[Insert lederhosen joke here.]

It all began with a royal wedding: Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Theresa of Sachsen-Hildburghausen were married in Munich in October of 1810. King Maximillian, Ludwig’s father, threw the newlyweds a glorious party, and so much fun was had by all that King Max decided to make it an annual event. Fast-forward 200 years, and move 6,000 miles west, and the tradition is being kept alive in Chippewa Falls. Located at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, the three-day event is jam packed with events, starting with the announcement of the 2010 Festmeister and Festmeisterin, as well as the Golden Keg Procession from the Leinenkugel Brewery at noon on Friday. Other noteworthy events include the Sauerkraut Eating Contest on Friday and Saturday night at 7:45pm, the Kinder Kostume Kontest, German Auto Show on Sunday, and the numerous polka dancing activities throughout the festival. If the events don’t pique your interest, maybe the German fare will tempt your taste buds. As always, you can expect traditional brats, sauerkraut, and Oktoberfest ice cream, as well as a myriad of beer options. Program Director Jill Herriges expects to see about 15,000 attendees over the weekend.

    8th Annual Oktoberfest • Sept. 17-19 • Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 331 Jefferson Ave., Chippewa Falls • $8 a day, $14 three days, FREE kids • www.chippewachamber.org/Oktoberfest.asp