True, Oktoberfest in Buffalo isn’t quite Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.  Across the pond, the celebration runs 16 days, includes 1.5 million gallons of Marzen (beer) and absurd quantities of spit-roasted chickens.  Did you know the largest Oktoberfest party outside of Germany resides in Kitchener & Waterloo, Canada?  Shocking news to us.

Don’t fret, Germans (and celebration addicts) of Western New York; there are an abundance of opportunities this weekend. 

Option #1:  Ben Kirst already broke down the happenings at the Buffalo Central Terminal, where a proper German Oktoberfest costume earns you free admission!  It’s $10 for the shy, costume-free folks.  There will be beer.

Option #2:  Oktoberfest at the Ukrainian-American Civic Center (205 Military Road), $8.  Ukraine has an embassy in Berlin, while the Germans have an embassy in Kiev, so put your glasses up!  Mosey over to Black Rock, a slowly emerging section of Buffalo for an ethnic extravaganza.  “Buffalo’s premier German band,” the Auslanders (the Frankfurters just raised their collective eyebrow) will be on-stage, and German dinners (featuring bratwursts!) will be available.  Doors open at 5 p.m., and music runs from 7 to 11 p.m.  There’s beer here, too.

Option #3:  Oinktoberfest, Saturday and Sunday at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, $5, 10 a.m. through dusk.  Can you beat the smell of barbecue on an early fall day?  A sanctioned Kansas City Barbecue Society contest, Oinktoberfest invites barbecue experts from around the nation to post up in Clarence and vie for the $1500 grand prize that spans four competitions (think in Great Food Truck Race terms, almost).  Coinciding with the Great Pumpkin Farm’s Fall Festival opening—there will be plenty to do.  Oh yeah, there’s a beer & wine garden, too.

I’ve managed to make it the whole article without mentioning “lederhosen.”  That’s probably because I didn’t know what a “lederhosen” was until five minutes ago.  Enjoy Oktoberfest, WNY!