Love to chow down? Check out a few of the great foodie offerings on tap this fall in the tri-states:
Wingfest 2019
Time/date: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.
Site: Farley (Iowa) City Park, 604 Seventh Ave. NE.
Cost: Free, with food available for purchase.
What to expect: Twelve competitors will be cooking more than 9,500 wings. Attendees can take part in sand volleyball, baggo, human Foosball tournaments and a wing-eating contest. The University of Iowa versus Iowa State University game will be displayed on big screens. And live music, as well as entertainment for kids, will be available throughout the day.
Oktoberfest
Time/date: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.
Site: Potosi (Wis.) Brewery, 209 S. Main St.
Cost: Free, with food and beer available for purchase.
What to expect: Help celebrate the release of the brewery’s seasonal Oktoberfest Marzen-style lager, with German food, live music and more.
Dubuque Oktoberfest
Time/date: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.
Site: A.Y. McDonald Park.
Cost: $5, with bier tasting tickets $15.
What to expect: Enjoy bier tasting from 3 to 6 p.m., with more than 25 local, regional and national breweries; food and drinks; live music from the Guttenberg (Iowa) German Band, the Americana Band and the Loras College German Band; wiener dog races; and games, including Hammerschlagen, Masskrugstemmen (a stein-holding contest), Tug of War and Beer Pong. The University of Northern Iowa International Dance Theatre also will perform traditional German and Slavic dances. Proceeds benefit Camp Albrecht Acres.
Guttenberg GermanFest
Time/date: 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
Site: River Park Drive, Guttenberg, Iowa.
Cost: Free, with food and beer available for purchase.
What to expect: The 29th annual festival will feature live music, German dancers, wiener dog races, a German shepherd and agility demonstration, a sauerkraut contest, activities for kids and, of course, beer and brats to boot.
Fall Harvest Festival
Time/date: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
Site: Galena (Ill.) Cellars Vineyard, 4746 N. Ford Road.
Cost: Free, with tasting tickets, wine and food available for purchase.
What to expect: Enjoy wine tasting, food, a grape stomp, vineyard tours, wagon rides, local artists, live music, activities for kids and more.
Dubuque Area Baconfest
Time/date: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3.
Site: Grand River Center, Port of Dubuque.
Cost: $25-$45.
What to expect: The sixth annual bacon-themed evening features taste-testing and voting on the best bacon dishes from area restaurants, grocery stores, barbecue pits and caterers. Local chefs prepare and serve samples starring bacon and compete for best appetizer, best main dish and best dessert. Proceeds support Area Residential Care.
Tri-State’s Largest Chili Cook-Off
Time/date: Saturday, Oct. 5.
Site: Cable Car Square.
Cost: Free, with food available for purchase.
What to expect: The Dubuque Jaycees host the 27th annual event, which includes a day full of games, live music and, of course, chili.
Galena Oktoberfest
Time/date: 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.
Site: Depot Park, Galena, Ill.
Cost: $5. Those 12 and younger are free.
What to expect: See the ceremonial tapping of the keg, and take in live music, wiener dog races, polka lessons, a bean bag tournament, a beer stein endurance contest, a bounce house, pumpkin decorating, food and more.
Nouveau Wine Weekend
Times/dates: Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16.
Site: Galena (Ill.) Cellars Winery, 515 S. Main St.
Cost: Free, with food and wine available for purchase.
What to expect: Be a part of the annual release of Le Beaujolais Nouveau by Galena Cellars, the practice of bottling the first wine of the harvest. Area businesses will offer Nouveau-inspired meals and entertainment. On the first day of the celebration, a horse-drawn wagon parade will deliver Nouveau wine to businesses.
