PA Oktoberfest brings favorite and new events to Mohegan Sun this weekend
Yes, we know: pumpkin ALL the things!
The seasons are so very clearly turning now, which not only means snuggly sweaters, hot soup, and pumpkin-flavored everything, it also means beer. Delicious beer. And despite the fact that it’s only September, Oktoberfest season is here.
The festivities continue this weekend at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Go see some adorable little wiener dogs race their stubby legs off; chug a pitcher or two of an old favorite or try out something new – test your might during the Okto-Beer Pitcher Holding contest. There’s no shortage of fun to be had.
“There is huge German American population base here in Northeast PA,” said Kara Fox-LaRose, assistant general manager at Mohegan, “but an event like Oktoberfest is really just a great way to celebrate the beginning of fall, no matter what your nationality. And fall is certainly a season worth celebrating here in this region – it’s a lovely time of year.”
Each year, the fest grows. This year, a brand new homebrew contest has been added, the dachshund races are now in the center of the action, and new food vendors are in attendance, including the ever-popular What the Fork food truck.
The Strong Man & Woman: Okto-Beer Pitcher Holding Event is a huge draw, occurring at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. It’s far from a drinking game, however – it’s one of strength. Entrants must hold a 64-ounce pitcher of beer with an outstretched arm for as long as possible. Those wishing to participate should report to the second stage area a half hour early before the competition begins.
The competition is actually pretty stiff. On Sunday at 1 p.m., male winners are welcome to challenge Reinhard, a 60-year-old man who has beaten down every person who tried to outlast him in this game.
And, hey you don’t even have to like beer to enjoy Oktoberfest! In fact, Fox-LaRose is actually not much of a brew fan herself.
“Beer is not my personal beverage preference, so I wasn’t sure if this was an event that I would attend as a guest. I encourage anyone who might have the same perspective to attend.
“We offer an array of beverage options beyond the 50 beers and ciders, various local food vendors, and the entertainment is continuous throughout the weekend – and top notch.”
Location: The Racetrack at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (1280 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre)
Dates/Times: Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $6, each day at the door
Wiener dog races: Sept. 13: 3, 6, 9:30 p.m.; Sept. 14, 3 p.m.
Entertainment:
Sept. 13:
12:15–1 p.m.: Joe Stanky & His Cadets
1–1:15 p.m.: Alphorn Ensemble
1:15–2 p.m.: Joe Maloy
2–2:45 p.m.: Joe Stanky & His Cadets
2:45–3 p.m.: HSV Bavaria
3–3:45 p.m.: Romy
3:45–4 p.m.: Alphorn Ensemble
4–4:45 p.m.: John Stanky & The Coalminers
4:45–5 p.m.: Joe Maloy
5–5:45 p.m.: The Adlers
5:45–6 p.m.: HSV Bavaria
6–6:45 p.m.: John Stanky & The Coalminers
6:45–7 p.m.: Alphorn Ensemble
7–7:45 p.m.: Romy
7:45–8:15 p.m.: Joe Maloy
8:15–9 p.m.: The Adlers
9–9:15 p.m.: HSV Bavaria
9:15–10 p.m.: Romy
10–10:15 p.m.: Alphorn Ensemble
10:15–11 p.m.: The Adlers
Sept. 14:
11–12:15 p.m.: Festive Oktoberfest Music
12:15–1 p.m.: The Adlers
1–1:15 p.m.: HSV Bavaria
1:15–2 p.m.: Romy
2–2:15 p.m.: Alphorn Ensemble
2:15–3 p.m.: Joe Maloy
3–3:15 p.m.: HSV Bavaria
3:15–4 p.m.: The Adlers
4–4:15 p.m.: Alphorn Ensemble
4:15–5 p.m.: Romy
- Angry Orchard Hard Cider
- Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
- Coors Light
- Crispin Cider
- Dinkelacker Oktoberfest
- Dinkelacher Pilsner
- Evil Genius Pumpkin
- Flying Fish Oktoberfish
- Flying Fish Red Fish
- Franziskaner Hefe-Weizen
- Great Lakes Oktoberfest
- Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald
- Great Lakes Commadore Perry
- Ithaca Country Pumpkin
- Ithaca Flower Power
- Jacko Traveler Pumpkin Cider
- Kuku Pumpkin
- Kuku IPA
- Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest
- Leinenkugel’s Orange Shandy
- Liebotschaner Ale
- Long Trail Pumpkin
- Long Trail Harvest
- Long Trail Limbo
- Magic Hat Wilham Pumpkin
- Miller Light
- Nimble Hill Hugelfest
- Nimble Hill Mysteria
- Redd’s Apple Ale
- Sam Adams Fat Jack
- Sam Adams Octoberfest
- Saranac Pumpkin
- Saranac Legacy IPA
- Shiner Oktoberfest
- Shiner Bock
- Spaten Oktoberfest
- Spring House Big Gruesome
- Starr Hill “Boxcar” Pumpkin Porter
- Starr Hill King Of Hops
- Stegmaier Oktoberfest
- Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale
- Stegmaier IPA
- Stoudts Oktober Fest
- Stoudts Pumpkin
- Victory Festbier
- Warsteiner
- Warsteiner Oktoberfest
- Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
- Woodchuck Hopped Apple
- Woodchuck Pumpkin Cider
- Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier
- Hofbräu Hefeweizen
- Hofbräu Original
- Becks Oktoberfest
- Magners Cider
- Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale
- Yards Cape Of Good Hope IPA
- Yards Brawler
- Yards Pynk Berry Ale
- Appalachian Brewing Kipona Fest
- Bud Light
- Shock Top Pumpkin
- Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat
- Johnny Appleseed
- Widmer Oktoberfest
- Goose Island IPA
- Yuengling Oktoberfest
- Yuengling Light
- Yuengling Lager
- Sbc Oktoberfest
- Sbc Pumpkin
- Sbc So-Wheat
