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Best Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest 2012 In Pittsburgh

While Oktoberfest, a 16-day commemoration that honors Bavarian culture, originally started in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, this celebration of German food, beer and festivities has quickly become a favorite holiday of the large population of Pittsburghers with Germany ancestry ... and everyone else. Between September and October, you'll be hard-pressed not to hear the chorus of German drinking songs and enjoy samplings of Oktoberfest beer and traditional German sausages. Whether you're looking to celebrate your Germany ancestry, kick off the autumn season, or throw back a couple of Oktoberfest brews during the city's largest beer festival, these Oktoberfest folk festivities are some of the most fun and authentic in Pittsburgh.
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Old Economy Village
270 16th St.
Ambridge, PA 15003
(724) 266-4500
www.oldeconomyvillage.org

Date: Saturday, Oct. 13
Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Price: $10 adults 12 to 64/$9 senior citizens 65 and older/$6 children 3 to 11

Old Economy Village will bring a taste of Germany to Ambridge with its German Oktoberfest Celebration on Saturday. There will be plenty of Penn Pilsner Beer to go around, so don't forget to bring your friends for an afternoon of authentic German cuisine, dancing and entertainment. All attendees must be at least 21 years old to attend. For reservations, call (724) 266-4500, extension 101.

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Seven Springs Mountain Resort
777 Waterwheel Drive
Seven Springs, PA 15622
(814) 352-7777
www.7springs.com

Date: Oct. 6 to 7, 13 to 14, 20 to 21 and 27 to 28
Hours: Sat and Sun – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: free/$3 parking

If you're looking for a weekend getaway perfect for the entire family, then make Seven Springs' Oktoberfest or AutumnFest your destination. Located about an hour from downtown Pittsburgh amidst the vibrant fall foliage of the Laurel Highland mountains, this annual festival promises fall fun for all ages with a variety of events and themes, like Harvest Weekend and Chocolate Weekend, offered every Saturday and Sunday through the end of October. Young children will love the arts and crafts, and performances from Cupcake the Clown while older kids will have a ball blazing through the hay-bale maze. For adults, there's always plenty of traditional German-style beer in true Oktoberfest fashion.

Related: Top Fall Festivals

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Rivers Casino
777 Casino Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 231-7777
www.riverscasino.com/

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 17 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $10 for members/$35 for nonmembers

Pittsburgh professionals on a mission to kick off their fall networking season should register for the Rivers Casino's Oktoberfest at The Casino. The casino has partnered with The Pittsburgh Social Exchange to bring the city's elite professionals a German-influenced networking event that includes a cash bar, authentic German hors d'oeuvers, a Chinese auction and special guests. Registration for this exclusive event will close at 300 guests. Register online at the Rivers Casino website.

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Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh
2705 S. Water St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 224-2328
www.hofbrauhauspittsburgh.com

Hours: October Sun – 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Mon to Wed – 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Thurs – 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Fri and Sat – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Price: $12 for one liter of beer

Oktoberfest shouldn't be limited to just a few weeks — and it's not at Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh where German culture, cuisine and beer are celebrated every day of the year. While the restaurant kicked off its Oktoberfest festivities in early September with its Oktoberfest Keg Tapping event, you can still take in the atmosphere of an authentic German Hofbrauhaus thanks to this Southside Works location modeled after the historic Munich Hofbrauhaus. Indulge in a few glasses of the flavor-packed 1810 Prince Ludwig, the seasonal beer of October, which features spicy hints of hops in flavor and finish.

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Scott Park
201 Lindsay Road
Scott Township, PA 15106
(412) 276-5300
www.scott-twp.com

Date: Saturday, Oct. 13 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: free

For a family-friendly festival, check out Scott Township's Octoberfest, now in its 12th year. There will be plenty of activities for the kids, including pumpkin painting, pony rides and a petting zoo, as well as live entertainment, food and crafts for the whole family. Be sure to hop aboard the hayride, a favorite fall activity, before the festivities end.

Related: Best Pumpkin Patches Around Pittsburgh

Post Author: Jessica Wasik. Jessica Wasik lives in Pittsburgh where works as a full-time figure skating coach sharing her passion with todays generation of young skaters. A graduate of Robert Morris University with a degree in English Studies, Jessica is also a contributing writer for Allegheny West Magazine. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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