Oktoberfest at Lafayette Village

A free Oktoberfest afternoon at Lafayette Village in north Raleigh, with a registration fee for the dachshund races.

Lafayette Village is a European-style courtyard development off Falls of Neuse, which makes it one of the more atmospheric settings for this in the county. An Oktoberfest in a parking lot is a different experience from one in a courtyard surrounded by cafes and shops, and this is the second kind.

What happens across the three hours:

• Dachshund races, which require registration and a fee
• Food and drink from the village's own businesses
• Music
• A courtyard that is already built for standing around in

The dog races are the draw and they are the thing to arrive early for if you are entering. If you are only spectating, the courtyard fills up along the race route well before the start.

For Wake Forest readers this is the closest Oktoberfest of the season, sitting just down Falls of Neuse rather than out at Koka Booth in Cary. If you want the full Bavarian production with steins and a stage, Triangle Oktoberfest the previous day is the bigger event. If you want a pleasant afternoon with a dog race and somewhere to sit down afterwards, this is the one.

Free to attend.

Three hours on a Saturday afternoon is an easy commitment, and the village stays open afterwards if you want to carry on somewhere with a roof.