RANGELEY — Autumn foliage is expected to be at peak color for the third annual Oktoberfest weekend Friday through Sunday, Oct. 3 to 5, Gail Spaulding of the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce said Thursday afternoon.

Businesses in Rangeley and Oquossoc village celebrate during the three-day festival, which features food, entertainment and an abundance of beers in a unique festival exploring the restaurants, pubs, shops and museums on the National Scenic Byway from Rangeley to Oquossoc.

“The foliage is getting really pretty now thanks to those chilly temperatures,” Spaulding said.

The cold spell last week and on Monday brought the color out quickly, she said.

“It’s not at peak yet but, by this festival weekend, they should be pretty close,” she said. “Hopefully, the weather will be good.”

Spaulding said the festival  has “been very popular and we’ve been getting a lot of questions about it from a lot of people who have seen this on our Facebook page and our website.”

Festivities will kick off Friday, Oct. 3, with a Brat-and-Strudel competition from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Rangeley Inn & Tavern at 2443 Main St. Local businesses and individuals will be offering their best brat and strudels for the public to taste.

Attendees can purchase a passport at participating businesses and are encouraged to visit a restaurant or shop in each district of the festival. They can get their passport stamped, Joanna Farrar, marketing assistant for the chamber, said Thursday in a news release.

Participants can drop off the completed passport at the Saddleback Realty Office on Main Street to be eligible for prizes.

Restaurants and shops will be offering specials and deals throughout the weekend. The Saddleback “Pickle Bus” will be running a continuous loop on Saturday to transport guests to events, music, food and fun.

The Samuel Adams Stein Hoisting competition involves hoisting a full liter stein longer than anyone else. Sam Adams officials will be in Rangeley looking for the region’s champions to send to Boston to compete in the national stein hosting competition, according to the chamber. Two national champions will go on to compete at Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich, Germany.

Stein Hoisting competition semifinals will be held Friday at 4 p.m at 45th Parallel at 2303 Main St., 4:30 p.m. at the Rangeley Inn & Tavern, 5:30 p.m. at Bald Mountain Camps at 125 Bald Mountain Road, 6:30 p.m. at Tall Tales Tavern at 17 Rumford Road, 7:30 p.m. at Moose Alley at 2809 Main St., and 8:30 p.m. at Sarge’s at 2454 Main St.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum will host its 21st annual Apple Harvest Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Church of the Good Shepherd at 2614 Main St. in Rangeley.

Breakfast and a luncheon will be served. Additionally, there will be a raffle and bake sale, more than 30 vendors, children’s pumpkin decorating, and a visit by Mr. Moose.

The Oktoberfest Parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in Rangeley.

The Stein Hoisting Finals will be held at 8 p.m. at Moose Alley.

Horse drawn wagon rides will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rangeley Chamber of Commerce on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The cost is $2 per ride.

On Sunday, a Katzenjammer Brunch will be held at any of Rangeley’s participating restaurants from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

The festival will end at 1 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce with the announcements of brat-and-strudel competition winners, beer stein hoisting winners and passport prize drawings.

For more information, visit www.rangeleymaine.com/rangeley-oktoberfest or email info@rangeleymaine.com.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com