On the cool morning of October 12, 1810, the good citizens of Bavaria crowded together and waited in heady anticipation before the city gates of Munich. They were there to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen (say that five times fast). What began that October day as a week’s worth of horse races and royal wedding merriment has, in 203 years, morphed and grown wildly to become some of the largest festivals in the world: Oktoberfest.
In today’s Germany, festivities begin mid-September (better weather and longer daylight hours for drinking, you see) and span three weeks of beer-soaked revelry. In the Pacific Northwest, Oktoberfest season lasts for more than a month. Prost!
Mount Angel Oktoberfest – The fact that Mount Angel is already counting down to keg-tap time, with a clock accurate to the seconds, should give an idea of how seriously locals take the proceedings. Glockenspiel chimes and street dancing will carry on late into the night. September 12—15 || Mount Angel, Ore. || Many events free, more info here
Bend Oktoberfest – Another excuse for a beer festival? Bend’s on it. Enjoy the bratwursts. Watch the wiener dogs parade and race about. Embrace the “Be German for One Day” slogan and start practicing your yodel. September 19—20 || Bend, Ore. || Free entry
Fremont Oktoberfest – Praised as one of the top ten places to celebrate Oktoberfest in the world, and calling itself the number one Oktoberfest in the universe, the version of the famed Bavarian drink-a-thon in Fremont (also calls itself the Center of the Universe) draws tens of thousands to revel on the boarded-off streets of the canal-view Seattle neighborhood. Local and seasonal beers abound—counting more than 100 in all. September 20—22 || Seattle || Tickets: $25 G.A. in advance
Leavenworth Oktoberfest – Possibly the Oktoberfest with the most lederhosen this side of Deutschland, each family-friendly weekend features its own opening ceremonies, parade, mayoral keg-tapping and tents brimming with beer. October 4—5, 11—12, 18—19 || Leavenworth, Wash. || Tickets: $10/Fridays, $20/Saturdays
Oktoberfest Northwest – Germany invades the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Check out the Stein Dash 5K, find pours of authentic German Oktoberfest beers in the Festhalle and watch participants race to drive nails into stumps as they compete in Hammerschlagen. October 4—6 || Puyallup, Wash. || Ticket costs vary by day
Crosstoberfest – Both cyclocross and Oktoberfest are European-born fall activities, making them the ideal October match. For a tenth year running, this niche festival will bring together enthusiasts of cyclocross, beer and both. October 18—19 || Hailey, Ida. || Tickets: $25 for beer drinking, $35 for racing
Penticton Oktoberfest – A hardy contingent of German immigrants brought the Oktoberfest tradition to Okanagan years ago; it was resurrected in its current iteration in 2010. Headliners The Beerbarrels are sure to play plenty of polkas, and partygoers can pair their beer with everything from sauerkraut to strudel. October 19 || Penticton, BC || Tickets: $20
