Oktoberfest rolls out a barrel of fun

Tanzen und Singen! Essen und Trinken! Oktoberfest ist hier!

Iron your Dirndl and throw on your Lederhosen, it’s time for everyone’s favourite autumnal celebration of all things Teutonic.

The town of Whistler goes into festival mode next Friday and Saturday for the annual Oktoberfest Festival. Tourism Whistler, in conjunction with the community, has organized a series of events promising barrels of fun for any age.

The festival kicks off on Friday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. with a parade through the village led by Weiner and Schnitzel, a comedy duo of clown-like characters, and featuring the sweet voices of the Austrian Vancouver Melody Choir. The parade ends at the Village Common for the tapping of the keg ceremony, where all in attendance will be invited to partake in a small sampling of celebratory beer.

The festivities continue through the evening with the Oktoberfest Feast at the Whistler Conference Centre, a Bavarian buffet and polka extravaganza.

On Saturday morning kids of all ages will not want to miss the Volksmarch walk sponsored by Whistler Animals Galore (WAG). The pet-friendly event kicks off at 9 a.m. and winds through Whistler Village. Prizes will be given out for best two and four-legged costumes. A variety of activities throughout the afternoon include Beerstein making demonstrations by Vincent Massey at Expressions Ceramics at 11 a.m. and dance lessons with the Edelweiss Dancers at MY Place at 1 p.m. For the youngsters there’s Rainbow the Clown’s rootbeer garden, a pumpkin carving contest, and juggler Mike Battie.

Saturday evening features the Belgian Beer Dinner at the Westin Resort & Spa’s Aubergine Grille and the Bavarian Beerhall Brew-Ha-Ha at the Telus Conference Centre at Whistler, a local version of a Munich beerhall party featuring brewery tastings, food kiosks and performances by oom-pah-pah bands Al and the Alpiners and the Beerbarrels.

A number of local restaurants and bars will offer food and drink specials throughout the festival.

A complete schedule of events is available online at www.mywhistler.com. Event tickets are available by calling the Whistler Activity and Information Centre at 604-938-2679, or at the individual venues.