Many are drawn to Elkhart Lake from June until August. Those who come just slightly later in the season will enjoy smaller flocks of visitors and boats as flocks of birds replace them on the lake. For some, September sets in with an end of summer melancholy. For others a welcomed slowness sets in over the village. Regardless of your attitude towards summer drawing to a close, Elkhart Lake has one last summer hurrah for you with its 2nd Annual Elktoberfest.
After a successful inaugural Elktoberfest in 2022, this year is bound to be another fantastic opportunity to experience the best of both worlds in the village – the liveliness of locals gathering in town and the quiet retreat of the lake and trails. Below are some highlights lined up for the weekend. Be prepared to walk (or run!), sip, snack, dance, and mingle with a very proud Wisconsin crowd that loves an opportunity to be in costume – better yet, Lederhosen or dirndl. (Costumes are not required at Elktoberfest, but will be welcomed with great enthusiasm.)
Festivities will commence Friday night at 5:30pm with the Stein Social at Siebkens Resort. Purchase a commemorative Elktoberfest stein and enjoy SwitchGear Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest beer and live music by the Polka Masters. A community prost will kick off at 6:00pm. Grab dinner at one of the local restaurants and make your way to the Osthoff’s Elk Room for more live music by the Abler Manus Duo.
On Saturday morning hit the ground running (or walking) at the 5K Wine & Beer Run/Walk beginning at Vintage Elkhart Lake. Participants will receive a t-shirt and medal plus a drink ticket for a pour of wine or SwitchGear craft beer. Sign up now for the Elktoberfest Wine & Beer Run 5K. The Farmers & Artisans Market will also be taking place in the village square from 8:00am until noon, where you’ll have another opportunity to pick up an Elktoberfest stein and your pre-ordered Elktoberfest t-shirt.
For the little ones, the village park will have a Root Beer Garten with face painting, games, root beer floats, and a special appearance by Culver’s mascot Scoopie and Miesfeld’s mascot Charlie the Double Brat. Across the street SwitchGear Brewing will be pouring adult-flavored brews all day. New this year is the Miesfeld’s Elktoberfest Tent on the Shore Club lawn where you will find a step above the average Sheboygan County brat fry. Sign up for the brat eating contest or the potato salad cook-off. When the sun goes down the tent will welcome The Boo! The Band from Milwaukee to the stage.
On Sunday morning you can count on the village restaurants to help you recover with post-prost calories. Take a look at the full list of restaurant options as well as the official Elktoberfest itinerary here: https://www.elkhartlake.com/elktoberfest/.
Whether you are eight or eighty, Elktoberfest is an opportunity to celebrate the change of the season with your loved ones. Prost!
