Get revved up for Oktoberfest

Microbrews, chain-saw pumpkin carving, music, a fun run, kids' activities and Dog Day Afternoon are among the crowd-pleasing events at Fremont Oktoberfest, Seattle's unique version of the German fall tradition.

Many festivalgoers plan their day around the Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving Contest at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Other all-ages attractions include the root-beer garden, Zucchini 500 races, family entertainment and street scramble scavenger hunt. Hundreds of dogs and their friends and fans are expected at Sunday's Dog Day Afternoon activities.

Funky, fun German attire is required for one of this year's new features, the Miss Buxom contest Friday night in the Buxom Beer Garden. Also new this year, the Brew Ha-Ha Comedy Show hosts five local comedians at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday at Fremont Studios. "From a guy's point of view, I'm excited about new BMX Stunt Team event Saturday, jumping over 150 or so beer kegs emptied Friday night," Oktoberfest event director Phil Megenhardt enthuses.

Sunday's Brew Ha-Ha 5K run and walk is that rare occasion where a beer belly is an advantage — a cuddly physique earns a big head start to get to the beer garden finish line first.

Great beer is what Oktoberfest is all about at the Microbrew Beer Garden, offering 5-ounce tastes of more than 70 brews from 35 breweries including seasonal harvest ales, traditional German Pilseners, exotic brews and various versions of amber, IPA, porter, lager and other microbrew favorites, along with live music all weekend. The Buxom Beer Garden offers full-size glasses of beer, and, for a break from brews, check out the wine garden and cigar lounge. Vendors offer a variety of food all weekend featuring German and harvest season fare.

The details

Festival time: 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Kids' area 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Cost: festival admission free; admission to the microbrew garden $15/advance, $20/day of event, includes a souvenir cup and four beer tokens, additional tokens $1.75/each; $15/designated drivers and other nondrinkers.

Location: North 35th Street between Phinney Avenue North and First Avenue Northwest on Canal Street, Seattle.

Getting there: Street and pay lot parking in the neighborhood. Metro Transit information, 206-553-3000 or tripplanner.metrokc.gov/.

Brew Ha-Ha 5K: fun run/walk, Beer Belly division for men 200 lbs plus and women 160 lbs plus, registration 8 a.m., race 10 a.m. Sunday; $20/advance, $30/day of race, includes $5 off beer garden.

Brew Ha-Ha Street Scramble: register and check in, 9 a.m., event starts 10:30 a.m., finishes at noon Sunday; $5-$20/person, www.streetscramble.com.

Brew Ha-Ha Comedy Show: 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Fremont Studios, $30/advance, $35/day of, includes beer garden admission.

Dog Day Afternoon: CityDog Cover Dog Model Search, 3 p.m. Sunday, $10/per dog benefits Reading With Rover children's literacy program. Dogs allowed in the Microbrew Garden Sunday only.

More information: 206-633-0421 or www.fremontoktoberfest.com.