Bavarian Bulletin - August 4,  2026 Edition

The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce is now hiring for Oktoberfest! This year's festival runs three weekends: October 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17.

Festival Hours

• Friday: 6 PM – Midnight
• Saturday: Noon – Midnight
• Some shifts will start before opening and end after closing.

Positions & Pay
Hourly rate: $20–$25

• Recycle / Compost
• Bussers / Runners
• Gate Monitors
• Ticket Scanners / Wristbands
• Bartenders
• Supervisors
• Ticket Sales

Returning employees are eligible for a wage increase from previous years.

Requirements

• Must be 21 or older
• Full or part-time weekend availability accepted
• Priority scheduling given to those available all three weekends

Training Provided
We'll cover job training, including alcohol training through the Chelan County Liquor Board specific to festivals and events, plus the cost of MAST and Food Handler cards.

How to Apply
Please submit your application so we have your most up-to-date information.

The Leavenworth Chainsaw Carving Auction closed Friday, raising a total of $2,785 to benefit two local nonprofits: the Chumstick Wildfire Coalition and the Chelan County Fire District No. 3 Volunteer Firefighters Association. Proceeds will be split evenly between the two organizations, $1,392.50 each. Congratulations to our winning bidders, and thank you to everyone who bid and supported this year's auction!

Auction Results

Bear Portrait sold for $800 to JoAnne Eriksen. Owl & Owlets Nest sold for $430 to Kurt Peterson. Horse at Water sold for $300 to Katie Barrett. Bear Meets Beehive sold for $500 to Susie Darlington. Heron on the Water sold for $755 to Stacy Erisman. Together, these five carvings raised $2,785 for our local fire community.

With continued media coverage, visible smoke and air quality issues from the Little Giant Fire, we've updated our website with accurate, up-to-date information for visitors — and we wanted to make sure you have it too, especially if you're fielding questions from guests or callers.

Key points to share:

• The fire is burning in a remote area near Lake Wenatchee, about 22 miles northwest of Leavenworth, and started from a lightning strike on July 15.
• Leavenworth is not threatened. Downtown, lodging, and attractions are open and operating normally. Only some U.S. Forest Service trails and roads in the Lake Wenatchee / Chiwawa River area are closed.
• Air quality can shift hour to hour depending on wind and weather, so it's worth checking current conditions before heading out.

Resources to point guests to:

• Our Travel Advisory page has the full, current rundown — please direct anyone calling with questions there. (Pictured above and always found in the top right corner of Leavenworth.org)
• Live webcams give a real-time look at Leavenworth's sky and town conditions.
• AirNow for current air quality.
• Official Forest Service updates on trail and road closures.

We're also reaching out directly to news stations that have shared outdated or inaccurate information about the fire's impact on Leavenworth, to help get the facts corrected. Because Leavenworth is such a recognizable name, we're often used as the reference point on news and weather maps even when an event isn't happening right in town — in this case, the fire started in Plain and moved, which is why Leavenworth keeps getting referenced, frustrating as that is. Thank you for helping us keep visitors informed with accurate information during this time.

FINAL REMINDER!  

The Leavenworth Fund is OPEN and accepting online grant applications for 2027

Leavenworth Fund Grants are available to nonprofit organizations recognized as 501(c) organizations or those applying through a qualified fiscal sponsor.

Complete applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026.

Why We Send Event Press Releases

The Chamber sends targeted press releases like the Oktoberfest announcement to give media outlets, travel writers, and bloggers the accurate, ready-to-use information they need to cover our destination — often before word spreads on its own. This is the second of three Oktoberfest releases planned this season, each timed to keep the story fresh in front of press as different details (lineup, tickets, event logistics) become newsworthy. The payoff shows up as earned media: coverage we don't pay for but that reaches audiences at a scale and credibility paid advertising can't match. Last year alone, proactive PR outreach helped generate nearly $2 million in earned media value from outlets including HuffPost, Islands, Yahoo, and the Seattle Times — exposure that drives real overnight visitation and reinforces Leavenworth's reputation as a destination worth the trip.

_{* Remember, these are footfalls counted by five camera locations on Front Street. The numbers are NOT individual people counts, those numbers would be lower.}

Oktoberfest 2026 tickets are on sale here: Oktoberfest event page.  

You can still become a sponsor of Oktoberfest, more information can be found here.

Orion River Rafting • Glory Days Vintage • Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration • The Hat Shop • Red Bell Christmas Motel • Blue Elk Inn • Leavenworth Lions Club • Obertal Inn• WaFd Bank • Faith Lutheran Church • Leavenworth Great Escapes • All Seasons River Inn • Mountain Country Corner • Icicle Village Resort • Chateau Faire Le Pont - Leavenworth Tasting Room • The Suites on Main  • A Book For All Seasons • Dan’s Food Market 

Websites
Leavenworthchamber.org
Leavenworth.org

Our mailing address is:
Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 327
940 Highway 2 Suite B
Leavenworth, WA 98826-0327

If you have questions, please call us at (509)548-5807

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