La Mesa Oktoberfest

When: October 5 - 7, 2012
(The first full weekend in October)
Friday & Saturday 11am -11:30pm
Sunday noon-5pm
Where: Spring Street and La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa, CA (map)
More info: Events website

La Mesa Oktoberfest will be held during the first full weekend in October in La Mesa Village. This event is the largest 3-day Oktoberfest west of the Mississippi, with an expected turnout of 200,000 people.

Seven city blocks will have over 400 arts, crafts and commercial booths, two beer gardens, five food courts, a huge dance floor and a children's canival. Admission to the general festival is free.

Nearby, a large parking lot is transformed into a German-style Lowenbrau Beer Garden. Inside you will find spirited oom-pah-pah bands, costumed folk dancers performing traditional waltzes and polkas, and dance floors for adults and kids so everybody can join the fun. There's plenty of grilled bratwurst, pretzels, soda and beer on tap.

In the evenings the Oom Pah bands step aside to some contemporary music.