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Everything You Need to Know About Oktoberfest 2024
Oktoberfest is one of the world’s most famous festivals, and it takes place over the course of more than two weeks in September and October in Germany every year. The country’s largest “Volksfest” is also one of its largest exports - with cities around the world raising their steins and baking their pretzels to celebrate the culture of Germany through beer, music, and cuisine.
Traveling to Germany during Oktoberfest is a bucket-list-worthy experience, but it’s also one that requires a lot of planning. If you’re hoping to celebrate the season in a more approachable way, why not plan a trip to celebrate Oktoberfest in America?
While nothing can beat the real thing, lots of cities in the United States go all-out with celebrations influenced by the German festival. Because the U.S. has such a strong German immigrant community, Oktoberfest in America can be just as authentic as Oktoberfest in Munich.
Narrowing down the best places to celebrate Oktoberfest in America isn’t an easy task, but we’ve compared some of the best celebrations around the country, and our list takes into account the size of the festival, authenticity, and activities offered. After all, it’s not really Oktoberfest without Steinholding, now, is it?
Top Oktoberfest Events in the USA
Here are our top picks for Oktoberfest celebrations across the United States this year that are worth checking out.
1. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio), September 9-22, 2024
Surprised to hear that Ohio is home to the largest Oktoberfest in the USA? Well, maybe you shouldn’t be! After all, the Buckeye State is home to 2.7 million German-Americans. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is billed as the second largest Oktoberfest in the world, so you’re sure to have an incredible time if you choose to attend this celebration in Sawyer Point Park.
The festival’s signature events include a stein-holding contest and the annual running of the wieners (a dachshund race!). And while beer is the star of the show, you can’t discount this incredible food festival. Over the course of four days, attendees consume over 1,875 lbs of German potato salad, 80,500 bratwurst, and 6,000 jumbo pickles.
Closest Airport: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Dayton (DAY)
2. Helen Oktoberfest (Helen, Georgia), Thursdays through Sundays from September 5 through 22, Daily from September 26 through October 27
Helen is a little Bavarian town in Georgia that’s hosting its 54th Oktoberfest this fall - and this town goes all out! They have well over a month of celebration on deck, making it the longest-running Oktoberfest in America. The festivities kick off with a parade, followed by a traditional keg tapping.
Unlike many other Oktoberfests, the one in Helen is held indoors at the Helen Festhalle. That means it’s fun, rain or shine, and tickets must be purchased at the door. Enjoy live music each day, and stuff your face with wurst on a roll, leberkase, and sauerkraut.
Closest Airport: Atlanta (ATL)
3. Denver Oktoberfest (Denver, Colorado), September 20-22 and 27-29, 2024
Denver isn’t a particularly German city, but it’s one of the best beer cities in the country, so you know it takes Oktoberfest seriously. The Mile High City hosts one of the best Oktoberfests in America each year. It’s a very family-friendly event, with activities for all ages and live music ranging from polka to pop.
Some of the fun, unique activities at Denver Oktoberfest include keg bowling, the Long Dog Derby, and costume contests. Go wild with your Lederhosen and practice your Bavarian braids! There are prizes to be won, so don't take it lightly! The Stein-hoisting competition is a big event, too, with contests taking place each day leading to a Stein-hoisting finale where the strongest will be crowned.
Closest Airport: Denver (DIA)
4. Oktoberfest Northwest (Puyallup, Washington), October 4-6, 2024
Oktoberfest Northwest is a truly wild festival! It’s a Munich-style Oktoberfest, and along with divine cuisine and enough beer to fill the Isar River, it hosts a plethora of competitive events that you won’t find anywhere else.
Think you’ve got what it takes to tackle the Bier-lympics? Try your hand at any of the four events that have become the hallmark of Oktoberfest Northwest. There’s the Brat Toss, Stein Holding, Keg Rolling, and Hammerschlagen®.
The first three events are self-explanatory, but the last is the most popular. To win at Hammerschlagen®, you’ve got to drive a nail into some wood faster than anyone else. It sounds easy, but it’s a ridiculously fun challenge.
There is more than just the Bier-lympics going on at Oktoberfest Northwest. Bring your pooch for the Weiner Dog Races or test your own racing skills in the Stein Dash 5K. The Root Beer Garden is a nice touch, too - Oktoberfest isn't entirely about alcohol!
Closest Airport: Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
5. Fredericksburg Oktoberfest (Fredericksburg, Texas), October 4-6, 2024
If you’ve never been to Fredericksburg, you might wonder why a Texas Hill Country festival is on our list of the best Oktoberfests in America. The town’s German culture can catch you by surprise! Despite being home to just about 10,000 people, Fredericksburg is one of the most important German towns in the United States. It is still nicknamed Fritztown.
