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May in Leavenworth

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Village Art in the Park Begins May 4 and runs each weekend through October 21. Village Art in the Park began in 1966 and is the longest running outdoor art show in the state. It’s a non-profit that provides art education funding and scholarships. Hours for Art in the Park are 9am-6pm Friday-Sunday. In July and August they’ll add Thursdays, too.

May 5 Bavarian Battle: “The Bavarian Battle is a gnarly 5k obstacle run held in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington. Racers will jump, slide, run, climb, hop and crawl their way to the finish line.” Billed as the “dirtiest event of the year.” Follow them on Facebook, too!

May 11-13 MaiFest: Celebrate spring in Leavenworth, Washington at a traditional Bavarian folk festival. The free, family oriented festival is filled with tons of entertainment and events. Folk dancers twirl and dance in front of and around the Maibaum (May Pole) in Front Street right in the center of Leavenworth. The village goes all out to welcome spring. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Mother’s Day, too. Read more about Maifest on the Maifest page.

May 12, 7am, Lions Club Park. Lions Club Breakfast: all you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and milk. A fundraiser for Leavenworth Lions Club. $6 for adults.

May 17-20 10th Annual Spring Bird Fest: “The Leavenworth area features spectacular habitats ranging from snow-capped mountains to sunny ponderosa pine forests, to lush riparian zones, to shrub-steppe. All our field trips are led by experts and professionals in their field. Learn about the wide variety of migratory birds that come here for a brief, but important part of their year: the breeding season. Hear the songs sung only during the breeding season while you stroll, bike, boat, or van during the height of wildflower season. While birding is the heart of the weekend, activities also include wildflower walks, arts events, and family activities to ensure fun and learning for everyone, and for birders of all skill levels, with enough built-in “down time” to explore the friendly Bavarian village that we call home.” Check out this year’s events. Because it’s the 10th annual fest, special events are planned.

Ohme Gardens is open. Hours 9am-6pm daily until Memorial Day, then 9am-7pm daily through Labor Day. Mother’s Day Tea noon-4pm, Sunday May 13.

If you haven’t yet made lodging reservations, check our Stay page for a complete listing of accommodations, where you’ll find places to stay for every taste and budget. Looking for more to do in Leavenworth? Check out our Play page for activities, events and things to see and do for everyone in the family.

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Tasting Leavenworth

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Pear Blossoms

For most of us, travel equals food. From discovering falafel stands in Israel, to hunting down the best pizza and gelato in Florence, food makes travel memorable. We’ve enjoyed tacos with the locals in Mexico, poteen in Jasper, Alberta, high tea in Old Niagra, bison burgers in West Yellowstone, and game pie in historic Gettysburg.

We love to eat in Leavenworth. More than just sustenance, food is a lovely shared experience. We create memories around meals. Like the picnics we’ve shared along the Wenatchee River, breakfasts with new friends and old, trying new German dishes and sampling gourmet chocolates. There are foods we rarely eat except when we’re in Leavenworth. Things such as JaegerSchnitzel, Apfelrotkraut, black licorice ice cream, amaretto fudge, and yummy gingerbread cookies. On a recent visit to Leavenworth we tried some new restaurants and enjoyed German dishes at King Ludwigs.

It’s always such fun to find others who look forward to tasting Leavenworth as much as we do. Morgan Fraser is an author and food blogger who is a Chelan area native. Her recent book, Savoring Leavenworth, offers an insider’s view of the food and culture of Leavenworth. As her website says, “Leavenworth is not simply a Bavarian village in Central Washington. . . it has its own culture and local flavor. It is a hub for enjoying local wines, fresh fruit, fresh fish, locally grown produce, a small-town feel and the beauty of a mountain setting in any season.” Morgan has a blog, Savoring Life, where she talks about her culinary adventures, shares family recipes and reveals some secrets from favorite local restaurants. I was tickled to find a recipe for Mole de Oaxaca from SOUTH. It’s one of our favorite dishes in Leavenworth. Just reading the recipe in Morgan’s post brought back nice memories of sitting on the patio in lovely weather, savoring Mole enchiladas, house-made chips and salsa and a refreshing sangria. Another popular SOUTH recipe published in Morgan’s blog is Salsa Verde. You can also find Morgan on Facebook at Savoring Leavenworth.

Pear tree in bloom

There’s a new festival on the Festival calendar in Leavenworth. Spring Sensations is a culinary adventure through the month of April. Restaurants and shops throughout the village are offering unique specials and products for sale all with a pear theme. There will be pear scones, pear candy and savory pear dishes. Wineries and restaurants will be offering wine “pearings.” Icicle Brewing is hosting a Pear, Cheese and Beer “Pear”ing. Check out our Spring Sensations page for links to the festival schedule and restaurant and lodging specials.

Spring Sensations will be kicked off with a new event: A Taste of Spring, March 31, 2012. There will be culinary samples along Front Street, live entertainment, pear tasting, a pear cook-off and an International Marketplace.

