Whitefish celebrates the season with Oktoberfest
<p>Dave Nielsen of Vauxhall, Alberta, sports a feathered cap during the 2013 Oktoberfest at Depot Park in Whitefish. The Great Northwest Oktoberfest — featuring authentic German food, beer, music and games — returns to Whitefish this year for two weekends, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and Oct. 6-8.</p>
The leaves are changing colors and the air outside is getting more brisk: It’s time for sweaters, pumpkins and Oktoberfest.
The annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest is back in Whitefish for two weekends — Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 and Oct. 6 through 8. The event, hosted by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, features authentic German beer, food, music and games that the entire community can enjoy.
All of the festivities will take place under the Oktoberfest Big Top in Depot Park, at the corner of Spokane Avenue and Depot Street, in Whitefish. Admission is $5 per day for all-day access, and children younger than 12 accompanied by an adult are free. Locals Night is Thursday, Sept. 29 — Flathead Valley residents (with photo ID) get in for free. Bavarian Business Night is Oct. 6, and anyone with a business card from 5 to 7 p.m. get in free. Senior Day is Saturday, Oct. 8, when participants older than 60 get free admission until 5 p.m.
Both weekends will feature a host of traditional contests, including log sawing, keg throwing, stein holding, brat eating and chicken dancing. There is no additional entry fee for these competitions, and anyone is welcome to participate. Sign ups begin a half-hour before each contest at the table near the Oktoberfest stage.
The crowning of the 2016 Hop Queen will be on Thursday, Oct. 6. The third annual Hop Queen competition offers participants the chance to win cash prizes. The Waitress Races will also be held Oct. 6, beginning at 9 p.m. Amateur and professional three-member wait-staff teams can compete in the relay races for a $250 team cash prize. Details for these competitions have yet to be released, but rules, fees and entry forms will be available at www.whitefishoktoberfest.com closer to the date.
No Oktoberfest celebration would be complete without the polka. Both weekends will feature live music under the Oktoberfest Big Top.
The first weekend will feature music by Europa (www.theeuropaband.com), providing European folk music, German polkas and traditional drinking songs. The second weekend features the Western Senators (www.westernsenators.com), with a mix of polka and Western swing.
The Flathead’s own Bavarian Echoes will play both Saturday afternoons during Oktoberfest. The group’s polkas and authentic alpine horns are always crowd-pleasers.
The food and drink offered at Oktoberfest could practically make for a story in itself. Piggyback BBQ returns this year with a host of German favorites, including Lower Valley Processing’s locally made bratwurst.
This year’s menu includes Kassler Rippchen (German-style brined and smoked pork loin), Sauerbraten (German-style pot roast made with ginger snaps), Hendle-Chicken (half of a savory rubbed rotisserie roasted chicken) and Wurstplatte (with locally handmade Flathead-raised elk, German or traditional beer-style bratwursts), all offered with sauerkraut, sweet and sour kraut, sautéed apples and German potato salad. A variety of bratwurst, soups and sandwiches will also be available, as well as a more kid-friendly option of hot dogs and mac and cheese.
Whitefish’s Great Northern Brewing Co. will be serving beer throughout the event, including Oktoberfest Lager, Wheatfish (Hefeweizen), Fred’s Schwarzbier, Jorts Munich Lager (first weekend only), Frog Hop Wet-Hopped Pale Ale (second weekend only).
Four German beers, brewed by Hofbräu, and one Austrian beer, brewed by Stiegl, will also be available. Beer drinkers will be required to show ID.
A selection of wine, soda and water will be available for non-beer drinkers.
The Great Northwest Oktoberfest’s hours vary: Thursdays and Fridays, Sept. 29 and 30 and Oct. 6 and 7, the event will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. On Saturdays, Oct. 1 and 8, the Big Top will open at noon and close at 11 p.m.
An ATM will be available on the premises during the event. Parking is limited near Depot Park — walking, biking and carpooling are recommended. Please observe all parking signs and restrictions in the area. No pets are allowed in the Oktoberfest Big Top or beer garden.
For a detailed schedule of events and more information, visit www.whitefishoktoberfest.com or www.facebook.com/greatnorthwestoktoberfest; or call the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce at 406-862-3501.
Entertainment editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.