It’s finally here! Well….technically Oktoberfest actually starts in September but we are coming up on the official anniversary date marking the 206th Oktoberfest. The first Oktoberfest was held on October 12th, 1810 in Munich Germany to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. Today, the Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest festival in the world, with an international flavor characteristic of the 20th century. Did you know nearly 7 million litres of craft beer will be consumed during Oktoberfest? That’s almost 2 million gallons.
Although Munich holds the oldest and largest Oktoberfest in the world, Oktoberfest festivals are now held all over the world and they are not small events! In the USA alone there are hundreds of festivals attracting millions of craft beer craving patrons every year. You can check out the 2016 USA Oktoberfest Calendar to see when and where each festival is taking place this year.
Some of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the USA according to Top Event USA are:
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
mid to late September
Cincinnati, Ohio
Recognized as North America’s largest Oktoberfest, for more than three decades Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has been an increasingly popular attraction with more than 500,000 visitors each year. Highlights of the event include several venues of live entertainment including big bands, German folk dancers and accordion players, fun events, almost 100 booths offering German food, craft beer and wine, and a large selection of amusement rides and other activities for children.
For more information about Oktoberfest Zinzinnati visit:
www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com
Alpine Village Oktoberfest
weekends – early September to late October
Torrance, California
Chosen by USA Today as “one of the best Oktoberfests in the world!”, as well as being noted here as one of the top 20 Oktoberfest Celebrations in the USA, the Alpine Village Oktoberfest is one of the oldest and largest Oktoberfest celebrations in Southern California, and has been a popular event for more than 45 years attracting over 100,000 visitors every year. The wide variety of “Bavarian” entertainments include Oom Pah Pah big bands from Germany, sing-a-longs, a yodeling competition and even fun contests like pretzel-eating and beer stein-holding, as well as an abundance of traditional German food and delicious German craft beers. Sundays concentrate on family entertainment.
For more information about the Alpine Village Oktoberfest in Torrance, California visit:
http://www.alpinevillagecenter.com/oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
mid September to late October
Helen, Georgia
One of Helen’s biggest events for more than 40 years, Georgia’s famous Oktoberfest, one of the main Oktoberfest Celebrations in the US, transforms tranquil Helen into the ultimate north Georgia party town featuring all sorts of fun from authentic German bands and polka performances with dancers in native costume, to traditional Bavarian food and craft beer.
For more information about Helen’s Oktoberfest visit:
http://www.exploregeorgia.org/listing/6841-46th-annual-oktoberfest
Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas
mid September to late October
Las Vegas, Nevada
Taking place in an exact replica of Munich’s famous Hofbrauhaus complete with a beer hall and beer garden, the Las Vegas Oktoberfest is as authentic and unforgettable as the original complete with nightly live music entertainment every night, appropriate foods such as sausages and pork shanks, and an abundance of German beer brewed according to original recipes handed down by the Duke of Bavaria over 400 years ago and imported directly from a brewery in Munich.
For more information about Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas visit:
www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com
Oktoberfest
every weekend in October
Hermann, Missouri
During the first four weekends in October the City of Hermann, Missouri will be observing its annual Oktoberfest that has been voted Missouri’s best festival by readers of Rural Missouri Magazine. This well preserved German village, located on the banks of the Missouri River, provides a perfect setting for traditional events to celebrate German heritage and culture. A wide variety of activities take place among the more than 150 historic buildings in the downtown area that includes more than a dozen antique shops, a number of specialty stores, museums, historic sites, art galleries, great restaurants, and quaint B&Bs and inns. There are also seven wineries and plenty of music, special food booths, and crafts demonstrations.
For more information about Oktoberfest in Hermann visit:
http://experiencehermann.com/hermann-missouri-yearly-attractions/hermann-missouri-festival-events/oktoberfest-hermann-missouri