Beer enthusiasts across the globe rejoice when autumn arrives. Not only because of the beautiful fall foliage and wonderfully crisp, cooler air but because of Oktoberfest. These lively festivals are held all around the world, celebrating Bavarian culture with massive amounts of beer and all sorts of other events like live music and a wide range of activities. From the most famous in Germany to Tokyo and Colorado’s Mile High City, these Oktoberfests are worth planning a trip around.
Munich, Germany
There are many reasons to attend Munich’s Oktoberfest, but the biggest is that it’s where Oktoberfest all began, hosting a 16-day festival right in the heart of the city. Every year, over six million people attend this lively Bavarian party, consuming around seven million liters of beer. There’s a lot more than beer here, as it’s considered the largest folk festival on the planet. Attendees indulge in lots of pretzels, sausages, singing and dancing, with beer ever-present. At the Oide Wiesn, history comes to life, complete with 20th-century rides; there are parades that showcase different vintage costumes from all over the country and an awards ceremony to honor the best beer and the brewery that makes it.
Visit the official website for more information.
Cinncinnati, Ohio
America’s largest Oktoberfest is held every year in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some half-million people attend this festival known as Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, which has taken place since 1974. It all begins with the annual Running of the Wieners, which sees 100 dachshunds dressed as hot dogs racing to the finish. More than 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut, 80,000 bratwurst and 23,000 pretzels were consumed, and the event also holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the largest chicken dance when 48,000 participants, including the Prince of Bavaria, performed in 1994.
Visit the official website for more information.
Leavenworth, Washington
Located just east of Washington State’s dramatic Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is an authentic Bavarian-style village that’s famous as a magical Christmas town, and for hosting one of the top Oktoberfests in the U.S. It will take place throughout the town, complete with the longstanding traditions of music, dancing, and the ceremonial tapping of the kegs. There will be three beer gardens featuring local beers and a 10,000-square-foot Kinderplatz for kids with a 62-foot Ferris wheel, bouncy obstacle course, root beer garden, face painting, games, and more.
Visit the official website for more information.
Kitchener, Ontario
Canada’s top Oktoberfest (and one of the largest in all of North America) is held in Kitchener. Based on Munich’s original German Oktoberfest, it draws around a million attendees who come to watch the annual Oktoberfest/Thanksgiving Day Parade that showcases bands and elaborate floats along with beer, beer-based celebrations and hearty German cuisine. All sorts of live entertainment and cultural attractions are offered, an official keg tapping and plenty of traditional Bavarian dancing that might make you think, at least for a moment, that you’re really in Munich. You can watch the crowning of Miss Oktoberfest and the appearance of several festival icons, like Onkel Hans in his lederhosen and traditional felt hat.
Visit the official website for more information.
Vienna, Austria - Wiener Wiesn-Fest
Another great place to celebrate Oktoberfest in Europe is Vienna, Austria. Here, you’ll find a giant Ferris wheel, live music by folk groups, and hours of live music to enjoy. There will be lots of local beer and food on-site, including wiener schnitzel and brettljause. Learn about Austrian customs and traditions, visit the open-air festival stage and visit Wiesn Village with local craftsmanship and regional culinary treats.
Visit the official website for more information.
Brisbane, Australia
Australia’s largest German festival takes place over the first two weekends in October, featuring a huge beer tent with hand-crafted German beers, wines and a wide range of German fare. Watch or join in on the action-packed Bavarian Strongmen competition, which includes Krapfen (jam doughnut) eating, a jockey race, a barrel race, tug of war and Stein holdings. See who wins the beard and mustache competitions and who is crowned Miss Oktoberfest Brisbane. There’s also an impressive line-up of entertainment, rides, and a variety of activities for the kids.
Visit the official website for more information.
Santa Catarina, Brazil
The world’s second-largest Oktoberfest is surprisingly in South America. Oktoberfest of Blumenau is hosted in Santa Catarina, Brazil, over 17 days in October and draws around 700,000 attendees. One of the highlights is the National Championship of Chopp Meter Drinkers. Each night during the festival, there’s a competition to see who can drink an entire meter of beer without spilling a drop. There is also a Queen of the Oktoberfest competition, shopping, restaurants, music and dancing, shows, and, of course, lots of beer.
Visit the official website for more information.
Denver, Colorado
Denver’s massive Oktoberfest celebration has been around for nearly 50 years and draws over 350,000 each year. The festivities take place over six days during the last two weekends in September. It includes keg bowling, eating contests, the popular long dog derby he race that determines Denver’s fastest dachshunds! Enjoy live music on the traditional Germany stage, marveling at the remarkable arm strength and perseverance of the men and women who compete in the Stein Hoisting Competition. You can dine on bratwurst, turkey legs, warm pretzels and all sorts of German fare, paired with a wide range of ales, including the Annual Denver Oktoberfest Brew.
Visit the official website for more information.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan’s Hibiya Park, hosts its own version of Oktoberfest, too, including ten days of drinking, traditional German foods and live entertainment. The longest-running Oktoberfest in Asia, the German Bierfest brings attendees that arrive from as far away as Bangkok, Shanghai, Taipei, and Singapore, and for American beer lovers visiting the country, it’s a must-experience. Here, you can taste beers from Germany like Weltenburger Kloster, Erdinger, Kostritzer, Krombacher, Paulaner, and many others, along with beers from Japan like tasty Yokohama beer. Look forward to indulging in endless bratwurst, knackwurst, bockwurst and blutwurst. Lots of attendees dress to fit the theme, so you can join in or just enjoy some great people-watching.
Visit the official website for more information.
