FESTIVAL HISTORY

Leavenworth held its first Autumn Leaf Festival in 1964, celebrating the turning colors of the fall leaves, and invited visitors from the Pacific Northwest to join in all the fun.

 Countries throughout the World have held similar festivals for centuries for a variety of reasons; from celebrating a successful harvest to simply the last hurrah before a long winter.

 The Autumn Leaf Festival is the town’s original festival and occurred as the bavarianization of the town began. In order to insure the Festival’s continued success, the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival Association (ALFA) was formed by volunteers in the Leavenworth community.  ALFA is a nonprofit organization and is the administration for the festival.  ALFA promotes the Town of Leavenworth and the Festival by attending many Pacific Northwest Festivals with the Autumn Leaf float.  The float is escorted by members of the Autumn Leaf Festival Association, the Royal Bavarians (the official hosts of Leavenworth), and members of Projekt Bayern.

 The Autumn Leaf Festival is held annually on the last full weekend of September.

 Funding for the Festival and its promotional activities is provided by the generous contributions from our local sponsors, from visitors’ donations, City of Leavenworth lodging taxes and the sales of ALFA items such as the cookbooks, commemorative shirts, pins and buttons.

 If you wish to help with our annual festival, you may join the Association or send a contribution to:

Autumn Leaf Festival Association
P.O.Box 116, Leavenworth, WA 98826-0116

Website:  www.autumnleaffestival.com