The Best Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest 2016
Oktoberfest is in full swing across the country. If you don't plan on flying out to Munich, don't worry. Find out where the best places are to enjoy the German festivities, food, and beer right in your city. Whether you're in it for the brats, libations, dancing, or just the ultimate overall Oktoberfest experience, there's an event waiting for you.
New York City:
Bierhaus
Get in on the Oktoberfest fun at this Midtown beer hall and enjoy keg-tapping with special guests and its annual bratwurst-eating championship. In addition to the wieners, find slow-roasted pork shank, sauerkraut, and soft pretzels imported from Germany. The salty snacks will complement five Hofbräu drafts, like Dunkel and Hefe Weizen, all of which can be ordered two liters at a time in Das Boot. For more info, click here.
Treadwell Park
Celebrate Oktoberfest with Treadwell Park, the Upper East Side beer hall, which is offering a tour of German beer complete with music, games, and prizes now through Oct. 14. Guests can try an array of German regional beer selections with the ultimate goal of filling a special (beer) passport. Pair any of these German beers with a variety of Oktoberfest bites including Giant Schnitzel, tenderized pork cutlet that has been breaded and fried with potato wedges; the Treadwell Park Wurst Sampler, Schaller and Weber's brat, knack, and smoked, sauerkraut with warm potato salad; and Crispy Fritters with sauerkraut, potato, and sausage. For dessert, indulge in a mouthwatering Berliner, a traditional German doughnut filled with raspberry jam. For more info, click here.
Watermark's OktoberFest New York
Watermark's annual Oktoberfest extravaganza on Pier 15 is bringing Munich to New York for the next two weekends — Sept. 24 and 25, and Oct. 1 and 2 — so get ready. Aside from authentic German beer (think 1-liter steins filled to the brim with Hofbrau, Weihenstephan or Radeberger beer), guests can expect live music, full Oktoberfest decorations, fun games for the entire family, and, of course, German fare. Celebrate and learn about Oktoberfest all while taking in the best views New York has to offer, which include Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges and the Brooklyn skyline. For more info, click here.
Zeppelin Hall (Jersey City)
From Sept. 30 through Oct. 28, the largest biergarten in the tri-state area will be offering up Bavarian culinary specialties and menu selections including the always popular giant pretzel; schnitzel; sauerbraten; and the full house wurstplate with bratwurst, kielbasa, chicken brat, andouille, cheese brat, and nurberger served with spicy cabbage salad rye-bread and French fries. Pair any of these selections with Zeppelin's 50 plus beers on tap or opt for a beer flight with four five ounce drinks. Beers chosen by the bartenders. Zeppelin hall will also have live German bands on Friday and Saturday nights as well as a beer stein holding contest called masskrugstemmen. For more info, click here.
San Francisco:
Oktoberfest By the Bay
Celebrate Oktoberfest in one of the most scenic locales anywhere: Pier 48, on Mission Bay across from AT&T Park. The four-day event, Oktoberfest by the Bay, Sept. 23 through 26, promises plenty of German beer and hearty platters of sausages. Think dirndl-clad dancing ladies, a traditional Bavarian brass band hailing from the "famed" German outpost of Chico, California, and the opportunity to slosh your stein from side to side while singing traditional Deutschland drinking tunes. For more info, click here.
Boston:
Bar Boulud Boston
Chef de cuisine Michael Denk and pastry chef Robert Differ offer guests a delectable blend between German cuisine and French technique. Visit Bar Boulud between Sept. 30 and Oct. 8 for hand-twisted soft pretzels and Vermont Cheddar beer dip, and a Bavarian sausage sandwich with sauerkraut and pork schnitzel sliders. Harpoon Brewery will have its signature Oktoberfest on tap.
Beat Brasserie
Oktoberfest is celebrated in true beer hall format on Oct. 9 at Beat Brasserie. Community tables, German food, a live oompah band, and liederhosen will mark the spot. On the food side, expect Bavarian sausages, soft pretzels, schnitzel, strudel, and more. Live music will be played throughout the day so come early, between 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., or between 7 and 11 p.m.
Shake Shack's Shacktoberfest
From Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, all Shake Shack locations in Boston will be hosting its annual Shacktoberfest. Head in to taste its limited-edition menu items including Bavarian-style soft pretzels, a brat burger with bacon-Cheddar-stuffed sauerkraut and apfelstrudel shakes among others... And it wouldn't be Shacktoberfest without a "bier" option. You're covered with their 25-ounce bier stein.
Nashville:
Germantown
Nashville's annual Oktoberfest in Germantown will run from 2 to 10 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7 to 9. General admission is free and additional passes are available for purchase. Come for the beer and stay for the world's longest beer slide. In addition to libations, German fare, and fun, there will also be various other activities for all ages. For more info, click here.