This small town is one of the only places in the world where you can hear the “Texas German” dialect, perfected by German settlers who did not want to learn English, and you’ll hear plenty of it at the region’s largest annual festival. Over the course of three days, the town's Marktplatz is transformed with tents, stages, kegs, and bratwurst.
If you want to enjoy live music, German crafts, and delicious Bavarian cuisine, it’s hard to top this Texas fest. Though it’s just a three-day festival, and not a month-long event, it’s always a blast to trade in your cowboy hat for Lederhosen and kick up your heels to some local polka bands.
Closest Airport: San Antonio (SAT), Austin (AUS)
6. The Nashville Oktoberfest, October 03-06, 2024
Nashville may be a city known for whiskey and country music, but for one weekend a year, it transforms into the land of beer and polka. This Oktoberfest has been running since 1980, and it's by far Music City's best beer festival. Beer truly is the highlight here, with draft stations set up throughout and keg upon keg of imported German brew.
Because it's Nashville, the celebration has a big art component, which makes it stand out from a lot of other Oktoberfests around the country. Local makers share their crafts in Artisan Alley. Keep your eyes peeled - you might be able to find a Black Forest inspired cuckoo clock from a German craft vendor!
While lots of festivals have Weiner dog races, Nashville stands out by offering a more inclusive pet parade. Costumes are encouraged, and after the parade, prizes are awarded for various categories, including crowd favorite.
Nearest Airport: Nashville (BNA)
7. Oktoberfest in La Crosse (La Crosse, Wisconsin), September 26-29, 2024
We talked earlier about how Ohio has a huge German population, but Wisconsin is home to the largest German community in America. With over 2,100,000 people of German heritage (that’s nearly 39% of the whole state’s population!), it’s not a surprise that Wisconsin’s best Oktoberfest makes our list.
Oktoberfest U.S.A. has been running in La Crosse since 1961 - making it the oldest Oktoberfest in America. It’s a huge festival, with over 150,000 attendees each year. This four-day festival combines traditional German festivities with uniquely Midwestern experiences.
The Torchlight Parade and Maple Leaf Parade are key events, as is the Medallion Search which takes festivalgoers all around the city. This festival goes beyond the parade grounds, too. Throughout the week, the Royal Court spends time visiting homes, schools and businesses.
Closest Airport: Minneapolis (MSP)
Why Do Germans Celebrate Oktoberfest?
On October 12, 1810, the crowned Prince of Bavaria (remembered as King Louis I) married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The couple’s wedding celebration unofficially marked day one of the first Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
To honor the union between two royal families, city residents were invited to the Theresienwiese fields in front of the city gates. Attendees enjoyed several days of horse racing and other festivities that took place through October 18, 1819. The event was a hit, and in 1811, the celebration returned to the city once again.
Munich locals actually refer to Oktoberfest as “the Wiesn,” since the festival takes place in a meadow called Theresienwiese. Around the world, we keep it a bit simpler, and just refer to the festival by the month in which it occurs. A lot of celebrations happen in late September these days, but whether the event is in September or October, it's always referred to as Oktoberfest.
What Can You Expect At An Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is well known as the world's largest beer-drinking celebration. In fact, the record for the amount of beer consumed at an Oktoberfest event in Munich is over 1.8 million gallons! Aside from beer, modern festivities include traditional food, parades, polka, concerts, Bavarian gun salutes, and festival games.
When it comes to dress code, you don’t have to go all out. However, if you want to really embrace German culture, you can splurge on your own lederhosen or a beautiful dirndl. Lederhosen are traditional German pants (worn with suspenders), and dirndls are Bavarian dresses.
Of course, if you’re dressing up to poke fun at German fashion, think twice. Wearing these traditional clothes isn’t about a costume, but it should be about celebrating a culture! Embrace the unique clothing styles and have fun showcasing some of the country's most influential exports.
Is Oktoberfest Only About Beer?
Absolutely not! While beer is important to German culture, Oktoberfest is more of a heritage festival than a beer-binging banger. The food and the music are equally important for any good celebration.
Some traditional German foods you’ll encounter include bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, German potato salad, ham hock, knödel, käsespätzle, and reiberdatschi. Most Oktoberfest’s offer sweet treats like black forest cake, strudels and cookies. You’ll likely find traditional festival foods as well, so if you think wurst is the worst, you’ll have plenty of options.
Final Thoughts on Oktoberfest Travel
Regardless of where you plan to enjoy Oktoberfest this year, you're going to have a blast enjoying the finest of German traditions. You don't have to spend your life savings to attend a fantastic Oktoberfest - you can experience German culture stateside in a budget friendly way.
The Parking Spot makes traveling easier by offering affordable and convenient off-site parking at 27 major airports. Check out our Airport Parking Coupons so you can save money for wursts and pints, rather than overpay for on-site parking. Start training for your stein-holding challenges - we've got it from here.