Outdoor temperatures will soon head lower and these early days of fall mean one important thing to beer lovers: Oktoberfest! The Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa has several beer themed events scheduled in the coming weeks and invites you to join other party- goers as Midwesterners and their kin celebrate the season. Here is a quick rundown, in date order, of the fun times waiting to be had:
September 17– Davenport, Iowa welcomes you to Brew Ha Ha on this Saturday afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., for a smorgasbord of beer tasting, featuring all sorts of styles and brands. The event will take place at LeClaire Park in downtown and it’s a great way to acquaint yourself with the region and all the great beer it offers. Admission to the Brew Ha Ha includes a tasting glass, live entertainment, and unlimited tastings. Advanced tickets to the event can be purchased online at www.jayceesqc.org
September 18– LeClaire, Iowa has an event tailored to dog owners and dog lovers. It’s called Dogtoberfest and it will take place outside of the Bier Stube restaurant located at 1001 Canal Shore Drive, in LeClaire. Admission to the event is free and everyone is encouraged to bring their dog along for the fun, with the first 150 dogs receiving free doggy bags. The rest of the family can take part in raffles and a silent auction while enjoying local food and beverage, available for purchase. Proceeds from the event support the Crow Creek Dog Park in Bettendorf and if the weather doesn’t cooperate, organizers have established September 25 as an official rain date. For more information about Dogoberfest, visit www.bier-stube.com
September 22– The Quad Cities straddle the mighty Mississippi and if you enjoy spending time on the water, then you don’t want to miss the Oktoberfest cruise with Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen. This event will feature German music, dancing, and of course, plenty of German beers and foods. This lunch cruise on the Celebration Belle riverboat launches at 10:30 a.m. from Moline, Illinois. For more information, visit www.celebrationbelle.com
September 24– Cyclists will want to mark their calendars for Ridetoberfest, scheduled for Saturday, September 24. Participants can select between one of two charted routes, each of which begin and end at Happy Joe’s Grille 350, 350 E. LeClaire Rd. in Eldridge, Iowa. More serious bicyclists will meet at 1 p.m. for the start of a 50-mile ride while more casual bike riders will depart at 2:30 p.m. for a 20 mile ride. Registration for Ridetoberfest includes a light meal followed by evening entertainment. In addition, the first 50 registrants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. For more information on Ridetoberfest, visit www.hjkids.org
September 24, 25– Cordova International Raceway is the site of an Oktoberfest of racing scheduled for September 24 and 25. On Saturday, September 24, the Midwest Outlaw Racing Series and Big Bucks Bracket Bash will entertain the crowd while Sunday will feature the 2016 Track Championship Runoff, Iron Man Bracket Race, and OMS. Cordova International Raceway is about 30 minutes from the Quad Cities Airport in Moline, Illinois. For more information and tickets, visit www.racecir.com
September 30, October 1– Moline’s Bier Stube restaurant will celebrate Oktoberfest on September 30-October 1. The annual event will include live music from Austria’s Lederhosen trio, games, prizes and, of course, German foods and beverages. For more information, www.bier-stube.com
October 1– The Quad Cities month of German celebrations wraps up with the Lederhosen 5K and Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 1 at Schwiebert Riverfront Park in downtown Rock Island, Illinois. Guests are encouraged to don their favorite German garbs and then lineup at 9:30 a.m. for the start of the 5K run/walk. There will be a shorter, one half mile fun run for the kids at 9:00 a.m. called the Kinderlauf. Once the exercise is over, it will be time to party German- style at the Oktoberfest Post-Race Party. This festive occasion is open to everyone and runs until 3 p.m., complete with German food, beverages, games for adults and kids, music, and fun! For more information, visit www.lederhosen5K.com
For more info on the Quad Cities and its many tourist opportunities, contact the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-747-7800 or visit their website at www.visitquadcities.com.
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