Autumn is here and as the leaves turn golden brown and eager skiers and snowboards wait for the first good snow fall, others are likely not looking forward to the end of summer. The skies will darken earlier each day and the air will once again lose it’s warmth (at least in Colorado).
But fear not! The Fall is a great time for local festivals like the Denver Food & Wine Classic as well as international ones, like Oktoberfest. With freshly brewed beers, warming food and great company, there’s no better way to say farewell to summer. This year, why not even use some frequent flyer miles to travel to Germany for the authentic Oktoberfest celebration!
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is probably the most famous and well-celebrated festival in Fall. Held annually in Munich, Oktoberfest lasts for about 18 days with more than 5 million celebrators in Germany alone. But this festival of beer and hearty food is not just celebrated in Germany, Oktoberfest is internationally observed. Brazil boasts the second largest celebration with over 700,000 visitors every year. Similarly, most major cities have an Oktoberfest celebration though not typically for the full 18 days.
If you are interested in the real-deal, Oktoberfest vacations are often offered as a packaged deal which can include airfare, hotel stay in Munich, a bi-lingual guide and daily breakfast, all for a flat rate under $2000!
At Oktoberfest in Munich you can expect daily serving of beer, brewed only in Munich, sales booths for souvenirs, carnivals and rides. The festival starts on September, 17th as the “lord mayor” of Munich taps the first keg and lasts until October 3rd. Arriving early each day will help get you good seating; for a full schedule of Oktoberfest check out the official site.
Local Denver Festivals
In Colorado alone there are dozens of local fall festivals to see. Here are a couple of crowd favorites:
Breckenridge Oktoberfest- On September 17th come check out Oktoberfest in Breckenridge for local brews, fall foliage, parties and collectable steins. Check it out
Denver Food & Wine Classic –
Thousands of people tasting delicious samples of cuisine from 30 of Denver’s best restaurants and over 400 premium wines. You can also enjoy a wine auction, chef competitions and culinary exhibitions.
Great American Beer Festival-
46,000+ beer enthusiasts from all over the world sampling one-ounce beers in the Colorado Convention Center.
National/International Festivals
The Mid-Autumn Festival-
This Festival has Chinese origins and is based on the equinox of the moon (when the moon is most full). The “Moon Festival,” as it’s refereed to, is a legal holiday in several countries, celebrating the end of the harvesting season.
This celebration has a history dating to 221BC and though it is traditionally celebrated among Asian families by moon gazing and the buying of “moon cakes,” the celebration of the Mid-Autumn festivals is also huge in San Francisco’s China Town. Check it out
Regardless of where you live, there is bound to be a fall festival you can take part in. Most major cities will offer beer deals and sampling tours in honor of Oktoberfest and many China-towns across the nation will be hosting the enjoyable alternative to the German celebration, the Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival!
If you get a chance to check out these, let us know how it was! Send pictures and details and we may post your advice in subsequent blogs, Twitters or Facebook posts.
