Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/362765
entertainment I f you're feeling disappointed that sum- mer fun is coming to an end, don't despair. Fall is kicking o in VanCity with a celebration inspired by one of the biggest parties in the world: Oktoberfest. e inaugural Harvest Haus is coming to the Queen Elizabeth eatre Plaza (Georgia St. at Hamilton St.) from October 2 to 5, and bringing with it the German in uences you love. ( ink beer, schnitzel, sauerkraut and steins.) Harvest Haus organizer Scott Emslie says the set-up will be inspired by the national houses that popped up during the 2010 Winter Olympics. "I thought it was really cool with the di erent houses throughout the city, and most of the Vancouverites I've spoken to have a little nostalgia about the 2010 Olym- pics. We'll have that house feeling – the whole area will be tented; the main tent is the Harvest Haus Hall. It'll de nitely be a cultural experience." e event will consist of two four-hour seatings each day – one in the afternoon and another in the evening – where attendees will sit at long tables and enjoy German delicacies (we repeat, beer and schnitzel) as well as theatrical entertainment and musical performances imbued with German and European spirit. And if you're itching to wander, there will be a patio, dance oor and other tents to explore. Whether you've partied at Oktoberfest or not, this will be a celebration new to most Vancouverites. "It's a very cool experience. Vancouver doesn't have many events like this and I think people are going to be pretty excited when they see everything we're putting together for this event," says Emslie. So pull on your lederhosen, raise a glass and get ready to shout "prost!" at the top of your lungs. Who says Vancouver is a no-fun city? ■ Haus Party Say Guten Tag! to fall in the best way possible at Harvest Haus by Michael Small TICKETS Afternoon seating $25 Evening seating $35 VIP seating add $15 Spend four days in Whistler. Drinking beer. How's that for a sales pitch? The second annual Whistler Village Beer Festival (September 11-14), like the name suggests, is all about downing beers in our favourite alpine resort. Okay, maybe we're simplifying things: over the course of 96 hours there will be seminars, parties, awards and ample opportunity to sample some of the fi nest brews available (over 150 di erent selec- tions from 50-plus breweries). If you are new to the brew, don't miss Beer 101, where the uninitiated can get a crash course on everything beer as well as a tour of Whistler's own brewery. Also on deck is Bat & Brew, a softball tournament that, appropriately, will have its very own beer garden. And to open the festival, The Rheinlander Oompah Band, an authentic Oktoberfest polka act, will perform in full lederhosen. It's only fi tting that Whistler, once host to the Olympic Winter Games, will continue its tradition of fostering compe- tition. This time it's for Best in BC, a brew- haha of epic proportions, where di erent B.C. brewers will face o , putting forth special cask ales to determine who's got the best suds. If you're looking for an excursion that focuses on the important things – beer, beer and more beer – mark your calendar and remember to show up thirsty. wvbf.ca WET YOUR WHISTLER WHISTLER VILLAGE BEER FESTIVAL September 11 – 14 18 | bcliving.ca "I thought it was really cool with the di erent houses throughout the city, and most of the Vancouverites I've spoken to have a little nostalgia about the 2010 Olym- pics. We'll have that house feeling – the whole area will be tented; the main de nitely be a cultural experience." doesn't have many events like this and I think people are going to be pretty excited when they see everything we're putting together for this event," says Emslie. a glass and get ready to shout " at the top of your lungs. Who says Vancouver is a no-fun city?