Accio Oktoberfest!

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, August 27th, 2010

You know that autumn has begun when Sam Adams Oktoberfest starts appearing on draft and in the grocery stores.  They don’t call it the Seasonal brew for mere kicks and giggles.  The time is ripe for festivals to celebrate German culture – from libations to sausages.

1. Lovettsville Oktoberfest
2. September 24-27

The 17^th Annual Oktoberfest of Lovettsville kicks off Friday evening with live music and dinner.  Saturday the party lasts all day with a pancake breakfast in the morning and various vendors throughout the downtown area.  Look for the main tent for dancing, Spatenbrau beer and a variety of German cuisine.  Monday, the festival concludes with a Scramble Golf Tournament.  The event is FREE entry for the public, with food and drink purchases available throughout.  Free parking will be located outside the town center with an optional trolley service to access the festival. 

1. Fredericksburg Area Oktoberfest
2. September 24-26 (Friday 5-10p.m., Saturday 11a.m.-7p.m., Sunday noon-4p.m.)

This festival is brought to you by the Blue & Gray Brewing Company and features their seasonal brews as well as some handmade German food and pastries.  Free samples of Blue & Gray’s Oktoberfest will be provided as long as supplies last, while larger portions will be available for purchase.  Be sure to catch performances from the live oompah band continuing throughout the weekend or the hands-on pretzel making event on Sunday.  Spotsylvania County Business Park, 3300 Dill Smith Drive, Fredericksburg.

1. Oktoberfest at Fort Belvoir
2. October 1-4^th

Bratwurst, Knockwurst, Sauerkraut and Brotchen – oh my!  And thankfully there will be a traditional Volksmarch starting at 10a.m. on October 3^rd to walk it all off through the trails of Fort Belvoir’s natural habitats.  Admission is free with food, drink and German clothing available for purchase. The festivities will be held near the fort at the intersection of Route 1 and Backlick Road.

1. Vienna’s Oktoberfest
2. October 2, 11a.m.-7p.m.

Vienna is turning its Historic Town Green into a German Beer Garden for the day complete with brews, bratwurst, a German band and a festival marketplace.  The event is free admission with food and drink purchases available separately.  Vienna Historic Town Green, 144 Maple Avenue East, Vienna.

1. Oktoberfest Strasburg Style
2. October 2, noon-8p.m.

Enjoy a day of beer, wine, Bavarian food, petting zoos, pumpkin decorating and racing a duck when the sun goes down.  You read right – you have the opportunity to compete for swiftness with a duck who might have the advantage should it choose to abstain from the day’s drinking.  Strasburg Chamber of Commerce, 157 North Holliday Street, Strasburg.

1. Capitol City Brewing Company of Shirlington
2. October 2, noon-7p.m.

It’s a one day only event featuring German food, music and more than 30 breweries handing out 4 oz samples.  Tickets are $25 if you want to sample the beers or free for the non-drinkers. The festival will be held at The Village at Shirlington, 4001 Campbell Avenue, Arlington.

1. Reston Oktoberfest
2. October 8-10 (Friday 3-11p.m., Saturday 11a.m.-11-p.m., Sunday noon-7p.m.)

Featuring fall brews and food from local vendors, the festival will be held in the town center. Food and beverage tickets will be the key to the feasting – available for $1 each or sheets of 24 tickets for $20. Enjoy carnival rides and live music from the pavilion.  Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston.

1. Oktoberfest at Lake Anna Winery
2. October 16, 5-9p.m

Whether you’ve happened to miss all of the above festivals or you are trying to break a record by attending them all, it’s not too late to celebrate with Lake Anna Winery of Spotsylvania. Enjoy a German meal and the music of Mike Wheelehan.  Tickets are $30 per person and proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.  Call 540-895-5085 for reservations.  Lake Anna Winery, 5621 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania.

-Jamel Daugherty

Tags: blue and gray brewing company, Capitol City Brewing Company, german food, Lake Anna Winery, Oktoberfest