SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Oktoberfest at Himmel Haus is getting a little bigger this year, with the South Lake Tahoe German restaurant adding a fourth day of festivities featuring live polka music and a life-size version of foosball.

The annual celebration will stretch across three weekends, beginning September 19 and continuing through early October, following the traditional German Oktoberfest calendar of the final weeks of September and first week of October.

Himmel Haus will bring back its three established events: Kinderfest, a traditional Oktoberfest celebration and the Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest Pageant – while adding a Sunday event September 20 featuring the Bay Area-based Alpine Sound polka band and a life-size foosball tournament.

“We’ve been building off of them in the sense that every year they’ve gone over really well,” owner David Armstrong said of the Oktoberfest events.

The festivities begin Saturday, Sept. 19, with Kinderfest, the restaurant’s family-friendly Oktoberfest kickoff. Scheduled from noon to 5 p.m., the event will include a bouncy house, snow cones, cotton candy and face painting. This year, Himmel Haus is also adding four $25 Tot Spot gift certificates for the best-dressed children.

The biggest change comes the following day. On Sunday, Sept. 20, Alpine Sound will perform traditional Oktoberfest music along with familiar singalong covers from 2 to 5 p.m. Outside, Himmel Haus will transform much of its patio into a roughly 32-foot-long life-size foosball arena.

Players will take positions inside the arena while holding onto PVC pipes, moving together along the same line in a human version of the tabletop game. Teams can consist of five to eight players, with Armstrong saying six is an ideal number. The winning team will receive $250, while the best-dressed team will earn a $100 bar tab. There is no cost to compete.

Himmel Haus has staged life-size foosball once before, roughly eight years ago.

“It was insanely fun and very funny,” Armstrong said. “There’s going to be a lot of spectators for it as well … It was very fun to watch last time.”

The celebration continues Saturday, September 26, with Himmel Haus’ traditional Oktoberfest day. The restaurant will offer a special menu of chef-created German dishes and bring back the ceremonial keg tapping. Reservations are recommended with Armstrong saying tables were already filling up ahead of the event.

Oktoberfest will conclude on Saturday, October 3, with Himmel Haus’ Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest Pageant, a 21-and-over celebration that has become one of the restaurant’s signature annual events. The pageant is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m., although Armstrong said festivities typically continue later into the evening. Contestants are encouraged to arrive around 4 p.m.

Participants traditionally dress in German attire, take part in a runway walk, answer questions and showcase a talent before the crowd. Previous competitions have featured music, dancing, lip-syncing and creative beer-drinking feats.

This year’s pageant will feature $1,000 in total cash prizes divided among the winners. Costumes are encouraged throughout the Oktoberfest celebration, not just for those participating in the pageant.

“We’re all going to be dressed up,” Armstrong said. “We’re going to be in the mood. We’re going to be playing Oktoberfest music. It’ll be super fun.”

Those interested in entering the pageant or registering a life-size foosball team are encouraged to email himmelbookings@gmail.com in advance, although foosball teams can also register the day of the event if space is available.

Himmel Haus is located at 3819 Saddle Road in South Lake Tahoe. More information is available at himmelhausslt.com.