The Great Northwest Oktoberfest

enjoy two big weekends of authentic German food, beer, music, dancing, and some crazy contests. Europa delivers European-flavored folk and dance music on the first weekend and Canada’s top polka band, The Western Senators (from Ottawa), play toe-tapping polkas, waltzes, oom-pah and killer western swing on the second; the Bavarian Echoes perform each Saturday afternoon. The large beer tent boasts plenty of table seating, a stage and dance floor. The array of contests includes log sawing, keg hurling, stein holding, and brat eating (the “wurst” minute of your life). Whitefish Waitress Races, at 9 p.m. Oct. 5, culminate with the crowning of the Hop Queen; . Kids’ events are on tap noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30; and festivities culminate Oct. 7 with the World Keg-Hurling Championships and the National Stein-Holding Championships.