LINCOLN SQUARE — Hoist a stein in honor of Chicago's German-American community at Oktoberfest this weekend.
Enjoy German food, beer, music and dancing at the annual three-day event, now in its 97th year. Lederhosen optional.
The party kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday and runs through 10 p.m. Sunday in Lincoln Square, on Leland Avenue between Lincoln and Western.
The traditional Von Steuben Parade, celebrating its 52nd anniversary, will make its way up Lincoln Avenue starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, stepping off from Irving Park Road.
Along with the fest come the usual street closures and parking restrictions:
• Lincoln Avenue will be closed to northbound traffic at Eastwood through 6 a.m. Monday. Southbound traffic on Lincoln will be diverted east via Leland.
• Towing alert: "No parking" zones will be in place along the parade route beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Affected streets include Lincoln from Irving Park Road to Eastwood; Eastwood from Lincoln to Western; Western (east side only) from Eastwood to Lawrence; and Lawrence (south side only) from Western to Leavitt.
The fest's hours are: 5-11 p.m. Friday, official opening ceremony at 8 p.m.; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; and noon-10 p.m. Sunday, German Mass at 11 a.m.
Admission is free. Proceeds from food and drink sales benefit the United German-American Societies of Greater Chicago.
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