Want to read more about sweet eats in Leavenworth? CakeSpy has been to Leavenworth and written about several sweet treats she found.

For more on food in Leavenworth see blog posts such as, Favorite Food in Leavenworth, Magic of Sauerkraut, and A New Taste Place.

Before you travel to Leavenworth, and while you’re in town, Check out our Eat page for dining ideas. Have a craving? Use the search at the top of the page (sponsored by Leavenworth’s Cold Stone Creamery) to look up restaurants that serve the food you’re looking for.

What are your favorite tastes of Leavenworth? Let us know in the comments below or leave us a post on Facebook.

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A Taste of Bavarian Spring

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

The Gazebo in springtime

It’s March already and spring is only a few short days away. (Don’t forget to “Spring Forward” this coming Saturday night!) You know what they say, in spring a young girl’s heart turns to…Leavenworth! The snow will soon be melting, the river ice will break up and the wildflowers will begin to bloom again. Spring is a wonderful time to visit Leavenworth, and the village has a new festival to say goodbye to Old Man Winter and welcome the beautiful new season. April is now the month to celebrate Springtime with A Taste of Spring. Begin with a March 31 Front Street Festival filled with complimentary tastings such as locally grown pears, Bavarian taste treats, pear-infused olive oil, artisan chocolate, locally crafted beer and cured meats and gourmet cheese. There will also be street performances and an international marketplace.

Traditional Folk Dancers

For more information on this festival and activities throughout the month of April (including lodging and restaurant promotions) visit the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce website and our own front page. We publish an ever-growing and ever-changing list of events and activities right on our front page.

Also in April look for Leavenworth Choral Festival and the Ale-Fest. Check our Festivals page for dates and links.

In May visit Leavenworth for Maifest, May 11-13. There will be all sorts of family-oriented activities, a parade featuring horse-drawn wagons and Bernese Mountain Dogs, folk dancers and the traditional Maipole. The beautiful Riverfront Park is a wonderful place for a quiet walk with your family. Leavenworth in May is a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of spring and Mother’s Day.

The weekend after Maifest visit Leavenworth for the 10th annual Spring Bird Fest, where you’re invited to “Celebrate Birdsong and Explore the Natural World.” Events include guided birding field trips, guided wildflower viewing, art events and family activities. Birders of all skill levels are invited. Visit the Bird Fest website to pre-register for activities.

Whichever weekend you make your visit to Leavenworth this spring, make sure you plan plenty of free time to shop, eat and play in the beautiful Bavarian style village. For lodging options and links to hotels, cabins and bed and breakfast inns, visit our Stay page.

Wildflowers on Blackbird Island


The Wenatchee River from Blackbird Island

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Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, WA

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Willkommen im Leavenworth

Bavarian Bierwagon decorated to celebrate Oktoberfest

You’ve probably figured out that we love Leavenworth, WA anytime of year. There’s never been a season when we’re visiting and thought, “Well, that was a bust. We’ll never come to Leavenworth at this time again.” That being said, nearly everyone has a favorite season, festival or month to visit Leavenworth. For thousands that time of year is October. There are two festivals in October, Leavenworth Oktoberfest for 3 weekends beginning September 30, and Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, October 1-2. And if festivals aren’t your thing, then visit during the week. The change of seasons itself is worth celebrating.

Leavenworth Oktoberfest was organized by Projekt Bayern in 1998 and in just 14 years has grown to four venues and is attended by thousands. In 2009 Hugging the Coast named Leavenworth Oktoberfest the number one place to celebrate Oktoberfest. The festival runs each Friday evening and Saturday for the first three weekends in October beginning September 30th. On Friday the venues open at 6pm. On Saturday the festivities begin with a traditional parade at noon. Leavenworth’s Musikkapelle will lead the Bavarian processional playing traditional Bavarian folk music and polkas. Leavenworth villagers and guests in colorful Bavarian dress (trachten) and the Bavarian Bier Wagon will be there, too. At 1pm the Mayor of Leavenworth “tap the keg” in a traditional Bavarian ceremony at the Festhalle. Biergartens, pubs and restaurants all through the village will be celebrating right along with us. For more about Oktoberfest in Leavenworth see also the Icicle Village Resort Visitor Guide.

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth includes great beer, traditional German food, and bands from the US and Germany. Tickets are available online and at the door and include your admission to all venues and a commemorative bier stein. There are free shuttles between the venue and shuttle transportation for a charge to accommodations outside of Leavenworth. If you haven’t already made reservations for Friday and/or Saturday night for Oktoberfest then you might be out of luck. Many hotels are booked a year in advance for Oktoberfest. Your best bet is to call the Visitors Center to see if they know of any openings. Or call individual hotels or motels and see if they have any openings at this point. You’ll find a complete listing on our website, organized by accommodation type. There are links and phone numbers for Hotels/Motels, Condominiums, Cabins, Bed and Breakfast Inns and Lodging Services. You can stay as far away as Wenatchee and make arrangements for shuttle transportation to and from Leavenworth. Check the Festival’s FAQ’s for answers to a lot of questions about Oktoberfest. Please check out Accidental Bavarian’s Oktoberfest page for more information and links about the festival.

