The most uber way you can enjoy Muskoka this fall is to join the super fun at Oktoberfest! Festival events are across all Muskoka the weekend of October 25.
The Tapping of the Keg ceremony kicks things off on October 21.
“It’s a can’t miss party but it’s so much more,” says Norah Fountain, Executive Director of the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce. “It keeps businesses hopping, staff fully employed and it gives our Legions and others the chance to make some needed funds.”
Ongoing partners who make it all possible include TD Bank Group, funding Oktoberfest musicians, and Title Sponsor Engel & Völkers Muskoka. “Small business owners are at the heart of this Oktoberfest,” says Ruthann Brown, Broker, Engel & Völkers Muskoka. “We contribute to this festival yearly to encourage tourists and residents to support our small businesses during Muskoka’s shoulder season.” A new top sponsor this year is Groundworks Canada. See all sponsors at OktoberfestMuskoka.ca
Here’s what to expect from this year’s Oktoberfest in Muskoka.
The traditional Tapping of the Keg Ceremony is at Christie’s Mill Inn and Spa this year. Organized by Chambers of Commerce across Muskoka, one of the group’s Oktoberfest goals is to showcase every Township in Muskoka. This year it’s Georgian Bay’s turn. “The Happy Wanderers will have you singing along at our free afternoon kick off bash in Port Severn,” says Lisa Buck of the Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber.
Cross Muskoka events, some ticketed, start Friday, October 25 with Signature Events in Bracebridge and Bala, including the multi award-winning big Oktoberfest band Weiss Blau at the Foundry; a Tall Pines favourite Boston Levi is at Bracebridge Hall: Dylan Lock is at Santa’s Village, and those crazy guys, The Happy Wanderers, are rocking the Bala Bay Inn. The HopHeads play Bracebridge Hall Saturday and Muskoka Polka will have you dancing at the Port Carling Legion.
Muskoka’s craft breweries have special brews you can only taste at Oktoberfest and the Gravenhurst Chamber’s Meghan Pratt suggests you hop on the unique BREW BAUS for a fun tour to Muskoka Brewery, Sawdust Brewery, Clear Lake Brewing and Bracebridge Barrel house for Lake of Bays Brewing. Canvas in Huntsville has a special Oktoberfest night on Friday.
To learn more, read all about it here. To enter the Muskoka Stay and Play Giveaway (thanks to Muskoka BeerSpa, Bala Bay Inn, Cacao Boys and the Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery for the Oktoberfest prize package) and to view the entire schedule, please visit OktoberfestMuskoka.ca
