Tourist Information for Leavenworth, WA

Front Street in Autumn

It’s August already. The “end of summer” blues are just around the corner. I can feel it coming like a train climbing Stevens Pass. If you’re like me you’re probably spending time online or perusing your favorite travel magazines, looking for inspiration for a weekend getaway to celebrate the cooler weather of fall, or to eke out the last few rays of summer. Leavenworth, Washington is my favorite place for a weekend getaway anytime of year, but in the golden days of late summer and autumn the Bavarian village is at its best.

You can find out what’s happening in Leavenworth by checking in with the Accidental Bavarian Event Calendar. Click on the month you’re looking for and every event that we’ve found and that businesses and festivals have alerted us to is listed here. You can also check in with TNBT (The Next Big Thing) where we list events happening for the following two weeks or so. If you look at September’s events now you’ll find the Leavenworth Quilt Show, and Leavenworth’s original festival, the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival. One of our favorite itineraries is to arrive on a Sunday, enjoy festival activities and then enjoy the quiet side of Leavenworth on Monday and Tuesday. Or use the event calendar to plan a visit without a festival, if crowds aren’t your thing. Though once September starts, there are festivals in Leavenworth every weekend until Oktoberfest ends on October 15th.

Use the key word search in the Event calendar to find other stuff to do during your visit. You can find special events like concerts, a Night at the (Nutcracker) Museum, wine tastings, winery tours, the county fair and live music. You’ll also find links to ongoing events like the Leavenworth Community Farmers Market, on Thursdays and Village Art on the Green.

Cascade Mountains in the fall

For places to stay on your long weekend check our Stay page. You can search for a favorite place or one friends have recommended or look by category. If you’re looking for a weekend cabin then check with Comfy Cabins for cabin and condo rental listings. Follow them on Facebook and they’ll post about any last minute openings for a spontaneous getaway, sometimes with a booking discount or special offer.

Looking for traditional German food while you’re in Leavenworth? Check our German Food page for some of our favorites. You’ll find places like Munchen Haus with outdoor seating, savory flavored grilled sausages with all the trimmings like housemade sauerkraut, and German beers on tap. Or sit at a window seat in Café Christa, overlooking the Gazebo, and enjoy German specialties like Jaeger schnitzel, mit spaetzl und apfelrotkraut. Jori also has German beer on tap and a fine selection of German wine.

You’ll find lots of other kinds of European and America fare in Leavenworth. Check our Eat page for ideas for everything from gelato to pizza. You’ll find Italian, Asian, cafe fare and lots of chocolate. Scotte and I usually can’t find time to eat all of our favorites during a weekend visit. That’s okay we always know we’ll be back soon. And we never leave without a stop at the Cheesemonger’s Shop and Fudge Hut for continuing enjoyment once we’re home.

Be sure you make time this fall to visit one or more of the many fruit orchards strung out throughout the Wenatchee Valley. The Cascade Foothills Farmland Association has interactive growers maps. You can also request an AgTourism Driving Map. Visit orchards that have been cultivated by the same family for generations, vineyards producing fine Washington wines and wine tasting rooms in Leavenworth and the surrounding area.

Plan a weekend in Leavenworth. Visit Accidental Bavarian for places to stay and eat and things to do during the months of September and October. It’s just the thing you need to bridge the gap between summer and autumn and chase away the back-to-school blues. And be sure to check back frequently. We’ve got some surprises planned for fall.

We at Accidental Bavarian congratulate the 2011 Royal Lady of the Autumn Leaves, Nancy Watson. Each year the Autumn Leaf Festival Association (ALFA) chooses a member of the community to represent the association and the community of Leavenworth. The Royal Lady, along with other members of the association and other community volunteers, travels to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest promoting Leavenworth and inviting folks to enjoy the hospitality of Leavenworth. Mrs. Watson will ride the ALFA’s float in as many as 14 parades throughout the spring and summer.

Mrs. Watson, the 48th Royal Lady, has a long history in Leavenworth, though she has described herself as a comparative newcomer. Her husband, Lynn, was born and raised in Leavenworth. Mr. Watson’s mother, Pauline Watson, was the 1980 Royal Lady. Lynn and Nancy have a long history of community involvement and volunteerism in Leavenworth. The Watsons own Alpen Haus Gifts and the Alpen Rose Inn. Mr. Watson is one of the founding members of the Royal Bavarians, a service organization that supports the Autumn Leaf Festival, among other community projects. Mrs. Watson taught in the Leavenworth School District until her retirement in 2000, where she still serves as a substitute teacher on occasion.

The Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival is Leavenworth’s original festival on a calendar full of them. Established in 1964, the festival celebrates the changing of the seasons. The village is filled with activities, entertainment, food and a grand parade. The family-friendly festival is organized, sponsored and staged by the Autumn Leaf Festival Association (AFLA) in conjunction with members of the community, the Royal Bavarians, Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leavenworth.

This year’s Autumn Leaf Festival theme is 80 Years of Winter Sports. 2011 festival dates are September 23-25. The first scheduled float appearance for 2011 is the Tacoma Daffodil Festival Parade, April 9, 2011.

To read more about Leavenworth festivals the year-round, visit our Festivals page!