SUMMONING THE STAPLES... of an Oktoberfest-style celebration? You can find the perfect holiday hallmarks at many area festivities, from the food that's served (hallo, schnitzel) to the music that's played (accordions are a commonly heard instrument, but other Munich-major melodies are also regularly played) to the style of dress (you're going to go with a dirndl, surely). But finding a peak-pretty setting, the kind of place that rocks an alpine air, isn't quite as straightforward as locating lederhosen to wear. One route taken, at least 'round Northern California, is to go Tahoe when the latter half of September arrives and the Oktoberfests begin to oompah with more regularity and fervor. And coming up, on the first Saturday of autumn, which is Saturday, Sept. 23, is the...
OKTOBERFEST... at The Village at Squaw Valley. The "...Village magically transforms into a miniature Bavaria complete with authentic German food and beer, Bavarian music and performances, and popular Oktoberfest themed games," and the backdrop to it all will be a mountain-y spread that may make you feel as though you've jetted over the water, to Germany, for a day or two. It's free to enter, but you'll want cash if you'd like a stein of the Bitburger Premium Pilsner, Benedicktener Weissbeir, or another brew, including several suds that regularly appear during Oktoberfest season. In the competitive sphere, look for a keg-rolling race, a stein-holding contest, and the brat toss, which will ask participants to toss a brat into a keg (each new round will up the challenge, so don't get too cocky just yet, if you sail through round #1). Need some peaks with your pilsner and brat-tossery? Here are the details, lederhosenians and dirndl devotees.
