Why Leavenworth

Bavaria in the Cascades

Leavenworth doesn't just host an Oktoberfest. It lives one. The town is genuinely Bavarian in architecture and spirit, and in October it comes fully alive. Schuhplattler dancers in the streets, bands coming directly from Bavaria and Tirol, lederhosen and dirndl everywhere you look. The Cascades rise steeply behind it all with fall colors covering the hillsides. There is simply nowhere else quite like it.

The Festhalle fills with live music and dancing, beer gardens overflow, and Front Street becomes the heart of the celebration.

Pension Anna and Landhaus Erika are less than a two-minute walk from the Festhalle. No shuttles, no parking. Just walk out the front door and you are there.

Families in traditional Bavarian dirndl at Leavenworth Oktoberfest

Guests in traditional Bavarian dress, a tradition that runs all generations deep

The Best Base for Oktoberfest

Steps from Everything

Both properties are a two-minute walk from the Festhalle and Front Street festival area. No shuttles, no parking, no planning. Just walk out the front door.

Hotel Pension Anna

Our main property. 16 rooms with authentic Bavarian furniture, European breakfast included, and a warm family atmosphere. Perfect for couples, families, and anyone who wants to be at the heart of it.

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Landhaus Erika

Adults only (21+). A modern Tirolean chalet across the street, with suites featuring genuine antique Truhen, infrared sauna, steam room, and a more private feel. Popular for couples celebrating the weekend in style.

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What to Expect

Your Festival Guide

Everything you need to know to make the most of Leavenworth Oktoberfest weekend.

The Festhalle: Main Stage

The heart of the festival. Headliners blend Bavarian classics, hit cover songs, and lively dance performances alongside traditional Schuhplattler dancers and authentic Bavarian acts. This is where the energy peaks and the dancing never stops.

Fri: 6 PM – Midnight · Sat: Noon – Midnight · Minors out by 9 PM

The Bierzelt Tent

Step under the cool clear-top tent for high-energy cover bands, dancing, and a polka or two. As the evening comes on, the Ferris wheel lights up right outside. You can see it glowing through the tent walls. A lively mix that keeps the crowd on their feet all night.

Fri: 6 PM – 10 PM · Sat: Noon – 10 PM · Minors out by 9 PM

The Gazebo Stage

Set in Front Street Park with the Bavarian village buildings on one side and the Cascades rising behind, this stage is the most scenic spot in the festival. Traditional music here: accordions, yodelers, and alphorns performed in the open air.

Fri: 6 PM – 10 PM · Sat: Noon – 10 PM · 21+ Only

The Street Fair & The Whole Town

Front Street itself is the festival. The existing shops stay open, restaurants spill onto outdoor seating, and the Art in the Park fair fills the spaces between, with artists selling original and handmade work the kind you won't find in a gift shop. Local breweries, bars, and wineries get fully into the spirit too. During Oktoberfest the whole town participates, and it shows.

Food & Beer

German pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzel, and more from vendors throughout the festival grounds and local restaurants running special menus all weekend. The beer lineup spans both sides of the Atlantic: German imports alongside a custom local Festbier brewed exclusively for Oktoberfest.

Hofbräu München, Paulaner, Ayinger, Spaten, and Weihenstephaner on the import side. On the local side: the Leavenworth Festbier, a collaboration between Icicle Brewing Co., Doghaus Brewery, and Blewett Brewing.

Dress the Part

Lederhosen and dirndl are everywhere at Leavenworth Oktoberfest. You don't have to wear traditional dress, but you will have a lot more fun if you do. It is one of those things you just have to experience.

Family Friendly

Leavenworth Oktoberfest is genuinely great for families. Kids love the opening parade, the Ferris wheel, carousel, face painting, games, and popcorn at the Kinderplatz, a dedicated family area packed with activities for younger visitors.

Which Weekend to Come

All three weekends are extremely busy and sell out lodging months ahead. Weekend 1 draws marathon runners alongside festival-goers, a fun energetic mix. Weekend 2 tends to be the biggest party. Weekend 3 has its own loyal following, regulars who come back year after year and know exactly how to do it right.

Full Festival Schedule & Tickets at leavenworth.org →

From Erika & Martin

The Music. The Dancers. Why We Love This Festival.

We've been watching these performances for years: the bands, the Schuhplattler troupes, the acts you don't know to look for until someone points them out. Here's what we're looking forward to this year, and the moments we make sure not to miss.

2026 Lineup

Exciting Announcements Coming

The full 2026 lineup hasn't been announced yet, but we've been hearing things. Rumor has it a well-known band from Tirol, Austria is making the journey this year, and more announcements are expected. Watch leavenworth.org/oktoberfest for updates as they come.

In the meantime, scroll right for our personal picks: the performers we've been watching for years and never skip.

Our Personal Picks

What We Never Miss

After all these years we still have our favorites. These are the performers we make sure to catch every single year.

S-Bahn Band Richard and his band from Canada bring a kind of controlled chaos to the Festhalle. The wizard hat is hard to miss. The vocals are harder to forget. A polka variety act that consistently produces the biggest dance floor of the weekend.

Enzian Schuhplattler / Tirolean Dancers These two troupes alternate years, so you'll see one or the other. Either way, what you're watching is the real thing: traditional dances from Bavaria and Tirol, performed with genuine skill and footwork. Worth stopping for.

Edelweiss Dance Academy Leavenworth's own youth folk dance group. Watching kids perform these traditional dances with real focus and precision never gets old. We have a personal stake in this one: our daughter is a year away from eligibility and has already told us she wants in.

Max Kyllonen Max lives in Leavenworth but spends part of every year in Bavaria deepening his craft on the Steirische Harmonika, the button accordion of the Alps. He may be the only American ever invited to perform at the Stanglwirt singers' gathering, held at a 450-year-old Gasthof near Kitzbühel. Find out when he's playing and don't miss it.

For the complete lineup, set times, and ticketing information:

Full Schedule & Lineup at leavenworth.org →

Before You Go

Practical Information

Festival Dates

The first three weekends of October. Exact dates announced each spring at leavenworth.org/oktoberfest. Weekend 1 is typically the first weekend of October.

Getting Here

2.5 hours from Seattle
4.5 hours from Portland
3 hours from Spokane
Parking fills quickly. Arrive Friday.

Tickets

Tickets required for all festival venues, including the Gazebo Stage at Front Street Park
Online tickets can sell out. Buy in advance.
Day-of tickets sometimes available at the gate, but lines can be long

Tickets & Schedule at leavenworth.org →

Tips from Erika & Martin

Book early. Rooms sell out for all three weekends.
Arrive Friday and settle in before the weekend begins
Get your dirndl or lederhosen sorted before you arrive
Reserve dinner on arrival

Insider tip: Arrive Thursday or extend your stay through Monday. Either way you get a fall day in Leavenworth without the festival crowds. Crisp air, fall colors covering the valley and hillsides, the river path quiet and golden. Take a morning hike, walk the river, or wander Waterfront Park with a coffee. The Cascades are at their best this time of year.

Leavenworth Oktoberfest — Stay Two Minutes from the Festhalle