Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest Canceled for Second Consecutive Year

The Leavenworth Oktoberfest has been canceled for 2021 due to several contributing factors. The organizers, nonprofit Projekt Bayern, opted to cancel in advance to avoid visitors losing deposits and travel expenses.

"I have families that come and spend $5,000 plus, they come from other countries to come to this event," said Steve Lord, Oktoberfest chair. "This last year we (Leavenworth) were busy in October because 70% of our customers still came."

According to Lord, there was also new stipulations in place for booking bands due to cancellations after COVID-19 as well as having difficulties bringing German and Canadian bands in due to regulations.

"I couldn't get people on dance floors, according to the rules. The file they sent me for rules on throwing a festival was hundreds of pages of social distancing and facing up people on dance floors," said Lord. "I said if this wasn't going to be an authentic event then we just need to pull the trigger now and be done with it."

2022 will be the 25th anniversary. Projekt Bayern started Oktoberfest 24 years ago when Leavenworth faced a lull in tourism in October.

"Oktoberfest has grown the town phenomenally," said Lord. "Next year will be our 25th anniversary. It'll be our biggest and best Oktoberfest we've ever done. If it happens in Leavenworth, I don't know. I will be going to other communities. I'm going to ask Cashmere, Wenatchee and Chelan 'Do you want this event? Because the new residents of Leavenworth do not see the benefit of this event' and maybe for us to move to a new community."