If you’ve been craving a bit of Germanic excitement and entertainment, then look no further than the annual Leavenworth Oktoberfest! The festival is already underway, taking place over three consecutive weekends from the end of September to mid-October. Celebrating their 24th year of festivities, this Oktoberfest is sure to be one for the books! This year, the main festivities will be taking place at the Town Toyota Center in nearby Wenatchee, but the quiet town of Leavenworth will be housing numerous vendors and other special events. Whichever town you choose to spend the bulk of your time in, there’ll be enough fun activities to go around for days to come.
Main Event
As previously mentioned, the official Oktoberfest event will be taking place at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. Organized by Projekt Bayern (Project Bavaria), a local nonprofit organization, the festival has become something of a mainstay in the area, drawing tourists in from all throughout the Pacific Northwest. Among other attractions, Oktoberfest offers lively entertainment by way of oom-pah and polka music, traditional Bavarian dancers, and a wide variety of imported German beers on tap. Hailed as one of the top Oktoberfest celebrations in the country, it’s easy to see why Projekt Bayern’s festival draws such a massive crowd each year.
Entertainment
In addition to the music, dancing, and beer on offer at the main Oktoberfest event, local vendors are also welcomed in and given a space to display their wares. You can explore handcrafted goods made right here in Washington State. On Saturdays, the official “Keg Tapping Ceremony” draws in large crowds of spectators who are given the chance to try the freshly tapped imported barrels. Children will be entertained and looked after in the Kinderplatz (playground) section of the festival, ensuring that your mind can rest easy while soaking up the festivities. They’ll be treated to a bouncy house, a live clown act, and games geared toward younger age groups.
Leavenworth
Though the main attractions of the Oktoberfest event will be taking place in Wenatchee, it’s difficult to overlook the quaint Germanic town of Leavenworth just a few miles away. If possible, we’d recommend staying here for the duration of your journey, as the atmosphere in town during this time of year is impeccable. With a live shuttle service running to transport festivalgoers between hotels in Leavenworth and the Toyota Center in Wenatchee, you won’t have to worry about finding parking for your vehicle or driving after having enjoyed the fruits of German breweries. There are scores of authentic German restaurants and brewhouses in the town for you to get your beer and bratwurst fix, and local vendors lined up along Front Street and beyond. You’re sure to have an fun time at the Leavenworth Oktoberfest, but will have to wait a whole year before the next one, so be sure to make it to this year’s festivities before it’s too late!
