This weekend the Bend Oktoberfest returns to downtown to bring a little bit of Bavaria to Central Oregon. The annual event is put on by the Downtown Bend Business Association as a fundraiser for the beautification of the downtown district, and part of downtown will be closed for the festivities.

It’s a family-friendly affair, and among the activities you’ll find wiener dog races, Oktoberfest mini-Olympics (which includes costume contest, beer stein race, and more), and the Bend Beer Choir—yes, there is such a thing. And of course, there will be beer.

Local breweries will be on hand to pour mostly seasonally-appropriate beers during the event:

• 10 Barrel Brewing: Coast Trip and Smooth Talker
• Avid Cider: Apricot Cider and Blackberry Cider
• Bend Brewing Company: Burn Out Smoked ALT and German Tropic Pines IPA
• Boneyard Beer: Camper Van Kolsch and Incredible Pulp
• Braveheart Brewing: Frogman Imperial Red and POW-MIA Pilsner
• Crux Fermentation Project: Cast Out and Marzen
• Deschutes Brewery: Fresh Haze and Hopzeit Autumn IPA
• Silver Moon Brewing: Penumbra and Von Trapp Haus
• Sunriver Brewing: Festbier Lager and Ripping NW Ale
• Three Creeks Brewing: Helles Canyon Lager and Vienna Lager
• Worthy Brewing: Hoppenwolf and Sports Pils

In a nice bit of synchronicity this year, the Bend Oktoberfest takes place on the start of the official date (the 22nd) that the barrels are tapped in Munich—too bad the Bend version can’t also run through October 7!

The days and hours are Friday, September 21 from 3pm to 10pm, and Saturday the 22nd from noon to 10pm. It’s free to attend, but if you want to drink beer, you’ll need a wristband, stein, and tokens. Here are the prices:

• Plastic Stein + Beer Token = $8.00
• Ceramic Stein + Beer Token = $14.00
• Beer Tokens $5.00/each (good for a full pour — no tasters)
• Kombucha Tokens $4.00
• Plastic Stein only (no token) $5.00
• Ceramic Stein only (no token) $10.00
• Wine tokens $7.00/each   (*No wine glass purchase necessary*)

Prost!