Leavenworth Celebrates the Cooler Months with Oktoberfest & Village of Lights
The beautiful Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth, Washington welcomes in the cooler months of fall and winter with plenty of beery activities. Things kicked off this past weekend with its annual Oktoberfest celebration that takes place again from October 11 – 12 and October 18 – 19.
Then when the winter holidays roll around, Leavenworth will host three unique holiday festivals showcasing over half a million lights throughout the charming Bavarian-themed village. All part of its Village of Lights, the three events – Christmastown, Winter Karneval, and Love from Leavenworth – each provide more than three months of celebration as the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce invites visitors to these nationally recognized festivals.
To get ready for these various events, here’s a rundown on each of them.
Oktoberfest – October 11 – 12 & October 18 – 19
As the Larch trees begin to change color, Leavenworth’s annual Oktoberfest celebration – recently named one of the country’s top 13 outdoor festivals by Outside Magazine – returns from October 11-12 and October 18-19. The Bavarian village’s beer gardens located at the Leavenworth Festhalle and Front Street Park host three stages chock full of scheduled entertainment, plus an area for adults to enjoy lawn and leisure games. Festival-goers will enjoy vendors, food, and beer, as well as a larger Kinderplatz area complete with a 62-foot Ferris wheel, root beer garden, and lots of free games for the kids.
New this year, guests are encouraged to preload special commemorative wristbands for more efficient cashless payments. Interested Oktoberfest-goers can purchase wristbands, tickets, and official festival merchandise in advance and view the entertainment lineup on the official Leavenworth Oktoberfest website https://leavenworth.org/oktoberfest.
Village of Lights: Christmastown – November 29 – December 24
Get in the holiday spirit with the celebration that helped put Leavenworth on the map – Village of Lights: Christmastown. From November 29 through December 24, every day feels like Christmas with activities including live performances, Santa and holiday characters, kid’s crafts, a story corner, and a fully decked-out town with beautiful lights every night of the week. To maximize your Christmastown experience, consider visiting midweek to avoid more popular weekend dates.
Village of Lights: Winter Karneval – Weekends in January
The celebrations don’t stop once Christmas is over. Village of Lights: Winter Karneval – recently named by TimeOut as one of the top three winter carnivals in the USA – is held every weekend in January. Winter Karneval pays tribute to the centuries-old German tradition commonly referred to as ‘Fasching’, a celebration of merriment dating back to the thirteenth century. With live ice carving, fireworks, performances, and a Fashcing pub crawl, visitors can experience authentic traditions while the snowcapped mountains provide a stunning backdrop.
Village of Lights: Love from Leavenworth – February
Throughout February, Leavenworth brings a romantic atmosphere to celebrate love with candlelit dinners, cozy lodging, and shopping promotions under a canopy of Valentine-themed lights. Snuggle up to that special someone and enjoy the “Love from Leavenworth” celebrations including outdoor adventures with unmatched views, local wine and chocolate pairings, and love-themes giveaways.
Leavenworth is located about two hours east from Seattle and nestled at the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains, the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth offers year-round festivities, themed attractions, and outdoor recreation for every season. The town features two breweries, Icicle Brewing and Doghaus Brewery, and one distillery, Blue Spirits Distilling. The Alpine village is a mecca for hiking, rock climbing, rafting, snowshoeing, and skiing. Featuring premier lodging and nationally ranked attractions, Leavenworth is a sought-after destination year-round.
For more information about visiting Leavenworth during the winter festival season, visit www.leavenworth.org/festivals.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.