Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest to return for three weekends in October

LEAVENWORTH – Leavenworth’s annual Oktoberfest will return this year for three weekends of beer gardens and entertainment. The event will span Oct. 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19.

The beer gardens, located at the Leavenworth Festhalle and Front Street Park, will host three stages with a schedule packed with entertainment. The festival will feature polka variety bands, such as the Canadian S Bahn Band, the Californian West Coast Prost, and the Austrian band Die Jungen Weststeirer, playing both Polka and Oberkreiner Oktoberfest music. Austrian band Pech und Schwefel and Manuela Horn, the Yodelin’ Queen, will also grace the stage.

Enzian Schuhplattler of Seattle and the Tirolean Dancers of Oregon will serve up traditional German-style dances. The PNW-based cover band Aqua-Nets and rock band the Hosen Ones are expected to keep the party going.

Fan favorites such as Smilin Scandinavians, AlpenFolk, The Europa Band, The Ted Lunka Polka Band, European Takeout, the Leavenworth Alphorns, and more will provide well-loved traditional Oktoberfest music.

Festival-goers will get to enjoy vendors, food, and beer, as well as a larger Kinderplatz area complete with a 62-foot Ferris wheel, a rootbeer garden, and lots of free games for the kids. This year, the festival will have a special area for adults to enjoy lawn and leisure games.

The festival will also be introducing a new streamlined payment system utilizing a commemorative smartcard fabric wristband. The wristband offers tap-and-pay purchases for a cashless event. Those wishing to use cash will be able to pre-load their wristband. Attendees will also have the option to pay via credit/debit or mobile pay app.

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth is produced by the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, which also organizes Christmastown, Winter Karneval, Love from Leavenworth, and Maifest.

Additional entertainment support will be provided by sponsors Andreas Keller Restaurant and the Rhein Haus. München Haus will be sponsoring the Kinderplatz. Love Leavenworth Vacation Rentals, SOUTH, and Sleeping Lady Resort are supporting efforts to make Oktoberfest a zero-waste event.

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth was recently named one of the top 13 outdoor festivals in the country by Outside Magazine.

“A lot of towns throw Oktoberfests, but nobody pulls it off quite like Leavenworth, a Bavarian-themed village in central Washington’s Cascade Range. This Oktoberfest is so popular, it’s spread over three weekends,” the publication wrote.

More information about the event can be found at leavenworth.org