Traveling with kids? Oktoberfest is a family friendly event. Downtown Leavenworth is Kinderplatz with all sorts of kid-friendly activities, like a climbing wall, bouncy toys, and entertainment like L-Bow the Clown, musicians and magic acts. Children are able to be in the Oktoberfest venues until 9pm.

If you’re making travel plans for October and aren’t interested in Oktoberfest, or if you are looking for more family friendly activities in addition to the festivities downtown, check out the 21st annual, award winning Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. This is a free event taking place October 1 and 2, at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The festival celebrates the return of the salmon with education adventures. There are many interactive activities, music, art and a Native American Tribal Village. Check the website for Festival schedule and activity updates.

For more about Festivals in Leavenworth Washington check out our Festivals page, where there’s another link to the Accidental Bavarian Oktoberfest page. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for news and links to activities and events in Leavenworth.

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Weekend in September

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Front Street in Autumn

It’s August already. The “end of summer” blues are just around the corner. I can feel it coming like a train climbing Stevens Pass. If you’re like me you’re probably spending time online or perusing your favorite travel magazines, looking for inspiration for a weekend getaway to celebrate the cooler weather of fall, or to eke out the last few rays of summer. Leavenworth, Washington is my favorite place for a weekend getaway anytime of year, but in the golden days of late summer and autumn the Bavarian village is at its best.

You can find out what’s happening in Leavenworth by checking in with the Accidental Bavarian Event Calendar. Click on the month you’re looking for and every event that we’ve found and that businesses and festivals have alerted us to is listed here. You can also check in with TNBT (The Next Big Thing) where we list events happening for the following two weeks or so. If you look at September’s events now you’ll find the Icicle Arts Festival, the Leavenworth Quilt Show, the Leavenworth Crush Festival (a one day celebration of the grape harvest) and Leavenworth’s original festival, the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival. One of our favorite itineraries is to arrive on a Sunday, enjoy festival activities and then enjoy the quiet side of Leavenworth on Monday and Tuesday. Or use the event calendar to plan a visit without a festival, if crowds aren’t your thing. Though once September starts, there are festivals in Leavenworth every weekend until Oktoberfest ends on October 15th.

Use the key word search in the Event calendar to find other stuff to do during your visit. You can find special events like concerts, a Night at the (Nutcracker) Museum, wine tastings, winery tours, the county fair and live music. You’ll also find links to ongoing events like the Leavenworth Community Farmers Market, on Thursdays and Village Art on the Green.

Cascade Mountains in the fall

For places to stay on your long weekend check our Stay page. You can search for a favorite place or one friends have recommended or look by category. If you’re looking for a weekend cabin then check with Comfy Cabins for cabin and condo rental listings. Follow them on Facebook and they’ll post about any last minute openings for a spontaneous getaway, sometimes with a booking discount or special offer. Looking for a bed and breakfast in the area? Check with Lanier Bed and Breakfast, an online directory. Our Lanier page lists all of the member properties in the Upper Wenatchee Valley. Many hotels in Leavenworth get booked pretty early on for festival weekends. Call them now or check online for room availability.

Looking for traditional German food while you’re in Leavenworth? Check our German Food page for some of our favorites. You’ll find places like Munchen Haus with outdoor seating, savory flavored grilled sausages with all the trimmings like housemade sauerkraut, and German beers on tap. Or sit at a window seat in Café Christa, overlooking the Gazebo, and enjoy German specialties like Jaeger schnitzel, mit spaetzl und apfelrotkraut. Jori also has German beer on tap and a fine selection of German wine.

You’ll find lots of other kinds of European and America fare in Leavenworth. Check our Eat page for ideas for everything from gelato to pizza. You’ll find Italian, Asian, cafe fare and lots of chocolate. Scotte and I usually can’t find time to eat all of our favorites during a weekend visit. That’s okay we always know we’ll be back soon. And we never leave without a stop at the Cheesemonger’s Shop and Fudge Hut for continuing enjoyment once we’re home.

Be sure you make time this fall to visit one or more of the many fruit orchards strung out throughout the Wenatchee Valley. The Cascade Foothills Farmland Association has interactive growers maps. You can also request an AgTourism Driving Map. Visit orchards that have been cultivated by the same family for generations, vineyards producing fine Washington wines and wine tasting rooms in Leavenworth and the surrounding area.

Plan a weekend in Leavenworth. Visit Accidental Bavarian for places to stay and eat and things to do during the months of September and October. It’s just the thing you need to bridge the gap between summer and autumn and chase away the back-to-school blues. And be sure to check back frequently. We’ve got some surprises planned for fall.

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