In Munich, Germany, the 186th Oktoberfest started September 21 and rolls three weeks through October 6. While we may be more Scotch-Irish than anything here in the Mountain State, our German heritage shines through every Oktoberfest with some great places to gather with friends, roll out the barrels, and chicken dance if you want to.
Although their official Oktoberfest festival was a couple weeks ago, Shepherdstown’s Bavarian Inn is always a unique place to stay, and enjoy traditional German food. It is even more so now with its new Bavarian Brothers Brewing serving a handful of beers (including some traditional German ones) brewed on site.
Now in its third year, Main Street Morgantown rolls out the third annual Hops On The Mon from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, September 28 on High Street, with WV breweries serving seasonal beers, as well as local restaurants dueling it out in the “Perfect Pierogi & Dumpling Showdown. There’s no polka but there will be space rock funk foursome Optimus Riff and WV indie powerhouse Hello June on the Courthouse Square. If you want to “pre-game” Tour Morgantown is hosting Homerun and Hops Craft Beer Festival from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, September 27 at Monongalia County Ballpark, home of the WV Black Bears baseball team.
The 12th annual Oktoberfest sponsored by Charleston Main Streets run 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, September 28 in downtown. Sample more than 100 craft brews and limited Octoberfest and German varieties. There’s also sausage toss, keg rolling, stein holding and best traditional dress contests and live music from Rasta Rafiki, Wild Adriatic, and Andy Frasco.
Mercer County rolls out the barrels with a relatively new event, Oktoberfest In the Park from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, September 28 in Bluefield City Park. Enjoy samples of craft beer and cider from regional breweries (including many from just over the border in Virginia) as well as local food trucks, live music from Space Monkey and The Sauerkraut Band.
Bahnhof WVrsthaus and Biergarten in Huntington, 745 7th Ave., continues its three week Oktoberfest with German food and beer specials and live polka music from DARABO Polka Trio from 6-9 Saturdays, September 28 and Oct. 5. On October 5, Bahnhof teams up with Kindred Communications for the first Huntington Oktoberfest, presented by HIMG, at Pullman Square. That runs noon to 6 p.m. October 5 with brews from Ayinger, Bad Shepherd, Bell’s, Big Timber, Country Boy, Devil’s Backbone, Dogfish, Flensburger, Peddler, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Southern Tier, Stone and Weihenstephan. Enjoy German fare from Bahnhof and other vendors. There will also be a beard and mustache contest, traditional Oktoberfest games, a Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest, live music from Of The Dell and a polka trio as well as a Volksmarch. Check out the Huntington Oktoberfest FB page for more info.
Photographed by Toril Lavender
Leave a Reply