5 Oktoberfests Not to Miss In the Seattle Area

Gear up, snitzel and Märzen fans: it's Oktoberfest time. Traditionally a sixteen-day festival, Oktoberfest is a two-hundred-year-old German celebration of beer, food, music, and dance. Though our local versions are usually shorter, they're still uber-festive (not to mention tasty). Here in Seattle, we usually think of the three-day Fremont Oktoberfest first, which happened last weekend. This year, though, Eater wanted to extend the season and share details about some of the lesser discussed 'fests we like best—including the three-weekend-long celebration in our area's own resident Bavarian village, and the moblie-based Trucktoberfest.

So get out your leiderhosen and dirndl and hit up these five prime Oktoberfests still to come in the Seattle area over the next few weeks.

KIRKLAND OKTOBERFEST

When: Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27

Where: 25 Lakeshore Plaza Drive; Kirkland, WA

Cost: $25 advance weekend pass, $10 advance general admission, $15 day of event (food and drink not included, 21+ with valid ID, 13 breweries)

With a German-style biergarten, multiple entertainment stages, a number of competitions, and lots of sausage, this Oktoberfest prides itself on being especially authentic. Inside the biergarten find the Festhalle (think long tables and arm-in-arm swaying), Sporthaus (stein hoisting, keg rolling, beer pong), and Sausagehaus, wherethe slogan is, "There's no such thing as too much sausage." Beers on offer include classic German staples like Hacker-Pschorr and Hofbräu, as well as local craft brews from Black Raven, Flycaster and more. Grab a ticket here.

Salmon Bay Eagles Oktoberfest

When: Saturday, September 26, 3 to 10 p.m.

Where: 5216 20^th Ave NW; Ballard

Cost: $17 advance tickets (includes three 5 oz. drink tokens, 21+ with ID, 11 breweries)

This Oktoberfest celebration may be small, but it packs a punch. Eleven local breweries and cideries will be present including Ballard standards Hale's and Maritime, and newcomers Hilliard's, Peddler, and Locust Cider. There will be live music from rockabilly band The Black Crabs, the accordion outfit Smize Queen (last year they even turned out some Nirvana covers), and burlesque performances from Faye Doe Doe, Florence Wetmore and Czech Mate. Plus: Ballard Beer Company is sponsoring a Best Dressed Bavarian Costume Contest, proceeds benefiting Friends of the Children. If you want to get all your Oktoberfest celebration in one day, this is your ticket. But you better get it fast; last year it sold out.

LEAVENWORTH OKTOBERFEST

When: Friday, October 2 to Saturday, October 3; 9 to 10; 16 to 17

Where: Front Street; Leavenworth, WA

Cost: $10 Friday $20 Saturday (food and drink not included, minors allowed until 9pm, 8 breweries)

Get in the car and get on over to Leavenworth for three full weekends of beer, sausage and live music. Brews available in the Bier Stube include German pours from Hofbräu, Paulaner and Ayinger, as well as Washington craft brews from Alpine and Icicle Creek. Kids are welcome until 9 p.m., and the Kinderplatz offers a free climbing wall and bouncy house. The beautiful fall drive over the Cascades is a special bonus. Pick up tickets here.

TRUCKTOBERFEST

When: Saturday, October 3, to Sunday, October 4

Where: 6046 W Lake Sammamish Parkway; Redmond, WA

Cost: $25 advance tickets, $35 day of event, (includes tasting glass and seven tasting tokens, food not included) $10 designated driver pass (includes non-alcoholic drink voucher, 21+ with valid ID, 30+ breweries)

Presented by Mobile Food Rodeo, Trucktoberfest is a giant celebration of local cuisine and craft beer. With thirty-five food trucks and over sixty beers on tap, this version of Oktoberfest is the least traditional of the bunch, but what it lacks in leiderhosen, it makes up for in a myriad selection of beers, eats, and live music. There will be a few German pours from Ayinger and Radaberger, but the majority of drafts will be Northwest craft brews from the likes of Ninkasi, Elysian, Black Raven and Silver City. Ezell's Chicken, Biscuit Box and Veraci Pizza are just a few of the many food options. For those who care less about a German feel and want to try out as many different styles of food and beer as possible, this is the one. Find tickets here.

OKTOBERFEST NORTHWEST

When: Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 11

Where: 110 9^th Ave SW; Puyallup, WA

Cost: $10 weekend advance tickets, $12 day of event, $5 Sunday (food and drink not included, children allowed until 7 pm, 5 breweries)

Bratwurst, schnitzel, and strudel will abound at this traditional celebration, not to mention Hacker-Pschorr, Warsteiner, and Hofbräu on draft in the Festhalle. Entertainment will include live music, the Chicken Dance, and wiener dog races. The Sport Haus also has big screen TVs for watching the game, or if you want to play your own, there's beer pong and corn hole toss. This Oktoberfest is a perfect family pick. Reserve tickets here.

-Caleb Thompson