Olympic Valley, CA – North Lake Tahoe’s largest Oktoberfest celebration is returning to The Village at Squaw Valley later this month, complete with Bavarian music, authentic German beer and food, the ever-popular Oktoberfest Games, and plenty of family fun.

Squaw’s annual Oktoberfest will transform The Village at Squaw Valley into a miniature Bavaria on Saturday, September 28 from 2-6 p.m. , during a time when the mountain’s trees are ablaze in gold, red and orange and the days are traditionally pleasantly crisp and sunny.

Squaw Valley’s event is modeled after the original Oktoberfest, a 16-day annual festival held in Munich, Germany. Guests can enjoy traditional German entertainment including performances by Joe Smiell and his 20-piece Bavarian band on the main stage. Additional music and dancing will take place on the First Street stage with the Almenrauch Schuhplattler Bavarian Folk Dancers and the Alpentanzer Schuhplattler Austrian Dance Troop accompanied by the Alpentanz Kapelle band.

Beer lovers can toast each other in the Village-wide Biergarten, where they will find a wide selection of authentic German brews including the annual favorite, Spaten. The first beer, sold in a commemorative festival glass, is $10. Additional beers will be available for $5, with all proceeds from beer sales benefiting the Tahoe Truckee Lacrosse Foundation.

In addition to the live music and beer tasting, event attendees can compete for prizes in the Oktoberfest Games. Intensity is high as festival-goers compete in the stein holding competition, keg-rolling race and the bratwurst toss. The games are just as much fun to watch as they are to play, and guests are encouraged to further get into the spirit of the event by wearing traditional lederhosen and dirndls.

In celebration of Oktoberfest, village restaurants will serve traditional German bratwurst with sauerkraut and a variety of other foods served outside in the open air beer hall in the Tram Promenade. Oktoberfest also features a root beer float station for the kids.

Entrance to The Village at Squaw Valley’s Oktoberfest celebration and entertainment are free. Festival goers must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to purchase beer.  No outside alcohol will be permitted.