Washington State Fair’s Oktoberfest: The most affordable festival ever?

Oktoberfest is a two-week festival celebrating German culture, food, and beer. As the German population in the US grew, so did the interest in German celebrations and festivities. The festival, which only took place in Munich, Germany, slowly made its way into American cities and American hearts. Now, the question is, did the Oktoberfest in Puyallup live up to the hype? Was it worth it? And mainly, was it affordable?

Let’s start with the cost. Parking for this event is free, and parking overnight (in an RV) is $42. When it comes to entering the fest, children 12 and under can enter for free. For adults, entry was free from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 4). For the other two days – Oct. 5 and 6 – the cost was $21 and $10, respectively. There are also various packages available that save you a lot of money, as they include not only an admission ticket but also a fest stein, beverages, and $15 food vouchers.

The Washington State Fair, which puts on Oktoberfest in Puyallup, has been receiving criticism positively. Many visitors to the Washington State Fair had complained that it was too expensive in the past, but this fair was absolutely affordable – I would even argue it was insanely cheap. They even developed an app to make it easy to navigate the fest.

At the fair, you enter a beautiful environment of German outfits, food, laughter, games, and music. After you enter the fair, the only things you pay for are food and alcohol. The games and activities are all free. There are a variety of games ranging from Hammerschlagen to beer pong, and even tournaments like best braids, best mustache, stein holding, and kinderfest. Other fun activities include photo booths, face painting, and making your own bobblehead.

The Oktoberfest was an amazing place for family bonding as well because all the activities and games available were for all ages. There were beautiful memories being created all around, from parents playing games with each other and with their kids to adorable little “kinder” winning the “Best Mustache” contest. Everyone was having a blast and experiencing some of the sweetest family bonding I have seen in a very long time.

This fair created a positive, happy environment; it brought the community closer together. Not only were the visitors of the fair friendly with each other, but they were also interactive and supportive. The activities engaged the audience as they voted for “Best Mustache” and “Best Braids.” While waiting for their turn to play games, the community cheered their favorite players; in fact, they cheered for all the players, which brought a happy smile to the faces of all participants. A very healthy competition environment was fostered, and a lot of new friendships were forged.

The food is the only thing that was expensive but I feel the cost can be equated to the quantity you receive. The quantity, quality, and the taste were worth every penny. I was thoroughly impressed with the details of the fair. Even near the food stalls, there were pumpkins, and even the food items and names of the food items were well thought out and reflected German culture.

In conclusion, the event was short and sweet. It started on Oct. 4 and ends today (Oct. 6). If you missed it this time, I would certainly recommend marking the dates for the next Oktoberfest to your calendar, bringing your friends and family in your best German or fall outfit, as it is worth your time, money, and effort. It was affordable and absolutely lived up to the hype.