OKTOBERFEST MUSKOKA FESTIVAL KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY AT SAWDUST CITY IN GRAVENHURST
MUSKOKA — Thanksgiving and this weekend’s Cranberry Festival are just the beginning of the food and fun in Muskoka this month.
Wednesday Oktoberfest Muskoka adds music, entertainment and kegs of beer.
So dust off your dirndl and hike up your lederhosen for a kick-off bash at Sawdust City Brewing in Gravenhurst.
While most festival events run the weekend of October 20-22 at venues across Muskoka festival fans get an early taste with this lively event.
For one and all.
Join civic reps and all the chambers of commerce from across Muskoka. They’ll tap the first keg ceremony unique Muskoka twist.
Town Crier Bruce Kruger launches the annual celebration with the Happy Wanderers band adding some “Oom pah pah” and “Zigge zagge hoi hoi” to keep the frivolity going.
All are welcome to attend from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Sawdust City Brewing on Muskoka Road North.
Admission is free.
Wear your Oktoberfest best and be ready to buy a Sagemehl Stadt and hoist a stein or two with friends.
Explaining why Oktoberfest is important to Muskoka, Norah Fountain, of the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, says: “It is always the weekend after the Bala Cranberry Festival, which is always the weekend after Thanksgiving. And almost 40 years ago the Cranberry Festival was started to extend our shoulder season and Oktoberfest builds on that idea.”
“Not only does it encourage our seasonal residents to stay here longer, it also helps give employees in the tourism and hospitality industry more hours. In turn, that helps encourage staff to come back for seasonal jobs next year.”
Of course, she adds, we always want to draw visitors to our area all year round and a culinary, craft beer and music trail like this is just the ticket to bring people to our region.”
Oktoberfest Muskoka runs October 20-22, 2023, and features three days of music, food, and signature Oktoberfest brews from Muskoka’s craft breweries, including Clear Lake Brewing, Sawdust Brewing, Muskoka Brewery and Lake of Bays Brewing.
Restaurants and other venues across Muskoka are also offering live music from acoustic guitar in smaller restaurants to bands such as the Happy Wanderers, Mr. D and the Polka Kings.
A special guest is Heiner de Wilde Kaiser, originally from Cologne, Germany, who is bringing his accordion to liven things up.
You can buy merchandise from the breweries who have produced special brews just for this event, including a Bock by Lake of Bays Brewing; a Klosch by Clear Lake Brewing; a Sagemehl Stadt at Sawdust Brewing; and a Festbier from Muskoka Brewery.
Foodies can also sample special Oktoberfest delicacies, such as authentic Sauerbraten (Germany’s national dish) at Lakeside Bala, schnitzel and spaetzel, white sausage and beer nuts at Bracebridge Barrelhouse and even bratwurst pizza at Bala Bay Takeaway Pizza Nova.
“We want people to enjoy our communities at their best all year round and residents and visitors alike are guaranteed a good time at Oktoberfest,” says Kelly Haywood, executive director of the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce. “We are thankful for the generosity of our lead sponsors Engels & Völkers, TD and Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA); as well as Cottage Vacations, Lakeland Networks, Rosseau Lake College, Muskoka Tourism and the Bala Cranberry Festival, to name a few.”
Learn more at https://www.oktoberfestmuskoka.ca/.
Participating Chambers of Commerce:
Kelly Haywood, Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce 705-789-4771 or kelly@huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca
Norah Fountain, Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce 705-762-5663 or norah@muskokalakeschamber.ca
Jaden Hollingshead, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce 705-645-5231 or brenda@bracebridgechamber.com
Meghan Pratt, Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce 705-687-4432 or adam@gravenhurstchamber.com
Lisa Buck, SEGBay Chamber of Commerce 705-756-4863 segbaycofc@gmail.com
