Oktoberfest opens Thursday in Whitefish

The fourth annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest opens at 5 p.m. Thursday in Whitefish Depot Park.

Thursday is Locals Night. Everyone with a Flathead County driver’s license gets in free. And if you bring a donation of at least two cans of food (or other nonperishable food items) you will receive a coupon for a free draft beer from Great Northern Brewery.

The offer is limited to one coupon per person and is only valid on the Thursday nights of Oktoberfest, Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. You must be at least 21 and have a legitimate ID to participate.

Each night during Oktoberfest a different group of volunteers donates time to staff the Oktoberfest Bar and the tips received that evening go to the charity of their choice.

Among the organizations volunteering and/or benefiting this year are Habitat for Humanity, Whitefish Pottery (for the Flathead Valley Animal Shelter), the local Knights of Columbus, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Grouse Mountain Lodge (for the Community Center) and the Lodge at Whitefish Lake (for the food bank).