If you love beer, you already know that Colorado is a prime place to be throughout the year with its long list of top breweries. But Colorado’s cities and towns come alive in the fall with festive Oktoberfest celebrations that rival anything you’d find in Europe. To embrace German traditions, food, attire, music, décor, and of course, beer, head to one of these top Oktoberfest celebrations in Colorado!
Breckenridge Oktoberfest, Breckenridge
Breckenridge Oktoberfest is one of the most iconic Oktoberfest events in Colorado. It returns with a three-day celebration in historic downtown Breckenridge, September 15– 17, 2023. The annual Breckenridge Oktoberfest Presented by Breckenridge Brewery includes time-honored Oktoberfest traditions as well as collectible steins and local flavors from Breckenridge Brewery. Festival-goers can expect plenty of fall-themed beer, food and live music.
Vail Oktoberfest, Vail
Vail’s Oktoberfest is also worth checking out, especially if you want to try traditional German foods like wiener schnitzel, pretzels, bratwurst, and spaetzle. There are several official breweries for the town’s event, so you’ll feel just like you’re in Munich. It’s also fun to check out the keg bowling contests, stein lifting competitions, and eating contests when you’re here for Oktoberfest in Vail. This event takes place September 8th-10th, 2023, at Lionshead and also September 15th-17th at Vail Village.
Steamboat OktoberWest, Steamboat Springs
The town of Steamboat Springs hosts a fun Steamboat Oktoberfest celebration each year in the downtown area and the Steamboat Mountain Village. It’s called OktoberWest, and the September 16th, 2023, event features a beer stroll with a special mug that you can take to over a dozen restaurants in town to taste beers. There will be over 40 Rock Mountain craft brewers on site. Another event feature is the I Love Beef cookoff, which is where you can vote for the best beef brisket made by local chefs.
Denver Oktoberfest, Denver
The city of Denver has been going strong since 1969 and is a well-established Denver Oktoberfest celebration worth attending in the capital city. In recent years, the event has drawn in over 500,000 people (the second largest Oktoberfest in the U.S. after Cincinnati!) and has everything you’d hope for in an Oktoberfest event – live music, eating competitions, traditional German food, stein-hoisting, and more. Denver’s Oktoberfest takes place over two weekends and runs from September 22nd to 24th and then from September 29th to October 1st, 2023. It takes place in the Ballpark Neighborhood between 20th Street and 22nd Street on Larimer Street. This event has different ticket types available, including general admission, general admission with Stein, and VIP.
Highlands Ranch Oktoberfest and 5K, Highlands Ranch
If you’d like to get a little exercise along with all that beer and all those brats, then plan to attend the Highlands Ranch Oktoberfest celebration on September 16th, 2023. The day kicks off with a 5K race that you can walk or run, and the fun part is that Oktoberfest costumes are welcome for the race. Afterward, there are lots of family-friendly activities that you can partake in, including rides, inflatables, and balloon artists. Of course, there’s plenty of German beer to go around and a dachshund race to cheer on your favorite pup.
Colorado Springs Oktoberfest, Colorado Springs
For the added bonuses of getting some exercise and keeping the kids entertained, we also love the Colorado Springs Oktoberfest celebration. There is a costume-friendly 8K race that you can participate in, cornhole games, and lots of live entertainment. This celebration also embraces German wine and offers a wine tour that features delicious German wines. Check out this Oktoberfest September 29th- October 1st, 2023, at the Western Museum of Mining. Admission to the event is free, but you can save money if you pre-purchase your beer and stein tickets online before the event.
Montrose Oktoberfest, Montrose
You can also head to Montrose Oktoberfest this fall to check out the local Oktoberfest celebration here and sample beer from over 30 craft breweries – most of them local. When you come to Montrose to celebrate, you’ll also enjoy the group chicken dance, a yoga session, live musical performances, and all of the food trucks on site. The Montrose celebration takes place on September 30th, 2023.
OktoBREWfest, Greeley
The Colorado town of Greeley hosts its own Oktoberfest celebration called OktoBREWfest, which is, of course, packed with lots of great German beer. Other festivities to look forward to are life-size beer pong, the pie-eating competition, and an inflatable slide for the kids. The Greeley Oktoberfest will take place September 29th-30th, 2023, in downtown Greeley at Lincoln Park. The VIP beer-tasting tickets sell out every year, and you can get yours online in advance of the event to secure your spot.
