Oktoberfest St. Louis

Urban Chestnut has hosted seven successful Oktoberfests, but this year's version will be the grandest one yet. Oktoberfest St. Louis runs three days, spanning Washington Avenue from Urban Chestnut's Midtown Brewery down to Circus Flora's newly permanent Big Top Tent. What's going to fill in all that real estate? Oh, people, beer, food, a festival market featuring a different roster of artists selling handmade items each day and even some circus performances. Best of all, admission is free; you simply pay cash for your food and beer as you go. (No credit cards are accepted, though ATMs will be available on the festival site.)

The party starts at noon on Friday, September 28. At 6 p.m., Ken and Nancy Kranzberg tap the ceremonial keg, and the fun doesn't stop until midnight. For the beer drinkers, Urban Chestnut will offer Oachkatzlschwoaf Lager, Zwickel Bavarian Lager, Schnickelfritz Bavarian Weissbier and a special-edition Dunkel based on the 1967 recipe UCBC brewmaster Florian Kuplent learned while serving his apprenticeship at Brauerei Erharting.

The fest continues from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, September 29, and includes the popular stein-holding competition, or Masskrugstemmen, if you're traditional. If you want the true Oktoberfest experience, reserve a VIP table under the Big Top Tent. You'll received a commemorative one-liter stein with one free fill-up of beer and a dedicated beer server assigned to your table so you can enjoy performances by Sean Canan, Marquise Knox and Al Holliday and the East Side Band.

Sunday, September 30, is for families, with Circus Flora performers including roaming clowns, jugglers and stilt-walkers. A dedicated children's tent will offer games, cookie decorating and activities for you and your dog under the supervision of Purina pet-care experts. The fest opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. on Sunday.