Lovettsville Oktoberfest 2017: Schedule, Parking, Event Map

LOVETTSVILLE, VA — One of the region's more eclectic Oktoberfest celebrations, one that nonetheless retains traditional authenticity, is set for its two-day run beginning Friday night. It's the 24th annual Lovettsville Oktoberfest at the Community Center and surrounding downtown area, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue. And it's free. That's right. Free.

Consider, if you will, that among Friday's features is a Bohemian Rhapsody sing-along. Organizers say (with tongue firmly in cheek) that last year's sing-along fell just 104,300 people short of the Guiness Book of World Records mark, and that they're aiming to break the record. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

More than 120 vendors will be set up along a half-mile stretch. Food will be plentiful all weekend. A sister event, Kinderfest, will be held nearby on the Town Green (11 Spring Farm Drive) and will include all manner of free kids activities, including carnival games, inflatable rides, a climbing wall, face painting and pony rides. Did we mention the stein-hoisting competition? Or the Weiner Dog race?

Click here for a complete map of the festivities.

Here's parking information, per the festival: Our FREE parking is available at the Lovettsville Community Park (on Milltown Road just 1/8 mile south of the Lovettsville Community Center) and also at the Lovettsville Game Protective Association (16 S. Berlin Pike). Free trolleys run in a loop between parking lots all day long on Saturday, from 9AM until Midnight. Insider Tip: Arrive via Milltown Road or Lovettsville Road for quickest access to our free parking at the Community Park. NOTE: There will be NO trolley service to parking at Lovettsville Elementary School this year.

Here's the lineup:

Friday

• Lions Club at Community Center: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Oktoberfest Royalty Competition at Community Center: 6:30 p.m.
• Beer taps open at the Main Tent: 7 p.m.
• Food at the Main Tent (Game Club, Doner Bistro): 7-10 p.m.
• Live Music (Ghost Pepper): 7-11:30 p.m.
• Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-a-long: 9:30 p.m.
• Beer taps close: 11:30 p.m.

Saturday

• Beer taps open: 10 a.m.
• Traditional Accordion Music (Joan Grauman): 11 a.m.-noon
• Keg Tapping & Opening Ceremony: noon
• Traditional Bavarian Dance (Alpine Dancers): 12:30-4:30 p.m.
• Wiener Dog Races: 5 p.m.
• Live Music (Vigilantes): 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Stein-Hauling/Hoisting Competitions
• DJ (Ryan Bakerhoff): 9-11 p.m.
• Beer taps close: 11 p.m.

Kinderfest Saturday Schedule (Walker Pavillion)

• Beer taps open: 10 a.m.
• Opening Ceremony (King & Queen lead Chicken Dance): 10:15 a.m.
• Blue Ridge Thunder Cloggers: 10:30-11:15 a.m.
• Acoustic Guitar (Jason Masi) 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Acoustic Guitar (Mike Hill) 1-2 p.m.
• Traditional Bavarian Music (Edelweiss Trio) : 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Traditional Accordion Music (Joan Grauman): 4-5 p.m.
• Beer taps close: 4:45 p.m.

Image courtesy of Lovettsville Oktoberfest