Oktoberfest

LANGLEY MEETS MUNICH OCT. 2-4, 2009

The Whidbey Island town rolls out the barrel with Bavarian-style food, drink and fun during Oktoberfest

Timed with the Langley Gets Lively activities held the first weekend of every month, Oktoberfest gets under way with Friday Night Flights on Fri. Oct. 2, a walk-about wine tasting featuring Alsatian varietals and mouthwatering appetizers from 4 till 6:30. Tickets are $20 and should be purchased in advance at The Chef’s Pantry, The Edgecliff and Prima Bistro.

The festivities continue on Saturday, Oct. 3 as various Langley venues sell commemorative steins good for month-long discounts on OktoberFest beer and a free first pour at either of the beer gardens adjacent to the Chef's Pantry and Joe's Island Music on Anthes Street . The beer gardens are hosted by Diamond Knot Brewery and feature India Pale Ale, Hefeweizen and a special OktoberFest Brew for adults. For kids only, the Rootbeer Garden will feature Diamond Knot Root Beer and Ice Cream Floats. Also just for kids, face-painting from noon till 2 pm, sponsored by the Whidbey Children’s Theater behind Moonraker book store. A Bavarian feast featuring brats, sausages and kielbasa is being hosted by the South Whidbey Lions Club, complete with authentic brown mustard and sauerkraut, adjacent to the beer garden. The Bavarian Village Players -- a 10-piece oompah band -- will serenade the festivities from 1 till 3 pm.

At noon on Sat., Sue Frause, Master of Ceremonies, will tout the fanciful prancing of dogs in Bavarian themed pet costumes and judges will crown the very first Miss and Mister Oktoberpaws, with proceeds benefiting Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF). Felines are also encouraged to participate by getting their owners to take a picture of them in costume and submitting it prior to the contest. Contest rules and registration can be found online at www.chefspantry.com/events or at the Chef’s Pantry or Island Angel Chocolates. All throughout the weekend restaurants will tout special dishes in honor of the event. At 1 pm, stop by the Chef’s Pantry for a free pretzel baking demo, with donations benefiting NorthWest Harvest.

At 2 pm, stop by for a polka demonstration and complimentary polka lessons at the Useless Shed by Useless Bay Coffee. At 4 pm, judging for the Second Annual Oktoberfest Cooking Contest and Home Brewed Beer Taste-Off takes place on the Courtyard at the Chef’s Pantry. Contestants will compete with their best dishes for spaetzle, sauerkraut and strudel and home brewers will bring their best to the judging table. Local chefs will be on hand for the final judging and prizes including a Le Creuset Cast Iron oven valued at over $240 will be awarded to the finalists. All cooking contest and beer entry fees will benefit Northwest Harvest and the Island Arts Council. For contest entry forms, stop by the Chef's Pantry at 112 1/2 Anthes Avenue or click here.

Blown glass pumpkins are located in storefronts throughout the seaside village adding a touch of Langley flare calling attention to the talented glass artists who work and reside on South Whidbey Island and show their work at fine art galleries on First Street . A Count the Pumpkin contest is sponsored by Museo Gallery – stop in to enter for free and compete to win one of the gorgeous glass pumpkins being displayed around town.

Langley Oktoberfest 2009 is sponsored by The Whidbey Island Arts Council with contributions, co-sponsorships, and collaborations from Whidbey Island Bank, Langley Chamber of Commerce, Whidbey Children’s Theater, WAIF, The City of Langley, the South Whidbey Lions Club, Diamond Knot Brewery and local merchants Fine Balance Imaging, Prima, Island Angel Chocolates and the Chef’s Pantry. For more information, please contact Mona Newbauer, Whidbey Island Arts Council at 206-714-9318 / monalynn@whidbey.com or Donna Leahy, Chef’s Pantry at 360-221-2060 / thechef@chefspantryonline.com

And as an extra treat, Langley visitors can take the Whidbey Island Farm Tour, a self-guided exploration of working farms specializing in area produce and products, Oct. 3 and 4. For a map and details for the Oct. 3-4 tour, please visit www.whidbeyfarmtour.com.