Fall, Americas best time of the year. The Summer Heat starts to fade, the leaves change, the kids are back to school and of course football begins. Fall is my favorite time a year, but not just because of what I mention above, but also Fall means Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival, held annually in Munich, Germany. Typically it is a 16- to 18-day event running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. Although the German Oktoberfest is the Granddaddy of them all, you can enjoy Oktoberfest in cities across the world. Here is more info on other Oktoberfest celebrations that are modelled after the original Munich event.

Here in Utah we have a great Oktoberfest put on by Snowbird Resort. Voted one of America’s 10 Best Oktoberfests by Men’s Journal Magazine. Snowbird’s Annual Oktoberfest attracts over 60,000 visitors and has grown to become one of the largest festivals in Utah. Another popular Oktoberfest is held in Chicago. This party takes place inside and outside the St. Alphonsus Church in the West Lakeview neighborhood. Saturday and Sunday’s events include beer, handmade brats, and German music on two stages. If you’re a craft brew lover, make sure to carve out a few hours on Friday and Saturday nights to attend the $40 tasting night in the church’s German hall where over 40 beers will be poured.

So take a look and see what’s in your area, chances are you can welcome in Fall the way the Germans do, with a cold beer, Sauerkraut and Weißwurst.