ILLUSTRATIONS: Adam Krueger
It's September in Portland, and that could mean only one thing: Oktoberfest.
We've decided it's best not to question why there are so many Oktoberfest celebrations in Oregon—or why they all start the second weekend in September—and instead seize the opportunity to drink a shit-ton of beer. You'll have plenty of opportunities to don your lederhosen, scarf a wienerschnitzel and swing that beer stein to polka tunes all the way to October.
Lompoc Oktoberfest
Fifth Quadrant Brewery and Sidebar, 3901 N Williams Ave., 288-3996. Noon-8 pm Saturday, Sept. 11. Free. 21+.
This is local brewer Lompoc's first year throwing a festival, although it's always had a release party for its Oktoberfest lager. Event planners promise a low-key get-together—like a backyard gathering or a tailgate party.
Beer: Lompoc Oktoberfest lager, plus the normal lineup, including bourbon barrel-aged Pagan Porter, C-Note Imperial Pale Ale and Proletariat Red.
Food: A German barbecue with sausages and potato salad.
Music: A traditional accordionist playing polka tunes.
Other offerings: "Open play cornhole."
Widmer Oktoberfest
Widmer Brothers Brewing, 929 N Russell Ave., 281-2437. 3-11:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 11. Free; souvenir mug purchase required for sampling. 21+.
The biggest 21-and-over Oktoberfest in the city—last year 5,000 attended and 100 half-barrels of suds were consumed.
Beer: Widmer Okto, plus Widmer staples like Hefeweizen, Drifter Pale Ale, Drop Top Amber Ale and Broken Halo IPA
Food: German-style brats, chicken schnitzel wraps, kraut and pretzels made by the Widmer Gasthaus.
Music: Accordion rock band Those Darn Accordions, Irish punk band Amadan, junkbox blues duo Hillstomp and more.
Other offerings: Cornhole competition and Hair M chair massages.
Mount Angel Oktoberfest
5 N Garfield St., Mount Angel. 11 am-midnight Thursday-Saturday, 11 am-9 pm Sunday, Sept. 16-19. Free, various cover charges for gartens. Festival passes $4-$25.
Mount Angel hosts the oldest and largest Oktoberfest in Oregon. The town was settled by German pioneers in the 1800s. It has a glockenspiel clock tower—'nuff said.
Beer: German beers from Beck's, Paulaner, Spaten and Franziskaner Weissbier. American micro and macro beers too.
Food: Alpine food booths.
Music: German Bavarian band Original Donaumusikanten, American German band Die Schlauberger, Northwest polka band Polkatones and more. Also, yodeling.
Other offerings: Bavarian folk dancing, a "Cruz-n Car Show," wiener-dog races and a petting zoo.
Oaks Park Oktoberfest
Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, 233-5777. 3 pm-midnight Friday, 11 am-midnight Saturday, 11 am-7 pm Sunday, Sept. 24-26. $2-$5.
For 20 years, Oaks Park has provided Portlanders with the best (and perhaps only?) place to roller skate and enjoy German culture with the whole family.
Beer: A few varieties from Paulaner Brewery in Germany.
Food: German concessions—sausages, sauerkraut, pretzels, potato salad, chicken schnitzel.
Music: Five oompah bands from the Northwest.
Other offerings: Sausage eating, pretzel toss, condiment art and chicken-dance contests, craft vendors, German dance troupe, wiener-dog races, extreme air dogs competition and a kinderplatz area for kids with "Rocktoberfest" shows from Radio Disney.
Headout Picks
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 8
[MUSIC]
The former Red House Painters frontman is still as morose as ever, but damned if his latest disc,
isn't beautiful.
FRIDAY SEPT. 10
[STYLE]
Following in NYC's footsteps, Portland's hosting its own Fashion's Night Out, an archipelago of fabulous fashion events headquartered at Director Park.
[MUSIC] NW HIP-HOP FEST
If MFNW is lacking anything, it's local hip-hop. Anyone seeking a quick getaway from the crazy festival might want to stop in to see Cloudy October or Dark Time Sunshine. Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. 9 pm. $6. 21+.
[SCREEN] THE TILLMAN STORY
It's not the story the Army told you: In fact, the Army so badly wanted to hide this story that it burned the NFL player-turned-soldier's diary. A profoundly troubling indictment of the patriotism industry. Fox Tower, 846 SW Park Ave., 221-3280. $7.50-$10.50. Multiple showtimes. See review here.
[ECO-CHIC] MUDDY BOOTS ORGANIC FESTIVAL
Learn how to make your own enviro-friendly chicken coop and get an earful from King Corn filmmakers Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis at this kid-friendly green food, music and craft blowout. St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave., 764-7525. Keynote 7 pm Friday, festival noon-9 pm Saturday and noon-6 pm Sunday, Sept. 10-12. Festival tickets are $5 per day, kids under 12 free. Keynote tickets are $20 adult, $15 students, at ticketsoregon.com/event.php?event_id=577 or $25 at the door.
MONDAY SEPT. 13
[SCREEN]
Zachary Oberzan remade
entirely in his hardwood-floor Manhattan apartment, playing every role. He's Vietnam-scarred drifter John Rambo and everybody else, including the bloodhounds.
TUESDAY SEPT. 14
[MUSIC]
Bummed the Boss isn't coming to town any time soon? You can still rep your inner Jersey Shore by checking out the Gaslight Anthem.
WWeek 2015