Fall is in the air in Dane County, and we are always happy to welcome back one of our favorite seasons. There are many reasons to be happy about autumn's arrival in Wisconsin, but the return of Oktoberfest is at the top of the list. 

German immigrants started arriving here in the 1830s, and today Wisconsin has the highest percentage of individuals who identify as German-American in the United States. So it's no surprise that there are some fantastic Oktoberfest celebrations in the Madison area!

• 9/21 - Oktoberfest at Capital Brewery - 7734 Terrace Ave, Middleton, WI 53562
  Capital Brewery has been one of the best breweries in the region since 1984. In addition to brewing excellent traditional German-style lager beer, the brewery hosts a great Oktoberfest party every year. This year's Capital Brewery Oktoberfest kicks off at 12 pm on September 21 and includes live music, dancing, and games. Capital Brewery's signature Oktoberfest beer will be on tap, while pretzels and bratwurst with all the fixings will be available for purchase. Admission is just $5.
  
  
• 9/21 - Baraboo Oktoberfest - 550 Water St, Baraboo, WI 53913
  The annual Baraboo Oktoberfest is one of Central Wisconsin's largest Oktoberfest events of the year. Taking place at the Circus World Museum grounds overlooking the banks of the Baraboo River, this event runs from 3 to 9 pm on September 21. Expect a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, including authentic live Bavarian oompah bands, festival games, and plenty of excellent locally brewed beer. Food including traditional German pretzels will be available, as well as food trucks offering hot dogs, ice cream, and other treats.
  
  
• 9/26-29 - New Glarus Oktoberfest - 418 Railroad St, New Glarus, WI 53574
  The village of New Glarus, known as America's Little Switzerland, hosts its own Oktoberfest celebration every fall. It's one of the biggest parties of the year in this quaint community 30 minutes outside of Madison. Spanning four full days, New Glarus Oktoberfest will take over a large swath of Downtown New Glarus from September 26 to 29. In addition to ample supplies of traditional food and drink, the festival includes games, contests, and activities ranging from wagon rides to chainsaw carving. There will be live music in the festival tent all weekend, including pop, rock, and traditional polka music.
  
  
• 9/28 - Oktoberfest Polka & Pints Pub Crawl - Madison, WI 53702
  One of Madison's most memorable bar crawls will take place on September 28 this year, offering a way to celebrate Oktoberfest while experiencing some of the best of what Madison's nightlife scene has to offer. From 5 to 11 pm, the Oktoberfest Polka & Pints Pub Crawl will take you to several of the best bars in Madison (participating venues TBA) to sample a variety of food, drink, and music.
  
  
• 9/29 - Blessed Sacrament Oktoberfest - 2116 Hollister Ave, Madison, WI 53726
  Madison's Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church will have its own Oktoberfest celebration on September 29. Following the success of Blessed Sacrament Oktoberfest last year, this year's event will feature games and raffle prizes, live music courtesy of the Mike Schneider Band, and local beer from Vintage Brewing Company. Several food vendors will also be onsite at the church grounds, offering German potato salad, pretzels, brats, and more. 

Contact me today to learn more about life in the Madison area. And be sure to ask about finding your dream home in Dane County—just in time for Oktoberfest!