It’s no secret that traditional Oktoberfest in Germany starts in September.
So the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts did the smart thing and just renamed it. Thus we get Septoberfest. The fourth annual celebration of seasonal food and beer is Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at WICA (565 Camano Ave., Langley). Seattle food writer and cookbook author Cynthia Nims will be making homemade pretzels and there will be a number of beers from local craft breweries on tap.
Here’s a look at the other upcoming Oktoberfest events:
- The second annual Oktoberfest Monroe is Friday through Sunday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. Celebrate all things German with a Munich-inspired Festhalle Biergarten, authentic entertainment, including the famous hammerschlagen, and traditional German foods. Activities for families include a root beer garden, a scavenger hunt for kids, free face painting and pumpkin decorating and a variety of live entertainment. Open to all ages until 7 p.m. each night, after which it becomes a 21-and-over event.
- Bellingham Oktoberfest is Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Ave., Bellingham). There will be more than 60 German and autumn-style beers to taste as well as bratwurst. There will also be live German music and costume contests. Tickets include a commemorative glass, five taste tokens and can be purchased at the door or at Boundary Bay Brewery, Kulshan Brewery, Chuckanut Brewery, Elizabeth Station, Village Books, Community Food Co-ops.
- Fremont Oktoberfest is in downtown Fremont Friday through Saturday and includes a tasting garden, a 5K run and a Miss Buxom Contest. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. on Friday and the gates open at 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 for entrance only and $25 with five taste tokens and $30 with 10 taste tokens. Festivalgoers 21-and-under are free and are welcome in the tasting garden.
- Beer &Brat Night at the Schack, Thursday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. Enjoy craft beer and hard cider from local breweries and bratwurst, and watch glassblowing demonstrations by artist Granite Calimpong as the evening kicks off Schack-toberfest. Tickets are $25 or $20 for Schack members and include a souvenir pint glass.
- Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest celebration is the first three Fridays and Saturdays in October. There will be plenty of beer and bratwurst and there will be a keg tapping at 1 p.m. every Saturday. Tickets are $10 on Friday and $20 on Saturday and children and active military are free.
- The first annual Yachtoberfest is on the historic Thea Foss Waterway esplanade (1715 Dock St, Tacoma) on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. There will be boats, beers and bratwurst. Proceeds benefit a number of organizations that work to promote and improve Tacoma’s waterfront. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance or $15 at the door.
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