Grab Your Steins, Because Oktoberfest Is Here

While Austin is around 5,400 miles away from Munich, there's a little bit of Germany headed our way in the coming weeks. No, not Hasselhoff's "Hooked On A Feeling", thankfully. The wonderful pub food, delicious beers, and silly accordian music of Oktoberfest will hit four different Central Texas venues on upcoming weekends, so dig out your lederhosen and start humming "Country Roads" or "Hey Baby" (the most popular songs at the Munich event, bar none), because it's about that time.

Oktoberfest Events In And Around Austin:

Bee Cave Oktoberfest - September 23: A new and early entrant in this year's activities, Bee Caves Farmers Market will host a celebration tomorrow! The event is from 3-10pm and features Paulaner and Spaten brews, live music from the Tubameisters and The Burnett Jones band, and Bee Cave area restaurant food stalls. ($10)

Fredericksburg Oktoberfest - October 6-8: The grandaddy of Texas Oktoberfest celebrations, Fredericksburg is an old hand (26 years and counting) at this event. The town center fills with beer tents and a festival atmosphere, and most area accomodations sell out several weeks in advance. The town is only 70 miles from Austin, though, so parties with a designated driver can do a day trip. Activities include
30 beers to sample, an artisan tent, a 'kinderpark' with rock walls and jumping castles, and polka and waltz dancing contests. Foods like strudel, potato pancakes, and kraut will also be available to help line your stomach for that last pint. ($5/day)

Ginger Man - Mid-October TBA: A simple beer-based celebration on the back patio, the Ginger Man is always a good choice for quality German beers like Schneider Weisse, perhaps the best beer ever. The Ginger Man will essentially pour pints, host an oompah band, and cook a limited bar menu of German specialties. Easy enough. (No cover)

North by Northwest - October 21-22: North Austin's best brewpub NxNW has hosted an Oktoberfest tent for five years, and this year the tent opens at the early hour of 11am. A specially brewed Oktoberfest beer will be poured, menu selections will include bratwurst and pretzels, and proceeds will go toward the Captital Area Food Bank. There will even be some kiddie activities so that you can sip your pint in peace. Well, not in peace, exactly, since there will be loud polka music and such. (Price TBA)

Image via Tom and Beth Thornton. Enjoy Oktoberfest, but remember, buying that fourth liter is always a bad choice.