Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival In Leavenworth
2012 Autumn Leaf Festival Button
Leavenworth, Washington is truly a festival town with more than 20 festivals throughout the year. You can celebrate Ice Fest in January, Kinderfest in July and Christmas Lighting in December. But for a real treat, celebrate Leavenworth’s original and longest running festival, the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival on the last weekend of September.
A group of volunteers formed the Autumn Leaf Festival Association (ALFA) and founded the festival in 1964, when Leavenworth adopted the Bavarian theme, making the Autumn Leaf Festival the granddaddy of all Leavenworth Festivals. The September Festival celebrates the turning of the seasons, the beauty of the fall colors and promotes Leavenworth throughout the year. Each year the ALFA selects a Royal Lady of the Autumn Leaves. The Royal Lady, her companions, and other community volunteers visit communities all over the Northwest with a parade float and act as ambassadors, inviting visitors to Leavenworth.
There are many family-oriented activities to enjoy during the Festival. Start your day during the Festival with a community all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Lions Club Park next to City Hall. Beginning on Friday night listen to live music at the Gazebo, watch a drill competition, see folk dancing, and watch the Children’s parade. There are community-wide competitions like pretzel tossing and pumpkin pie-eating. The Gazebo lawn has kids’ activities like a climbing wall and inflatables. Enjoy entertainment by local groups like the Bavarian Brass Band, Musikkapelle and the Edelweiss Tanz Gruppe. There will be clowns, jugglers and magicians.
The Autumn Leaf Grand Parade (noon on Saturday of the Festival) has over 60 entrants. Local celebrities and community floats from Washington, Idaho and Oregon join marching bands and equestrian teams for the best community parade around. The highlight of the Grand Parade is the Autumn Leaf Float. The Royal Lady of the Autumn Leaf rides the float with the Royal Bavarians accompanying it. Join the fun by doing the Chicken Dance while the Autumn Leaf Float parades by. It’s truly a community-wide event with appearances by the Leavenworth Mayor, Chamber of Commerce officers, community mascots.
Village Art in the Park (Washington State’s longest running outdoor art show) continues through October. On the Saturday of the Autumn Leaf Festival stop and see the artists hard at work in the Artists’ Quick Draw. The artists will create artwork on a theme beginning at 11am. At 3pm the artwork will be judged and auctioned. You can discover a new artist and take home original artwork.
While in Leavenworth enjoy local cuisine. There are several places where you can drink in the last rays of the beautiful autumn sun. The amazing scent of grilled sausage fills the air at either of two outdoor sausage and beer gardens. The Leavenworth Sausage Garten by Cured features locally cured sausage. Munchen Haus features authentic grill, live music and German beers on tap. SOUTH, a restaurant with a fresh take on south-of-the-border cuisine, has a lovely patio where you can get amazing mole and specialty drinks. For more German food see our German Food page. For our other favorite places to eat, see our Eat page and take a look at the righthand column. We’ve listed our favorite places to eat, just for you!
The Autumn Leaf Festival celebrates Leavenworth and the changing season. Cooler nights and shorter days mean that the mountainous regions of the Pacific regions enjoy a beautiful range of colors in the deciduous forest. There is so much to see and do when you visit Leavenworth, Washington for the Autumn Leaf Festival. Make Leavenworth your base for day hikes, backpacking and late season golf. Take a walk along the Wenatchee River at Waterfront Park, play some miniature golf, visit an orchard to pick some apples. Don’t forget your camera when you come to Leavenworth. Photography is one of our favorite activities in Leavenworth year-round. Pack a picnic at the Cheesemonger’s on Front street and find a place to enjoy all the sights and sounds of Leavenworth in autumn. Check the weather before you come but Leavenworth generally enjoys mild and beautiful weather through October. Read more about the four seasons of Leavenworth on our Seasons page.
If you love the Autumn Leaf Festival in Leavenworth, why not come back to Washington State’s Bavarian Village for Oktoberfest the next month, or for the Christmas Lighting Festival in December? You can read more about the history of the festival town of Leavenworth on our History page.
