Though the event has a heavy focus on microbrews, the 13th annual Fremont Oktoberfest will not be a celebration just for those of drinking age, according to organizers.

Families should round up the troops as this year’s Oktoberfest will be filled with food, beverages and entertainment geared toward all ages.

“I think the event itself is shaping up to be one of the most interesting Oktoberfests yet,” said Phil Megenhardt of Bold Hat productions, the company producing the event.

The annual event, which takes place the weekend of Sept. 18 through 20, is also a benefit for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

There will be a number of stages set up to host multiple events and entertainment throughout the weekend, such as the pumpkin carving exhibition, City Dog Cover Dog Model Contest and more.

Megenhardt said what he's most excited about is the collaboration with the television show The Simpsons 20th anniversary party, which will host the Oktoberfest's main stage.

Fremont will be the West Coast leg of the show's anniversary party, said Megenhardt.

“Seattle itself has the highest rating for The Simpsons show, which makes sense why they’d come out," he said.

During the anniversary festivities, the main stage will also be hosting The Simpsons Santa’s Little Helper Dog Look-a-Like contest.

For those 21 and older, a posh new feature developed over the years - the VIP Cabana Party seating area.

It's an opportunity to live the “good life” for a couple of hours or the whole night, Megenhardt said. Instead of picnic benches, the cabanas feature cushy couches for those who want an exclusive seating area for themselves and up to 15 friends.

“The Stranger Micro Garden will have more than 70 beers on tap, three types of pumpkin ale and the beer lineup has been tremendous," Megenhardt said. "It’s the best it’s ever been.”

Megenhardt said another cool thing about the beer garden is that with entry, festival goers will get six free samples. If they want to move up to big beers, there will be a beer garden within the beer garden called the Buxom Beer Garden.

Hosted by Tap House Grill, the Buxom Garden will be serve 16-ounce beers.

For the younger crowd not yet lucky enough to partake in large beers, Oktoberfest will have on-hand, bouncy toys, face painting, a Root Beer Tasting Garden and other activities for the kids and family.

Some of the family events include the Seventh Annual Brew HA-HA 5K run and Street Scramble the morning of Sunday, Sept. 20.

Anytime Fitness is sponsoring the 5K run and walk through Fremont, which will go along the Burke-Gilman Trail and end at the Beck’s Village Beer Garden.

Following the 5K, will be the race-adventure Street Scramble. Participants will be given 30 locations, each with a point value throughout Fremont. The objective is to visit as many as you can in 90 minutes, while discovering the mysteries of the Center of the Universe.

Megenhardt said it's a lot of hard work to organize a large festival year-after-year, but seeing how much people enjoy it is his payoff.

“I think that the excitement of seeing the event grow over the 13 years and still being a great value for guests is what we’re trying to strive for,” he said. “Yes, you can have a microbrew festival, but we strive to make our task something great. You see something cool, you hear great music. It’s all around fun to organize this event."

Band line-up:

Friday, Sept. 18
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Stay Tuned
9 p.m. - 10:45 Dudley Manlove Quartet

Saturday, Sept. 19
Noon - 12:45 p.m. The Tea Cozies
1:05 p.m - 1:50 p.m. The Torn Acls
2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. TEXAS CHAINSAW Pumpkin Carving
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sam Russell and The Harbor Rats
4:50 p.m. - 5:35 p.m. Central Services
5:55 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. The Kindness Kind
7 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. They Live!
8:05 p.m. - 8:50 p.m. Boat
9:10 p.m. - 9:55 p.m. The Redwood Plan
10:15 p.m. - 10:45 p.m. Champagne Champagne

Sunday, Sept. 20
Noon - 12:45 p.m. Pufferfish
1:15 p.m. -2 p.m. M.Bison
2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. TEXAS CHAINSAW Pumpkin Carving
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Red Jacket Mine
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. The Bouchards