Suburban Oktoberfests serve up hearty fare, German beer

Early fall is the perfect time to indulge in some hearty fare and toast the end of summer with a pint of beer. Celebrate the changing of the seasons German style at one of these local Oktoberfest parties in the suburbs.

<b>Rauetoberfest at Beyond Stable Farms</b>, 11129 Illinois Route 176, Woodstock, (815) 356-9212, rauecenter.org: Crystal Lake's Raue Center For The Arts is hosting its third annual fest from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, and from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. Rauetoberfest features live music, beer and German food. Options include pretzels, wurst teller, Jager schnitzel, bratwurst, schnitzlewich, hot dogs and apple strudel with ice cream. Admission is $5, free for kids 8 and under. You can also buy an Express Pass at the website for $25 which includes express lines for food, a free drink and more.

<b>Wildfire</b>, 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 279-7900; 1250 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 995-0100; and 232 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 586-9000; wildfirerestaurant.com: Try Great Lakes Oktoberfest paired with braised pork carnitas, Two Brothers Atom Smasher with jambalaya plus other German-style brews from Metropolitan Brewing and Tyranena Brewing Co. as part of a four-course Oktoberfest beer dinner running at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, in Schaumburg and Lincolnshire and Monday, Sept. 12, in Oak Brook. Tickets are $55.

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Lions Park,</b> 320 E. Wildwood St., Villa Park, (630) 834-8525; vprd.org: The annual three-day party kicks off from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, with a carnival, games, food vendors, a beer tent and music from Semple. Festivities continue from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, with an adult bags tournament at 4 p.m. and music from Heartsfield at 5 p.m. and Modern Day Romeos at 8 p.m. The fest also runs from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, with The Pedestrians playing at 12:30 p.m. and Fenced In at 3 p.m. Unlimited ride packages are available for $20 Saturday and Sunday. Seating is limited, so bring lawn chairs for the concerts.

<b>Downtown Orchard Street, </b>Itasca, (630) 773-0835, itasca.com: Feast on roast pig with red cabbage, bratwurst, knackwurst, meatballs in mushroom cream sauce and other German fare at the ninth annual Itasca Oktoberfest, which runs from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, and 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Get into the spirit by picking up a $2 German hat, with the proceeds benefiting the Itasca Walk-In Ministry and the Itasca Food Pantry. The Johnny Wagner Band performs at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Jimmy's Bavarians plays at 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

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Glendale Heights Oktoberfest,</b> Camera Park, 101 E Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights, www.glendaleheightsoktoberfest.com: The fifth annual fest returns, running Thursday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 25. German food will be prepared by Chef Wolfgang of Schnitzel Platz Restaurant, and brews include Oktoberfest Bier imported from the Hofbräu Brewery in Munich, as well as Weihenstephan Hefe Weiss Bier. The fun continues with strolling German entertainers, a pumpkin patch, a plant sale, vendors and more. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults after 4 p.m., children 16 and under are free.

<b>Hofbrauhaus Chicago</b>, 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 671-2739, hbchicago.com: The German restaurant and beer hall is celebrating from Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 23, serving its own Oktoberfest beer along with daily food specials such as bacon-wrapped cabbage rolls on Wednesdays, roasted duck with potato dumplings and red cabbage on Sundays and crispy pork shank on Fridays and Saturdays after 4 p.m. and Sundays after 1 p.m. The fourth annual bash also features plenty of music and dance performances kicking off with the Rheinischer Verein Fanfaren Corps on Sept. 16 and continuing with the Edelweiss Dancers Sept. 29 and Oct. 13 and the German American Singers of Chicago on Sept. 28.

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Downtown Palatine,</b> 137 W. Wood St., Palatine, palatinerotary.com: The Rotary Club of Palatine hosts its annual Oktoberfest in a heated tent near the Palatine Metra Station from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 16, noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 17, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18. Admission is free, and you can catch music from bands including Phenix and Die Musikmeisters while enjoying a variety of German food and beers. Saturday is family day, with activities including a bike ride, face painting, games and balloon art.

<b>Two Brothers Roundhouse</b>, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora, (630) 264-2739, twobrothersbrewing.com: Celebrate Oktoberfest from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, with oompah bands and a stein filled with Atom Smasher Oak Aged Oktoberfest Style Lager. Enjoy German food and games including stein-holding contests, best lederhosen and dirndl costumes and more.

<b>Noon Whistle Brewing</b>, 800 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, (630) 376-6895, noonwhistlebrewing.com: Buy a souvenir boot glass and spend the day enjoying beer at the brewery's second annual Oktoberfest bash from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. The event features special beer releases, live music, food trucks and a sausage-eating contest. Admission is free.

<b>Central Park</b>, 1500 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook, (630) 990-4233, obparks.org: The sixth annual Oak Brook Park District Oktoberfest, running noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, features a softball tournament, live music and food and beer vendors. Bring the kids for a magician, balloon artist, crafts and bounce houses from 1 to 5 p.m.

<b>Vernon Hills Metra Station</b>, 75 E. Route 45, Vernon Hills, (847) 367-3700, vernonhills.org: Kids can paint pumpkins, do crafts, take hayrides and be entertained by inflatables, a magician and a balloonist at the 10th annual party from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Cover band UFC performs at 7 p.m. and food, beer and soft drinks will be sold.

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Naper Settlement,</b> 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.org: The annual tent party - from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 - celebrates the city's German heritage with German beer and food and music from bands including Paloma on Friday and Die Musikmeisters on Saturday. Admission is $12-$15 or $8-$10 for kids ages 4 to 12, who can enjoy hands-on activities from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds benefit the Naperville Heritage Society.

<b>Lynfred Winery</b>, 15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle, (630) 529-9463, lynfredwinery.com: Prefer wine to beer? Celebrate from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, with grape-stomping and spitting competitions and a pig roast, which you can enjoy in a sandwich or as a full meal served with German potato salad and other sides. They'll also be selling wine by the bottle and glass, grilled bratwurst, chili, roasted corn, taffy apples, apple strudel and German chocolate cake. Festivities include costume contests, accordion singalongs and performances by The Happy Wanderers. Admission is $3 or free for kids under 14.

<b>Fall Festival/Oktoberfest</b>, Emerson Street and Busse Ave., Mount Prospect, mpdowntown.com: Oktoberfest kicks off on Friday, Oct, 7, from 4 to 11 p.m. with food, music and more. Kids get in on the fun Saturday, Oct. 8, with a fall festival from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by an adult-friendly turn until 11 p.m. that includes German drinks and the German band Phenix.