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The ceremonial tapping of the first keg got events going Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Lisa Holle and Cristi Herren, both of Whitefish, hold their steins high in the final seconds of the women’s steinholding competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
The crowd gathers around to watch the men’s log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
A competitor pulls the saw during the men’s log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Glenn DeHekker of Whitefish pulls the saw during the men’s log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Otto Ratz pulls the saw during the men's log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
A competitor gets ready to saw during the women’s log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Carla Belski competes in the women’s log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Competitors hold their steins high during the men’s steinholding competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Caren Fricke competes in the women’s log sawing competition Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
The Europa Band performs for the crow Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
Don and Lois Schrader dance under the Big Top Thursday evening at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest at Depot Park.
The seventh annual celebration of all things German — steinholding, polka and Hofbrauhaus beer — are the highlight of this year’s Great Northwest Oktoberfest.
The event runs two weekends — Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 and Oct. 6 though 8 — under the Oktoberfest Big Top in Depot Park downtown.
The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event, which includes six full nights and two days of authentic Bavarian food, drink, music and dancing, and a wild array of audience participation contests.
Admission is $5 per day, and children younger than 12 accompanied by an adult are free. Locals Night is Thursday, Sept. 29 when Flathead Valley residents with photo ID get in for free. Bavarian Business Night is Oct. 6 when anyone with a business card from 5 to 7 p.m. gets in free. Senior Day is Oct. 8, when folks older than 60 get free admission until 5 p.m.
Each night at Oktoberfest, a variety of contests will ask event-goers to participate in the fun. Log-sawing, steinholding, keg-hurling, mountain climbing, Bratwurst-eating and waitress racing are all part of the hourly contests.
Oktoberfest hours are on Thursdays and Fridays, Sept. 29 and 30 and Oct. 6 and 7, from 5 to 11 p.m. On Saturdays, Oct. 1 and 8, the event will be open from noon to 11 p.m.
For more information and a schedule of events, call the Whitefish Chamber at 862-3501, or visit at www.whitefishoktoberfest.com.