Get ready to see some folk dancing with twirling dirndl skirts and lederhosen. It’s the time of year to raise a stein of beer and lift your spirits with a musical toast in honor of the upcoming fall season.

Oktoberfest was originally, and eponymously, a community wedding celebration in October of 1810 for a Bavarian crown prince and princess. Officially taking place from Sept. 17- Oct. 3 in Munich this year, the 2022 party continues through October in the Bay Area. 

With plenty to choose from locally to celebrate, check out The Chronicle’s guide to the best of the upcoming Oktoberfest merriment.

Register to compete in the tournament, or watch from the sidelines and sample beers from more than 40 breweries on the flight deck. Food available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum .

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. $10-$50, reservations encouraged. USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum, 707 W. Hornet Ave., Alameda. 510-521-8448. www.uss-hornet.org

Featuring DJ Jerry Ross, live music from Pop Rocks band, beer, sausages, pretzels, prizes, drinking games and more. Oktoberfest attire encouraged. 

3-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16. Free admission, registration encouraged;  21 and older. Schroeder’s, 240 Front St., S.F. 415-421-4778. www.schroederssf.com

Festivities will include a costume contest, Festbier, stein holding competition, traditional food, dancing and live music with  Polkageist West.

1-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Free admission; $20-$30, includes a commemorative glass and first beer. R egistration encouraged. Original Pattern Brewing Co., 292 Fourth St., Oakland. 510-844-4833.  www.originalpatternbeer.com

The Munich-style event is set to feature folk songs and dancing with audience participation; yodeling; fun with beer steins; and traditional German ambience in a decked-out tent serving pretzels and brats, beer and soft drinks. German-style live entertainment  includes Deutscher Musikverein, Alpine Sound, the Internationals and the BHTV Golden Gate Bavarian club with dancing from Nature Friends Schuhplattler. German food and drinks available for purchase.

5-9 p.m. Sept. 21-22 and Sept. 24; 5-10 p.m. Sept. 23; noon-4 p.m. Sept. 24; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Sept. 25. $10-$255, includes a commemorative stein and one drink ticket. Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. 650-780-7000. www.redwoodcity.org/oktoberfest

In real Munich tradition, the celebration starts with a noontime tapping of the first beer barrel. The event includes a beer garden, German food, a car show, craft vendors, a kid’s area and live music by the Gruber Family Band.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 24. Town Square, 1 Town Square Place, Vacaville. 707-451-2100. www.downtownvacaville.com

Dance to live music from Joe Smiell’s band, and grab bratwurst, seasonal beer and more.

Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 24. $25, includes a stein and two drinks; reservations required. Woods Island Club, 1 Avenue of the Palms, Treasure Island, S.F.  www.woodsbeer.com/island-club

An Oktoberfest street party is set to feature live music with the Alpenmeisters and DJ Eddie Z, German beer, food and games. Festive attire encouraged.

3-9 p.m. Sept. 24. $10-$15, reservations required; 21 and over. Der Biergarten, 2332 K St., Sacramento.  www.beergardensacramento.com

Bavarian dancers; live music; carnival rides; vendors; and a large, authentic biergarten tent with imported furnishings, German food and beers highlight this long-running community celebration.

Carnival: 5-10 p.m. Sept. 30; noon-10 p.m. Oct.1; noon-8 p.m. Oct. 2. Oktoberfest Festival: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 1; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 2. Free admission. Main Street, downtown Clayton. www.claytonoktoberfest.com

Oakland’s Dimond District gets some Bavarian flair as vendors offer traditional German food and craft beers. Live performances from Andre Thierry, Rob Reich Trio and Deutscher Musikverein of San Francisco are just a part of what’s in store for attendees. A kids’ area will include a root beer garden and family-friendly activities.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 1; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 2. Free admission. Fruitvale Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland. www.oaktoberfest.org 

A family-friendly Oktoberfest event with beer, live polka music from the Olympia Fields Brass Band, dancing, glass house museum and historic park tours, and sheep-herding demonstrations.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 1. $20-$40, includes German lunch, drinks and souvenir glass; reservations required; under 6 free. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. www.srhf.org

Featuring California brews; wine; gourmet food; chef demonstrations; and live music with the Love Handles and Camilo y Los Cruzers. Proceeds from the Spirits Alley district event benefit the Alameda Boys & Girls Club .

1-5 p.m. Oct. 1. $75-$200, reservations encouraged ; 21 and older. Parade Lawn, 950 W. Mall Square, Alameda. 510-522-4900.  www.corksforksonthepoint.com

Live music from Alpine Sound, German food, stein holding contest, folk dancing and more. Festive attire recommended.

6-9 p.m. Oct. 7. $4o-$100, includes stein and first beer; reservations encouraged. Park Chalet Beer Garden, 1000 Great Highway, S.F. 415-386-8439.  www.parkchalet.com

With nine stages of live entertainment, the harvest-themed weekend offers an artisan marketplace, interactive activities, food and ale for purchase. Costumes highly encouraged.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 8-9. $35, registration encouraged; under 12 free. Casa de Fruta, 10031 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister.  www.norcalrenfaire.com

Downtown Crockett is set to host its first Oktoberfest event featuring live music from Mitch Polzak and the Royal Deuces, yodeling, ax throwing, German-style beer, pretzels, sausages, a German cooking demonstration and class, raffle, and craft vendors.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 15. Free admission; all ages. Second Avenue, Crockett. www.oktoberfestcrockettcalifornia.com

Ride or drive to downtown Fairfax for an afternoon of beer tasting, live music, family-friendly activities, food vendors and bike-related exhibitors. Proceeds benefit Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Access4Bikes.

11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 15. $35-$50, includes souvenir glass; reservations encouraged . Marin Museum of Bicycling, 1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax. 415-456-3469. www.marinbike.org

Hang out in the biergarten or on the dance floor at an all-day, family-friendly celebration. The event will include live German music and dancing, food, artisan vendors and Kinder Platz kids’ zone.

Noon-7 p.m. Oct. 15. Free admission. Civic Park, 1375 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. www.walnutcreekdowntown.com

The cultural center transforms into a bier hall and garden for an event set to offer live music from the Internationals, stein holding contests and folk dancing by the BHTV Golden Gate Bavarian club. German food and drinks available for purchase.

4-11:30 p.m. Oct. 15. $25-$35, reservations required. United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Ave., S.F. 415-661-2700. www.irishcentersf.org

Celebrate German culture with live music and family-friendly activities. Food, beer and drinks available for purchase in the outdoor biergarten and picnic areas.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 16. Free. Bandshell and Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, S.F. www.sfgermanday.org

Heralding the start of this year’s SF Brewer Weekend is a unique festival held atop a docked World War II-era ship. Sample craft beer as local craft brewers offer special releases on tap; food vendors available for purchase. VIP tickets with extra time on board and lunch are available. Proceeds benefit the O’Brien as it recovers from economic hardships and rebuilds from a 2020 fire on the adjacent pier.

1:30-5 p.m. Oct. 22. $55-$125, reservations required; 21 and older. S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, Pier 45, S.F. www.bayareabrewers.org

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