Leavenworth Oktoberfest and Autumn Leaf
Labor Day may signal the end of Summer, but Fall is just the beginning of the big festivals in Leavenworth.
The end of September bring us Leavenworth’s oldest festival – the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival. The highlight of Autumn Leaf is a parade through the town with floats and groups from all over the state. Of course there will be plenty of folks in traditional dirndl and lederhosen too – local Swiss, Austrian, and German groups always seem to have a presence in the parade. This year the parade is on September 27 and begins at noon. I am a big fan of Scottish pipe bands like the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band, but there will also be traditional German bands and even Kerry Christiansen, Master Yodeler. Click here for the full schedule at this year’s Autumn Leaf Festival in Leavenworth.
More famous these days, is the larger Oktoberfest, which is modeled after the traditional German Oktoberfest and is getting closer to the famed event in Munich every year. This years Oktoberfest in Leavenworth is the first 3 weekends in October.
Oktoberfest is really about the beer, and Leavenworth’s festival is no different. Each Saturday at 1 pm Mayor Rob Eaton will ceremoniously tap the beer keg. Breweries sponsoring the event include :Warsteiner, Paulaner, St. Pauli Girl, Bitburger, Alpine Brewing Co. and Ayinger.
The three venues will be the FestHalle, the Tanz Halle and the Bier Stube.
The first entertainers take the stage Friday October 3rd. A full Oktoberfest schedule for 2008 can be found here.
Leavenworth has also worked hard to make it a kid friendly environment, despite all the beer drinking. I have always loved seeing the kids get excited about the German bands and all the dancing. Who doesn’t love the Chicken Dance? Additionally, there is a Kinderplatz set up with a climbing wall, clowns, and all sorts of bouncy toys for the kids with aversion to lederhosen and accordians. There will also be a parade each Saturday at noon.
