Raise a glass: Seattle's popular beer festivals plan a triumphant return in the fall

The beer lovers in Seattle's booming craft beer scene are looking to the cooler days of fall to raise their glasses together again.

While most food and drink festivals were canceled in 2020 for obvious reasons amid a global pandemic, the state's full reopening has allowed these larger events to resume in person, proving that there's always something happening around a beer.

From Oktoberfest fun to festivals celebrating the fresh hop harvest, keep reading for a look at the beer-related events planning to return this fall to the Seattle area. 

Fremont Oktoberfest:

Although Leavenworth canceled their Oktoberfest festivities for a second consecutive year amid uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, Seattle residents will still be able to don their lederhosen, dirndl and pretzel necklaces at Fremont's Oktoberfest on Sept. 17-19. The festival will feature traditional German lager pours served in steins or a boot as well as brews from local breweries.

The event also includes Mudbay's "Dogtoberfest" when attendees can bring their four-legged friends — preferably all dressed up — and enter them in a cover model contest for CityDog magazine.

Great Pumpkin Beer Festival:

Most beer fans acknowledge that pumpkin beer is a pretty polarizing style. Whether you love it or loathe these liquid slices of pumpkin pie, Elysian Brewing has become the local masters of the style and their annual bash at the Seattle Center marks the height of the gourd-fueled festivities.

Now in its 17th year, the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival will be held on Oct. 1-2 with over 80 pumpkin beers from Elysian and other breweries featured. The event includes an annual tradition where a giant pumpkin is scooped, scorched, filled with pumpkin beer and then tapped at the festival.

Brew at the Zoo:

Woodland Park Zoo's Brew at the Zoo is returning this year on Oct. 7 for its 8th annual celebration. More than 45 local breweries, cideries and even some kombucha producers are expected to participate, offering a wide sample of the Pacific Northwest's flavors.

Special animal encounters with the zoo's animal ambassadors will also take place during the event. All funds raised from Brew at the Zoo will support animal care at the zoo and wildlife conservation efforts locally and globally, making every sip for a good cause.

Seattle Fresh Hop Beer Festival:

The hop harvest is just around the corner, and so is Seattle's hoppiest festival. The Fresh Hop Beer Festival will return on Oct. 9 at  Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park with 75 different fresh hop beers available.

For those who don't know, a fresh hop beer is made when hop flowers are taken off of the bine and brewed within 24 hours, resulting in a more flavorful beer. And here in the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky enough to be right near the hop harvest in the Yakima Valley and Willamette Valley in Oregon, reducing the transit time from farm to brewery and making those little buds absolutely burst with their signature flavors.

Northwest Oktoberfest:

If you missed out on Fremont's festivities — or just want another excuse to wear your ledenhosen and munch on schnitzel — another Bavarian-inspired event will commence on Oct. 8-10 at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup.

Along with plenty of food and beer, Northwest Oktoberfest has a handful of quirky activities planned, including a wiener dog race, keg-rolling contests and a "Hammerschlagen" tournament, where opponents race to hammer a nail through a plank of wood. The final day of the event is family friendly and includes kids activities like pumpkin decorating and a root beer garden.

Seattle Scotch & Beer Festival:

Have your dram and brews at the same time at this spirits and beer festival held at Fremont Studios on Nov. 19-20. The two-day event includes authentic Scotch tasting, tequila and mezcal tasting, seminars on whiskeys for the real connoisseurs, and 50 beers and ciders on tap. You'll also be able to buy bottles of top shelf spirits from around the world tax free at their bottle shop. Tickets are expected to go on sale in September.