Oktoberfest Weekend at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival gives over its closing weekend to a Bavarian theme, layering Oktoberfest traditions onto the existing festival grounds near Shakopee. A Bavarian Village anchors the day, with stein holding heats, a sauerkraut eating contest, sausage slinging, pickle jousting, a pretzel jewelry competition and an Oktober-best Dressed costume contest, plus yodeling performances and tastings from Summit and Ritual. Children get their own Oktoberfest flag craft. It runs inside the regular festival day, so the Renaissance Festival's usual gate admission applies.