also erecting the façade of an entire European village, which is also rather time consuming.

[Q] Who's helping you with that? I have a construction crew that's building it, actually here, at my house.

[Q] How much help do you have? Is it just you or is there anybody else? Predominantly me and then my creative director, Dawn Templeton, is also very involved on the marketing, Web site, advertising end.

[Q] How did you get Dawn to help you out? She's my girlfriend.

[Q] Is it stressful? Fun? A combination of both? I would say right now it's probably 75 (percent) stress, 25 percent fun. I don't like the ratio.

[Q] Is it your first time planning such a huge event? Yes. I was known for my parties in high school because of my liberal parents. I guess this is just part of graduating to something. It is non-profit so proceeds are going to benefit the Spartanburg Children's Shelter this year. Each year we select a different charitable cause.

[Q] So, as far as doing it next year, do you think that you are up for it? Yes, yes definitely. Definitely.

[Q] Now that you've undertook this, what is something that you didn't expect to be doing that you're doing? Pull my hair out, have nightmares. Like last night I had a good one. The German village when they brought it in it was like three and a half feet tall and it was all made out of cardboard boxes. That was a good dream I had last night. It was kind of like the Stonehenge monument in "Spinal Tap."

Ana Parra can be reached at 298-3766.