The ninth annual Fremont Oktoberfest takes place this weekend, from Friday, September 22 through Sunday, September 24. Oktoberfest brings out all the local breweries—from stalwart Redhook Ale to the smaller Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company—and not-so-local breweries, like Colorado's New Belgium Brewing Company and Pennsylvania's Victory Brewing Company. Seasonal and specialty beers with novel names—Big Daddy IPA, El Jefe Weizen—will flow freely. This year the ever-growing festival stretches beyond beer and bratwurst to incorporate local band performances (including Cancer Rising, the Catch, and the Helio Sequence), the third Annual Brew Ha-Ha 3-Mile Run/Walk (including a "beer belly" division), and, naturally, craft vendors. Be sure to check out the Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving Contest, which delivers what everyone expects from Fremont: people in elaborate costumes and wigs carving huge pumpkins with chainsaws for show.

Fremont Oktoberfest is Fri Sept 22 5 pm—midnight, Sat Sept 23 11 am—midnight, and Sun Sept 24 11 am—6 pm, at Fremont's Solstice Plaza (N 34th St and Fremont Ave N) and the Adobe parking lot under the Aurora Bridge. For more information, visit www.fremontoktoberfest.com or call 633-0422.

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