Mt. Angel Hazelnut Festival starts this weekend

MT. ANGEL, Ore. — Oktoberfest is long over, but here's another reason to head to Mt. Angel. The 7th annual Hazelnut Festival and German Holiday Market is the first weekend in December. It features authentic German and local arts and crafts, Oregon wineries and breweries, and foods that feature Oregon's state nut.

Tricia Kloft Leahy, the owner of Hattie's Sweet Shop, makes fresh hazelnut fudge, among other treats. She says the festival is a great place to shop local for all your holiday gifts.

"Most of the hazelnut production in the U.S. is actually from Oregon, so you'll get to see and meet a lot of local hazelnut producers, a lot of local craft vendors, and you can really support local, small, family-owned business," she said.

Those family-owned businesses are those like Touch of Bavaria, which sells authentic Lederhosen, Dirndls and gifts straight from Germany, and Benedictine Brewery, which is one of only a handful of monastic breweries in the United States.

There will also be entertainment, a Tree of Trades lighting, a 5k Run and Santa Claus.

Kloft Leahy adds, "The Hazelnut Fest is a great family event where you can come down and you can enjoy Mt. Angel without all of the huge crowds that are at Oktoberfest."

Admission and parking are FREE.

WHEN

Saturday, December 1st 2018 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, December 2nd 2018 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE

Mt. Angel Festhalle

500 S Wilco Hwy 214 Mount Angel, OR 97362