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), plays 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 and stein holding. Kids’ events are on tap noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29; and festivities culminate Oct. 6 with the World Keg-Hurling Championships and the National Stein-Holding Championships.
New this year: The Firebrand Hotel hosts music by the Western Senators and introduction of Hop Queen candidates, beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 3.