Things to do: Pick from these 9 Northern Colorado Oktoberfest events
Erin UdellWe may be thousands of miles from Germany, but that won't stop Northern Colorado from raising some steins for Oktoberfest over the next two weeks.
A flurry of local Oktoberfest events start this weekend and stretch into early October, with one Northern Colorado city and several area breweries serving up live music, German beers and their fair share of Bavarian pretzels.
Take your pick from the events below.
Spargetoberfest
Where: Sparge Brewing, 3999 George W. Bush Ave., Wellington
When: Starting 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
Before filling up on beer and food truck fare, get a quick run in at Wellington's Spargetoberfest, which kicks off with the second annual Spargetoberfest 5K starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. After the race, head to Sparge Brewing for the Spargetoberfest family festival, complete with music, vendors, food trucks and a dunk tank. For more information, including how to register for the Spargetoberfest 5K, head to spargebrew.com.
Loveland Oktoberfest
Where: Fairgrounds Park, 700 Railroad Ave., Loveland
When: 4-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
The Sweetheart City has steins in mind this weekend as Loveland prepares to kick off its Oktoberfest celebration in Fairgrounds Park. The weekend's festivities will include German-style beer from Loveland breweries, German food, live music, a stein-hoisting competition and best-dressed contest — don't leave your lederhosen at home. Loveland Oktoberfest is free to attend and open to all ages.
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Oktoberfest at Zwei
Where: Zwei Brewing, 4612 S. Mason St., Fort Collins
When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
In its eighth year, Zwei Brewing's Oktoberfest event will kick off Saturday morning with an Oktoberfest beer tapping, a sampling of pierogis and bratwurst and a day of live music — polka, of course — included.
Oktoberfest tapping
Where: Mythmaker Brewing, 1035 S. Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins
When: Noon Saturday, Sept. 17
For a more laidback Oktoberfest experience, head to Mythmaker Brewing. The new west Fort Collins brewery will be tapping its Oktoberfest beer Saturday afternoon, with the Olio Food Truck stationed outside dishing up German-inspired eats. Be sure to stick around for a drawing for two tickets to the Friday night session of the Great American Beer Festival in October.
Goatoberfest
Where: Gilded Goat Brewing Co., 3500 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
Gilded Goat Brewing Co. is back this year with its annual Goatoberfest, serving up its German-style beers, Bavarian pretzels, bratwurst and krautburger baskets, music and merriment.
A Windsor Oktoberfest
Where: The Windsor Gardener and High Hops Brewery, 6461 Colorado Highway 392, Windsor
When: 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23
Not sure whether to have a beer or cocktail this Oktoberfest? Why choose when you can simply head to The Windsor Gardener, a Windsor greenhouse that's also home to High Hops Brewery and The Heart Distillery. Take your pick from beer at High Hops or Bavarian-inspired cocktails from The Heart as you peruse the Windsor Gardener during its seasonal Oktoberfest Sip & Shop event. Starting at 7 p.m., head over to High Hops for live music from Five Month Journey, a mustache contest, brewery and distillery tours, giveaways, specialty food and two new beer releases. Tickets to High Hops' evening events are $10. You must be 21 or older to participate in all Oktoberfest events.
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Stodgy Brewing Co.
Where: 1802 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins
When: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
Head to west Fort Collins for some German-style sips and snacks. Stodgy Brewing Co. is opening up its massive front yard to Oktoberfest offerings — including live music from a big brass band, a special beer and stein release and German brats and pretzels.
Jessup Farm Oktoberfest
Where: Jessup Farm Artisan Village, 1921 Jessup Drive, Fort Collins
When: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
Ready for an open air Oktoberfest? Head to Fort Collins' Jessup Farm Artisan Village, which will have live music, beer, food, yard games and more. Admission to this event is free, with tickets for food and drinks available for purchase.
A Mash Lab Oktoberfest
Where: Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen, 4487 Highland Meadows Parkway, Windsor
When: Noon Saturday, Oct. 1
Wait, there are two Oktoberfest events in Windsor? Well, it's only right seeing as the town was home to a large population of German-Russian immigrants in the early 1900s and, later, paid tribute to those roots in the 1960s when several Main Street storefronts were renovated with a German village motif. To celebrate Windsor's German heritage, head to Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen's Oktoberfest, featuring live music, German food and a special beer release starting at noon. Tickets are $25 and include one Mash Lab beer stein, one bratwurst plate and $5 beers throughout the event.