Oktoberfests in September?
Why not?
Munich-style festivities in the Southland?
Sure!
Get your fill of lager and lederhosen and oompah and polka at these upcoming fests in Lemont, Flossmoor, Orland Park, Oak Forest, Tinley Park and Grant Park.
Locavore Farm
Farm-to-table fare, craft beer and cocktails, an artisans’ market in the barn, a bonfire and music by War on Fire will be featured during Oktoberfest from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 9 at Locavore Farm, 16146 E. County Line Road (east of South Stoney Island Avenue) in Grant Park (Kankakee County).
Tickets are $40, including a commemorative glass, and required in advance.
The farm also hosts Dine on the Land, outdoor dinners for 100 guests, Sept. 16, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18.
Call 708-701-4320 or go to locavorefarm.com.
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
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Lederhosen are encouraged at the family-friendly Oktoberfest from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16 on the caboose deck of Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery, 1035 Sterling Ave. in Flossmoor.
Food specials will include weisswurst, bratwurst, spaetzle, German potatoes, red cabbage and Bavarian pretzels. Flossmoor Station brewmaster Ryan Czaja will tap OktoberTrain, a Marzen-style amber lager that will be available by the glass or in 22-ounce bombers for $10.
Call 708-957-2739 or go to flossmoorstation.com.
Pollyanna Brewing Company
How about award-winning brews plus smoked bier-bratwurst sandwiches with bacon kraut or imported apple strudel with vanilla sauce?
Oktoberfest from 3 to 11 p.m. Sept. 16 inside and outside Pollyanna, 431 Talcott Ave. in Lemont, will feature the brewery’s own Fruhauf Oktoberfest lager, which won a bronze at the Great American Beer Festival, and a cheese sauce made from it for pretzels, plus music and German fare fired up by Weber Grill Restaurant, including Schweinebraten, smoked pork shoulder with bier gravy made with Pollyanna lager.
The music lineup is Bruce Korosa Polka Band from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Cover Gurl from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Admission is $10 and includes a souvenir glass while supplies last. Call 630-914-5834 or go to pollyannabrewing.com.
Brass Tap Orland Park
German and local Oktoberfest-style beers, a stein-hoisting competition, refillable souvenir boots, free pretzel necklaces, German fare and music will be featured during Taptoberfest from 4 p.m. Sept. 22 to 2 a.m. Sept. 23 and noon Sept. 23 to 2 a.m. Sept. 24 at Brass Tap, 14225 95th Ave. in Orland Park.
Call 708-226-1827 or go to brasstapbeerbar.com.
Tinley Park Oktoberfest
Brews from Tinley Park and Germany’s Paulaner, German food from Chef Klaus’ Bier Stube, musicians, dancers and carnival rides will be featured at the new Tinley Park Oktoberfest from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 29, 1 to 10 p.m. Sept. 30 and 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Metra train station, 18001 S. 80th Ave. in Tinley Park.
Keg tappings will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 29 and 1 p.m. Sept. 30.
German dance group D’Waldstadttänzer will perform multiple sets Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
The entertainment lineup also includes Chicago-based German ensemble Die Musikmeisters Band at 5 p.m. and Hirsch at 7 p.m. Sept. 29; Jimmy’s Bavarians at 3 p.m., the Schnitzels at 5:15 p.m. and the Bratwurst Brothers at 7 p.m. Sept. 29; and Don Reitsma at 1 p.m. and Tom Brusky Band at 2:15, 4 and 5:15 p.m. Oct. 1.
Admission is free.
Oktoberfest replaces Rocktoberfest.
Call 708-532-5700 or go to tinleyparkoktoberfest.com.
Blarney Stone Oktober Fest
Enjoy German food and liters of Oktoberfest beer as well as live music and a costume contest with prizes during Oktober Fest, the pub’s ode to autumn set for 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30.
Blarney Stone is at 15400 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Forest.
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Call 708-535-4800 or go to blarney-stone.net.
Vickie Snow Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.