Oktoberfest 2015 in the Bay Area: All the Ways to Drink Beer and Eat Bratwurst

Is the best part of October the fact that it can sometimes be spelled with a "k" and turned into a German beer-drinking fest? It just might be, and to celebrate that, here's a roundup of all the Oktoberfest events happening in the Bay Area, organized by starting date. You're very welcome.

Friday, September 18

Schroeder's Oktoberfest Celebration: Schroeder's is hosting its annual Oktoberfest Celebration, starting today from 3 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. with an outdoor biergarten serving German beers and food, of course. Schroeder's is going big this year and continuing the fun for the next five Saturdays with Oktoberfest specials on the menu.

Redwood City: AlpinersUSA and The Golden Gate Bavarian Club are getting the party started with music and dancing in downtown Redwood City all weekend long, helped along by steins on tap, pretzels, brats and more. Head here for the schedule and tickets.

Saturday, September 19

Suppenküche: This hush-hush one day celebration is a collaboration between Suppenküche, Proxy and Biergarten. It starts at noon at the Hayes Valley Proxy art gallery public lot with Kloster Andechs beer on tap, pretzels, Casey's Pizza, Ritual coffee, Smitten ice cream, music and a lot more, then moves to to Biergarten at 3 p.m. with Oktoberfest specials, sausage and, of course, more beer. At 5 p.m. the party continues at Suppenküche. It's like an all-day Oktoberfest crawl, all within one convenient block. Head here for all the details.

Sunday, September 20

Speisekammer: For four Sundays in a row starting September 20, Speisekammer in Alameda is hosting traditional festivities with live music, dancing and grilled sausages. More info here.

Friday, September 25

Oktoberfest by the Bay: There’s a 21-piece band headlining this year's Oktoberfest by the Bay, if that gives you any indication of the planned festivities. For the entire weekend, Pier 48 is transformed into a massive German celebration with food no more than $12 and $6 beer. Head here for more information and tickets.

Saturday, September 26

Tam Valley: This one's for all the parents out there who can't find a babysitter. The Tam Valley Community Center in Mill Valley is providing German food and beer for you and free carnival rides for your kids. Get the details here.

Jack Rose: From 4 p.m.- 9 p.m., drink four German drafts, dance to a German band and eat German sausages and pretzels at Jack Rose's outdoor beer garden.

Vacaville: Downtown Vacaville doesn't want to be left out of the party, so for the ninth year running, its Town Square will have live music, beer and German food to celebrate. More details here.

Thursday, October 1

German American Chamber of Commerce: You know the German American Chamber of Commerce is taking Oktoberfest very seriously, and this year, from 5 p.m.- 10 p.m., they'll be providing beer, music, food and more at the Presidio's Observation Post. Get your tickets here.

Saturday, October 3

Park Chalet: There's a 30-piece band coming to Park Chalet in Golden Gate Park from 2 p.m.- 5 p.m., with plenty of steins, handmade German pretzels and servers forced to wear Bavarian gear. All the info here.

Mountain View: Steins Beer Garden, Tied House and the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce are creating a massive 7,000-square-foot Oktoberfest tent replete with music, beer and food for the whole weekend. Get tickets and more information here.

Plank: Celebrate in Oakland on the water with Plank's October 3 and October 10 celebrations in the 15,000-square-foot beer garden with 20-ounce beers, kielbasa, pretzels sticks with IPA cheese sauce and tons of games. More info here.

Oaktoberfest: Oaktoberfest takes place, fittingly, in Oakland with 40 local breweries, a kids' area and lotsa German food. Head here for all the details.

Oakland Nature Friends: This normally private club is opening its doors to the public in honor of Oktoberfest festivities and providing alpine and international folk music, Schuhplattler dance performances, German food and beer. Snag tickets and all the information here.

Saturday, October 10

The Yard: From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., The Yard will have $5 Anchor Oktoberfest pints, sausages, traditional music and cornhole to celebrate the the 'fest.

Monday, October 12

21st Amendment: All week from October 12 to October 18, 21st Amendment Brewpub will have food and drink deals and a special German menu, plus an Oktoberfest lager on tap. The San Leandro location will have live music on Friday, October 16 and then it's the brewpub's turn on Saturday October 17.

Saturday, October 17

Biketoberfest: Hanging on the (w)heels of the German festivities is Biketoberfest in Fairfax, which is using Oktoberfest as the perfect excuse to celebrate bikes of all kinds. There will be 70 bike exhibitors, bike racing, 35 beers from 20 West Coast brewers, live music and tons of food. Learn all about it and buy tickets here.

Pyramid's Walnut Creek Alehouse: Live music, a bratwurst eating competition, a stein holding competition, costume contest and tons of food and drink are going down from 4 p.m.- 11 p.m. at the Walnut Creek Alehouse. More info here.

Walnut Creek: Downtown Walnut Creek is transforming to an Oktoberfest celebration with a biergarten, kids’ rides, a pumpkin patch and German food from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. All the details are here.