Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds August 31, 2012 - September 03, 2012    Share

If you're ready to rage against the dying light of summer, you need to look no further than Northeast Ohio’s largest end-of-the-summer party, the Seventh Annual Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest being held Friday, August 31 through Monday, September 3, 2012, at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, in Berea. Though the emphasis of an Oktoberfest is Bavarian food and culture, the Cleveland Oktoberfest is unique in that it is also a celebration of our city's rich ethnic diversity, as expressed through food, art, music and dance. The William F. Miller International Pavilion will feature ethnic music and dance performances representative of 20 countries, including Germany, Greece, Hungary, Scotland, Poland, China, Russia, and more! The Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest is a holiday family tradition, attracting a diversity of fun-lovers from every walk of life, while offering an exciting menu of activities and entertainment to delight young and old alike. Highlights of this year’s Oktoberfest include: Official Oktoberfest Chef, John Roberto, will serve up a variety of Bavarian delicacies. Also featured will be Cleveland's own Der Braumeister (voted Best German Restaurant by Scene Magazine), Balaton of Shaker Square (voted Best Hungarian Restaurant by Scene), Seven Roses, Frank's Bratwurst (voted Best Brats by Scene), the famous Schmidt's Restaurant & Sausage Haus of Columbus, and more! For those who appreciate the art of brewing, The Best Oktoberfest Microbrew Competition, will be held in the Bier Garden and feature 19 brewers from Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Frankenmuth and Chicago, including local favorites like Great Lakes, Fat Heads, Rocky River Brewing Co, Willoughby Brewing Co, Brew Kettle, Market Garden Brewery, Buckeye Bier Engine, and more! The competition features both a professionally judged multi-category event Friday, and a People's Choice which will be tallied and awarded Monday. Contests will include the Sugardale Wiener Dog Races, the "Masskrugstemmen" (Bavarian Strong Man & Woman Competition), and the Hermes 5K Charity Run, and 1 Mile Walk. The race draws over 500 runners annually, with awards presented in various age categories, and proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Traditional German music by famed musicians such as Grammy nominee, Hank Haller, Grammy nominee, Alex Meixner, Die Schlauberger, The Joe Wendel Orchestra, The Chardon Polka Band, the Fred Ziwich International Sound Machine, and Deutcher Musik Verein. And for the Rock 'n Rollers out there, we'll feature local favorites Stone Pony, the Spazmatics, and Disco Inferno. Throughout the weekend, there will also be roving performers on the midway, like the always raucous Bier Band from Cincinnati, The Chardon Polka Band, and the Brews Brothers. Other Oktoberfest favorites include world champion sand sculptor Carl Jara, and our live Glockenspiel—a gigantic two-story working cuckoo clock with dancers who perform on the hour, always punctuating their performance by showering souvenirs on the crowd. The Educational Pavilion will feature a display of award winning gingerbread houses by Dr. John Lerner, an historical exhibit by Euclid Beach Park, polka lessons, wine tastings, a VW bus presentation, home brewing and cooking demonstrations, and much more! Shoppers and collectors will find an authentic selection of high quality merchandise in our Bavarian Shopping Village, as well as a diverse assortment of fine art in our Art Market—a show and sale featuring the works of more than 50 local artists. Car enthusiast will enjoy our Classic & Antique Car Show as well as our display of vintage Volkswagon buses. Our Children’s Area will feature myriad activities for kids—from chalk art, to inflatable bouncers, horse-drawn hayrides, Otto the Wiener Dog and other mascots, gingerbread house building workshops, a Euro bungee, face painting, the highly acclaimed Frisch Marionette Show, sand castle building, and loads more! Admission to the Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest is $10 each day of the festival with children 12 and under admitted free. A Four Day Pass is also be available. Parking will be FREE throughout the event. For complete information and updates, including information about our $2 discount for online orders, visit www.clevelandoktoberfest.com. Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Add Your Event May Jun Jul

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