New Orleans:
Oktoberfest Presented by Deutsches Haus
For three weekends during October, New Orleans brings a piece of Germany to the Rivertown Exhibition Hall in Kenner with the annual German heritage festival, Oktoberfest. The festival opens on Friday, Oct. 7 with a ceremonial keg tapping and will continue from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday each weekend through Oct. 22. Live music, traditional German dancing, a parade, and of course, a plethora of German cuisine, and beer surrounds the six days of revelry. In addition, a 5k Oktoberfest run will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, and the annual Dachshund Dash will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22. Tickets for the festival are $8 per person with children ages 12 and under entering free of charge. For more info, click here.
Kansas City:
Buccaneer Beer Fest
Get festive at the Buccaneer Beer Fest at 10 a.m. on Oct. 8 and 9. This will be a jam-packed event for all ages. The day will start off with a hula hoop competition, followed by a tattoo competition, costume contest, beer and sausage eating competition, and will culminate with a best beard competition. For more info, click here.
Grunauer Oktoberfest
The 7th annual Oktoberfest celebration at the Grunauer Restaurant from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1. This celebration includes lives music, German food, and plenty of beer. Enjoy bratwurst, porkhoit with rye, brazen, gulaschuppe, bread pudding, and bayerische crème. For more info, click here.
KC Bier Co
Enjoy Oktoberfest 2016 on Sept. 24 and 25 at 11 a.m. at the KC Bier Co. Expect a celebration full of food, fun, and bier. The party kicks off on Saturday at noon with the Bavarian Barrel tapping of Festbier, and the weekend will continue with more activities and festivities that include dancing, live music, Dirndl contest, Masskrugstemmen, and more! For more info, click here.
Lee's Summit Oktoberfest
Celebrate German culture Sept. 23 and 24 at Lee's Summit's Oktoberfest, where attendees get to enjoy German meals, three stages of entertainment, dancers, biergarten, carnival, arts, and crafts. Be sure not to miss out on the home brew beer competition and wiener dog race. This is an Oktoberfest for all ages. For more info, click here.
Minneapolis:
Gasthof Oktoberfest
From now through Oct. 8, Gasthof will be hosting an Oktoberfest event every Friday and Saturday. Make sure to bring your own beer mug to fill up on great drinks and foods including apfelstrudel. Live Polka music and dancing included. For more info, click here.
New Bohemia Oktoberfest Beer Festival
This is a one-day extravaganza taking place on Sept. 24, located at the Golden Valley location. Not only will this festival have a beer garden and different types of entertainment for all ages, there will also be Wiener Dog races. Make sure to stop by — it will be a blast! For more info, click here.
Twin Cities Oktoberfest
Missing the State Fair already? The Twin Cities Oktoberfest is located at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds from Oct. 7 to 8, and there will be plenty of Summit Oktoberfest beer, traditional foods, and a whole lot of dancing. For more info, click here.
Philadelphia:
Alla Spina OktoberFest
From Sept. 23 to 25, Victory Brewing Company takes over the taps at Alla Spina for a three-day weekend full of Oktoberfest fun. Enjoy traditional German fare, Victory beer specials, live music, and, on Friday, Sept. 23, the chance to witness a spirited "Stein Hoist Competition." For more info, click here.
Ardmore Oktoberfest
On Sept. 24, Oktoberfest comes to Ardmore. Enjoy Oktoberfest weiss, IPAs, and local brews from Tired Hands Brewing Company, along with German bites such as pierogies and brats. Face-painting, moon bounces, and a cookie-decorating setup will be available for kids, and two live bands will supply music. For more info, click here.
McGillin's Oktoberfest
Now through Oct. 1, head to McGillin's Old Ale House, where they don't take Oktoberfest lightly. Visit the historic pub to score a bunch of brews imported straight from Germany, along with a special house beer created just for the occasion. Working with Fordham and Dominion Brewing in Delaware, McGillin's brings its own Oktoberfest to the taps, made from German and Czech hops and Vienna malt. Come hungry, as the lunch and dinner menus will be lined with German food specials like mussels steamed in Oktoberfest lager and grilled pork loin with sweet-and-sour cherry sauce. For more info, click here.
Toronto:
Bandit Brewery
The Bandit Brewery is kicking off its two week long Oktoberfest celebration with a party on Oct. 1 from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. The Bandit brewery is a newly opened microbrewery at Roncesvalles. They will be introducing four classic German styles beer to the menu for a limited time along with Oktoberfest inspired snacks. They are the Altbier, Dunkles Bock, Maibock and Vienna Lager. The party on Oct. 1 will also have a live Oompah Band.