A family-friendly festival that celebrates beer? Sign us up! With a proud tradition of brewing excellent beers, it’s only natural that Chippewa Falls has hosted Oktoberfest – a family-friendly German heritage event in the Chippewa Valley for 20 years.
Oktoberfest in Munich lasts from the 17th of September to the first Sunday in October or October 3rd. While a two-week long party is ideal for a large city like Munich (where the festival comes from), the Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest is held over two days for everyone to enjoy. This year we’re holding it on the 15th and 16th of September with plenty of events for the whole family.
Oktoberfest in September:
No, we haven’t got our wires crossed. Oktoberfest was originally held in October but was moved to September as th e festival got longer since the days are longer. Interestingly, the first Oktoberfest parade was held in 1810 to honor the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The beer breweries only joined in as late as 1887 and today the parade consists of Oktoberfest staff and breweries escorting the beer to the festival site.
Kicking The Fest Off:
Oktoberfest can’t officially begin until a keg of beer is tapped after it is paraded to the festival grounds. At Chippewa Falls, the Golden Keg procession starts at the Leinenkugel grounds ending at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds where the keg is tapped. Keep an ear out for the words, “O’ Zapft is!” which means “the keg is tapped!”. They signal that the festivities have officially started.
Familientreff (Family Gathering):
Oktoberfest is all about celebrating togetherness and family. That’s why you can look forward to plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy together. You’ll find face painting and magic shows. Get spooned with the The Spoon Man or be enthralled by Cale the Juggler. There’s even a Kinder sauerkraut eating contest for the competitive little foodies out there.
The Familientreff stage is also a great place to introduce children to the joys of polka music with performances from the likes of Pint Sized Polkas and the Danville Folk or join Crazy George and his accordion for some sing along fun.
Music:
You can’t really have a festival without tons of music. With four stages, Oktoberfest Chippewa Falls has lots to offer. Enjoy authentic classic country vocals with The Rhythm Playboys or rock out to the Big Deeks at the Leinie Lodge Stage. Groove to Eau Claire’s funky, jazzy Weapons of Brass Destruction and work up an appetite by dancing to music by the Home Grown Tomatoes at the Festival Foods Oktoberfest Stage. Be entertained as the Oktoberfest Committee members get together and perform the Glockenspiel at the Glockenspiel stage, and a whole lot more.
Competitions:
The light-hearted competitions provide plenty of wholesome entertainment for participants and audiences alike. Give your arms a workout with the Stein Holding Competition. All you have to do is hold a beer stein full of water at shoulder level with your arms extended longer than your competitors. In case you’re wondering why the steins aren’t full of beer – it’s to prevent competitors from trying to have a cheeky sip to lighten the load. Just kidding! The steins are heavy, and we don’t want anyone wasting precious brews when their arms drop out of exhaustion. If that sounds like hard work, try your hand at the keg rolling or sauerkraut eating competitions.
Food:
Every good gathering has food – Oktoberfest has lots of it. Find traditional foods like hendl, dampfnudeln, and blaukohl or snack on scrumptious pretzels and kaiserschmarrn (raisin pancakes) from some of the best food vendors around the county and beyond.
This is just a quick look at all the fun Oktoberfest has in store for you. Buy your wristbands for a day or the whole weekend to experience it for yourself. You can find a complete schedule of events on our website.
Mark your calendars and join us at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Grounds for a celebration like none other!