When September's cooler days arrived, the brewers returned to their kettles. And with a new batch of beer on the way, it was time to finish off the last of the Märzen. In 1810, Münchners were given one more reason to drink up: Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese. Their nuptial celebration turned into--or, more likely, became the excuse for--Oktoberfest.

A lot has changed since the first Oktoberfest: a harvest fair was added; carnival rides made their appearance; and local breweries set up beer tents for the crowds. The beer got a makeover as well: Märzen became a lighter, less potent brew called Oktoberfest, or simply festbier.

For many of us, a trip to Munich is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But every fall, thousands of North American communities, large and small, stage homegrown Oktoberfests. Legend has it that Blob's Park, a dance hall in Jessup, Maryland, staged the first one in 1947. The idea caught on quickly; German-American societies and local chambers of commerce launched their own celebrations. Here are some of the best:

• Cincinnati, Ohio, September 14-16. Being Munich's sister city means living up to high standards, but Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati delivers. Drawing half a million or more, it's one of the most popular Oktoberfests outside Germany. Silliness is encouraged; the world 's record for the largest Chicken Dance was set here, and this year's massed kazoo band will be led by Tony Orlando.
  
• Columbus, Ohio, September 21-23. German Village isn't just a charming bit of living history; it's a thriving urban neighborhood. The site is unmistakably German, but the festival itself has taken on an all-American flavor, with something for all ages and tastes. The big draw is three stages where visitors can listen--and dance--to everything from the blues to country.
  
• Frankenmuth, Michigan, September 13-16. Michigan's "Little Bavaria" celebrated its first Oktoberfest in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall came down and the two Germanys were reunited. This little town has earned a coveted honor: its Oktoberfest is the only one in America with an official seal of approval from Munich's Lord Mayor.
  
• Fredericksburg, Texas, October 5-7. Founded in 1846 by German settlers, this Hill Country town is a natural venue for Oktoberfest. Organizers promise "oompah at its best"--brass bands and polka music to whet the appetite for German food and beer. There's fun for children, too; a separate Kinderhalle, as well as wall climbing, face painting, and radio-controlled race cars.
  
• Helen, Georgia, September 13-November 3. Oktoberfest lasts eight weeks in this faithful reproduction of an Alpine village in the Blue Ridge Mountains. German bands from Europe and America highlight the festivities. The town itself is an attraction, too; there are quaint shops and restaurants, and, in the surrounding hills, fall colors to admire.
  
• Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, October 5-13. The festivities begin with trumpets from the rooftops; and, before the last Ein Prosit is sung, 700,000 visitors will take part. Eighteen festhallen offer beer and a variety of food and entertainment; there are also family events, including a gala parade marking Canada's Thanksgiving.
  
• La Crosse, Wisconsin, September 28-October 6. Beer is part of everyday life in La Crosse, where eight German-owned breweries once stood. One of them, G. Heilman, helped get Oktoberfest USA off the ground. Today, it's one of the nation's best Old World folk festivals, with an honorary royal family, a lederhosen luncheon, and a torchlight parade.
  
• Mt. Angel, Oregon, September 13-16. Oktoberfest in this German pioneer town started as a traditional harvest festival. It has become the state's largest folk celebration, highlighted by a Bavarian maypole dance performed by schoolchildren. Visitors will find dozens of food chalets, weekend street dancing, and a beer garden serving Oregon craft brews.
  
• Seattle, Washington, September 21-23. The Fremont neighborhood, which calls itself "The Center of the Universe," offers a one-of-a-kind Oktoberfest, with chainsaw pumpkin carving and cross-dressing lumberjacks. The beer tent is a microbrew festival, with some 30 breweries on hand. But there's one bow to tradition: musicians have to perform at least one German song per set.
  
• Torrance, California, September 8-October 28. Alpine Village, a bit of Germany in southern California, has been staging an authentic Oktoberfest for more than three decades. The festivities include brass bands from Germany, folk dancing, and yodeling and wood sawing contests. The festbier served here is brewed on the premises.
  
• Tulsa, Oklahoma, October 18-21. The city's large German-American community--and their many friends--will celebrate with beer barrel races, a Polka Mass, and rides for kids of all ages. And lots of good food; the festival has earned a spot on Bon Appetit magazine's list of the best German food festivals.

This article originally appeared on Suite101.com in September 2001.