It's time to break out those lederhosen and dirndls—it's Oktoberfest season. Here are 9 festivals where you can get your German brat and excessively large beer mug action on, including six that start this weekend. See complete details on our Things To Do calendar.
Kirkland Oktoberfest
Features: Live music by bands with appropriately Oktoberfest-y names (The S-Bahn, Happy Hans, and even Smilin’ Scandinavians), an 140-foot festhalle, keg rolling, and wiener dog races. (Sept 25-27, $10/$25 for weekend pass)
Renton Oktoberfest
Features: German brews served in full-sized steins, live German entertainment, giant beer pong, stein hoisting, and a location in an outdoor pavilion that's the closest you can come to an Oktoberfest bier hall in Renton. Plus, bring the kids on Saturday (until 6 pm) for pumpkin bowling, root beer sampling, pumpkin decorating, and zucchini racing. (Sept 25-26, $10)
Ballard Oktoberfest
Features: A pub crawl between three Ballard breweries (Reuben's Brews, Stoup Brewing, and Populuxe Brewing), with traditional Oompah band The Oompah Machine leading the way. There will be food trucks and commemorative steins at each stop. (Sept 26)
Rhein Haus Oktoberfest
Features: A food relay race, where teams of four compete to finish Rhein Haus Oktoberfest-inspired dishes (pretzel bites, sausage, sauerkraut, and German doughnuts) and a half-liter of Rhein Haus lager. Plus, for the first three Saturdays in October, the Bavarian Village Band will play live at the restaurant, and Bayern Brewing's master brewmeister will do a ceremonial keg tapping on Oct. 3. (Sept 26-Oct 18)
Salmon Bay Eagles Oktoberfest
Features: Three drink tokens, each good for a 5 ounce taste from 12 local breweries and cideries, burlesque performances (including the appropriately named Czech Mate), and live music. (Sept 26, $17)
Leavenworth Oktoberfest
Features: Live entertainment across four venues from American, Canadian, and German bands, family activities including a Kinderplatz (kids' place) for kids with a climbing wall and a clown, Oktoberfest mugs, food, and an opening ceremony/keg tapping/parade every Saturday during the festival featuring horse-drawn carriages and live music. (Sept 30-Oct 15, $10/$20)
Trucktoberfest
Features: Over 30 local food trucks and breweries, live music, lawn games, and a Mr. and Miss Trucktoberfest costume contest. Headliners at the Marymoor Park festival include Thunderpussy (Saturday) and Sisters (Sunday). (Oct 3-4, $25 adv/$35 DOS)
Piketoberfest
Features: Pairings of local meats, sauerkrauts, and cheeses with craft beers, wines and spirits at Pike Brewing Company. Admission includes food, a mug, 10 drink tickets, and access to live music. (Oct 4, $40)
Oktoberfest Northwest
Features: A festhalle with German beers, food, and a performance by Manuela Horn and the Oktoburlesques, wiener dog races, lawn games, and the Hammerschlagen Tournament of Champions—"the most legal fun you can have with a hammer!" Plus, kids get free admission and a "Kinderhaus," complete with a root bier garden, free pumpkin decorating, and kid-sized Hammerschlagen. (Oct 9-11, $5-$12)
