Ever wonder why Oktoberfest celebrations start before the calendar flips to its titular month? Well, the OG O-fest in Munich is a throwback to the 1810 marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. That Oct. 12 celebration was such a good time that it’s been repeated nearly every year since, gradually moving up to mid-September and growing to some 6 million visitors a year.
Here in Milwaukee, Oktoberfests draw slightly fewer folks eager to have a beer, perhaps a hot pretzel and catch some polka music. But there’s no shortage of them happening around Milwaukee in September and October. Plan your calendar accordingly to ensure maximum gemütlichkeit.
Weekends through Sunday, Oct. 4
The biggest Oktoberfest celebration in the area is easily the shindig that goes on every weekend for more than a month at Old Heidelberg Park thanks to the Bavarian Bierhaus (700 Lexington Blvd., Glendale). The celebration Fridays-Sundays and includes plenty of food and live music and scores of communal tables for sharing gemütlichkeit. Admission is $5 on Friday (4 to 11 p.m.), $10 on Saturday (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.), and free on Sunday (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Groups can reserve picnic tables ahead of time.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Erv-toberfest at Erv’s Mug (180 W. Ryan Rd.) returns for a 16th year. Come hungry and thirsty to the fest, which includes a German food buffet and unlimited tasting of nearly 100 kegs of seasonal fall beers – all this for just $50. Hours are 5-9 p.m., which is plenty of time to indulge.
Lakefront Brewery is creating three beers (Our Lager, Our Stein and an Oktoberfest) that will be pouring at the Oktoberfest hosted by the School Sisters of St. Francis (29th St. and Orchard St.) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase a full commemorative stein for $14 and refills are just $7.
Eagle Park Brewing (S64 W15640 Commerce Center Pkwy., Muskego) gets into the Oktoberfest spirit with a party from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s releasing a pair of seasonal Eagle Park beers and three from its MKE Brewing . There will be beer chugging, stein hoisting, shotskiing and live music. The family-friendly event is free.
There are two beer releases happening during Oktoberfest at Sahale Ale Works (1505 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton) from noon to 10 p.m. Sip on Sahale Luftkuss Oktoberfest and Gathering Place Festbier while enjoying German music and food.
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Thursday, Sept. 17 to Saturday, Sept. 19
The 10th annual Elm Grove Oktoberfest kicks off on Thursday this year at Elm Grove Village Park (13600 W. Juneau Blvd.). It’s a full weekend of games, food and music, and on Saturday there’s a .5K (yes, 0.5) beer run that starts at O’Donoghue’s Pub (13225 Watertown Plank Rd.) and ends at the park. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, and 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday, Sept. 18
Perspective Brewing (7508 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis) is hosting an Oktoberfest party on its patio at 5 p.m. On tap will be both variants of Oktoberfest beers – a Märzen and a Festbier. They’ll have live music, stein hoisting and food.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Third Space Brewing (N71 W13040 W. Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls) is throwing an Oktoberfest party in the midst of its monthlong 10th anniversary celebration. There will be yodeling, a costume contest, stein holding and more. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for more details.
Friday, Sept. 25 to Saturday, Sept. 26
Waukesha Oktoberfest opens at Frame Park (1240 Frame Park Dr.) with a firkin tapping at 5 p.m. Hours for the two-day event are 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday. It’s two days of German food, music, feats of strength and beer. Check out the Laser-hosen Light Show each night at 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Three Cellars (N72 W13400 Lund Ln., Menomonee Falls) is turning its parking lot into an Oktoberfest block party from noon to 7 p.m. Its team will hand out free bratwursts (while supplies last) and they’ll have plenty of games. Live German music runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Amorphic Beer offers a slight variation on the Oktoberfest thing, themed to Bavaria’s neighbor to the east. Czechtoberfest happens from 2 to 7 p.m. It includes plenty of Czech food and three Czech lagers to wash it down.
Saturday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 27
With its name and history, Germantown just has to have a great Oktoberfest, right? Germantown Oktoberfest takes place at Dheinsville Historical Park (N128 W18780 Holy Hill Rd.) on Saturday (noon to 11 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 7 p.m.). The Germantown Historical Society has been doing this for more than 30 years, so they know what they’re doing. Be sure to be there at 3 p.m. on Saturday for the Dachshund Dash. Register your dachshund ahead of time if your wiener dog is a competitor.
Saturday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Oct. 4
For two weekends, St. Francis Brewery (3825 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) is turning its parking lot into a German beer garden. There will be food and beer, of course, but also a makers market. The celebration happens Sept. 26-27 and on Oct. 3-4. Hours are noon to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27
St. Augustine of Hippo‘s Oktoberfest (2530 S. Howell Ave.) begins with a beer blessing at 12:15 p.m. and wraps up at 8 p.m. The traditional German food menu includes a rouladen dinner, brats, pretzels and more. There’s a kids root beer stein hoisting competition at 3:30 p.m. The adults compete at 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 4
Milwaukee Oktoberfest heads to Henry Maier Festival Park (200 N. Harbor Dr.) for three days of fun. The festival grounds will be filled with German music and beer from the likes of Hofbräu München, Hacker-Pschorr, and Paulaner. There’s also a bratwurst eating contest, a wiener dog beauty pageant, stein hoisting and more. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12 at the gate, and $7 in advance.
Friday, Oct. 2 to Saturday, Oct. 3
Klode Park (5960 N. Lake Dr., Whitefish Bay) wraps up its beer garden season with an Oktoberfest celebration on Friday (4 to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (1 to 6 p.m.). As usual, Torzala Brewing is providing the beer.
Friday, Oct. 2
The Greendale Lions Club hosts Oktoberfest in Gazebo Park (5798 Broad St., Greendale) on Friday and Saturday. More details were in the works, but they plan to have live music, food stands, and beer.
Brewfinity Brewing hosts Parktoberfest at Kiwanis Village Park (325 Capitol Dr., Pewaukee) from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be live music, food trucks and Brewfinity beer.
Saturday, Oct. 3
Urban Harvest Brewing (1024 S. 5th St.) hosts OktoHarvest Blocktoberfest from 1 to 8 p.m. They’re tapping an Oktoberfest at 1 p.m. and also releasing King & Queen Alt Bier and Alice Who the Helles Alice. Expect food and music as well.
Saturday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 4
Cedarburg Oktoberfest goes down for two days on the lawn of Cedarburg City Hall (W63 N645 Washington Ave.). A full slate of German food is on the menu, and contests include a pretzel toss, best lederhosen and dirndl, stein hoisting and more. Hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9 to Sunday, Oct. 11
Our Lady of Lourdes (3722 S. 58th St.) is going big with its three-day Oktoberfest celebration. The hours are 4 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a beer garden, live music, cake walks and, on Saturday and Sunday, an artisan fair.
Saturday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 11
Torzala Brewing is pouring beer at the two-day Oktoberfest at the Bayside Beer Garden in Ellsworth Park (600 E. Ellsworth Ln.). Hours are 1 to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
