Get your Oktoberfest buzz in Southern California

Oktoberfest kicks off Saturday in Munich, Germany, with the lord mayor of the city tapping the first keg. We in young America can’t hold a candle to this massive European celebration that’s been held for 175 years, but we can have fun trying. This weekend, north and south on the U.S. West Coast, glasses will be frothy and fine folks will get tipsy at the Fremont Oktoberfest in Seattle and the 14th Annual San Diego Festival of Beer (the latter occurring tonight only).

But if you’re not making it to one of those events (or don’t trust yourself to find your way home from them), plan a venture to one of these more local fests instead. Most are already underway, but in true Oktoberfest fashion, the parties will be lasting a while.

Torrance: Oktoberfest at Alpine Village, which claims to be the largest and oldest Oktoberfest in Southern California, is going now through Oct. 19. The beer garden, where the party is held, holds up to 3,000 drinkers and is livened by a Bavarian oompah band, traditional dancers, German food and beer, beer, beer. A schedule of events is not currently posted on the website, but the festival takes place on Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m., and Sundays, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; admission is $5 per person. Call (310) 327-4384 for further information.

Montrose: The 31st Montrose Oktoberfest 2008, organized by Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, takes place Oct. 4. It will be a free, family-oriented street fair with German music, games, carnival rides, costume contests and German food.

Huntington Beach: Running now through Nov. 2, Oktoberfest is being celebrated at the popular Old World Village restaurant, bakery and market — the place in Orange County apparently for the likes of schnitzel and sauerbraten. Oktoberfest there means music, food, dancing and, yes, beer. Check the Old World website for times and prices, which vary.

Big Bear: The 38th Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is happening on weekends, now through Oct. 25. Watch a polka band; catch a log-sawing contest; drink many varieties of beer. Tickets are $12 for adults; $6 per child (12 and under) on Saturday; $6 for adults and free for children on Sunday. See BigBearEvents.com for purchasing information and a schedule of events.

– Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Old World Village Oktoberfest entertainers Klaustaler Band; OldWorld.ws]

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This entry was posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:22 am by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Fall, Festival, Los Angeles, Orange County, Pacific Northwest, San Diego, Washington. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.