Bust out your lederhosen, it’s Oktoberfest time! From bustling breweries and biergartens to Bavarian bites and block parties, here are all the ways to celebrate across the Bay.
Elizabeth Vado, of San Leandro, makes a face while competing during the steinholding competition celebrating Oktoberfest at the Speisekammer restaurant in Alameda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
San Leandro “OkDROberfest”: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 14, W. Juana Avenue and E. 14th Street, San Leandro. Celebrate both Oktoberfest and San Leandro’s beer culture at “OkDROberfest” (that’s Dro as in San LeanDRO), featuring award-winning craft beer, live beer garden music, traditional Oktoberfest games and Bavarian bites. Free admission. downtownsanleandro.com/okdroberfest/
Benicia Oktoberfest & Marketplace: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 14, First Street Green, Benicia. Indulge in the spirit of Oktoberfest as Benicia brings you the best of German culture. From Old World German beer to authentic German food, oompah bands and an artisanal marketplace, this event promises an unforgettable Oktoberfest. $8 admission. beniciaoktoberfest.com/
Oktoberfest at Original Pattern Brewing: 12 to 8 p.m. Sept. 14, 292 Fourth St., Oakland. Mark your calendars for another epic Oktoberfest in the heart of Oakland. Keep the German legacy going with specially brewed Oktoberfest beers, delicious Bavarian cuisine, stein-holding, cornhole and costume contests, polka performances and German tunes. Free admission. originalpatternbeer.com/
Oktoberfest at Side Gate Brewery: 12 to 9 p.m. Sept. 14, 1822 Grant St., Concord. Side Gate’s third annual Oktoberfest will include live music, craft vendors, stein-holding and corn hole, plus delicious German-style bites and beers on tap. $31 presale admission. sidegatebrewing.com/home
Dust Bowl Oktoberfest: 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 14, Dust Bowl Brewing, 3000 Fulkerth Road, Turlock. Dust off your dirndl for an epic Oktoberfest celebration featuring stein holding, brewery pours, live music by Makin’ Noise, a costume contest, special entertainment and a 360 video booth. $75 to $85. tinyurl.com/DustBowlOktoberfest
Oktoberfest Food Festival at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Select dates Sept. 14 to Oct. 3, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo. Hop off your favorite ride and straight into Oktoberfest. Enjoy crafts and seasonal brews plus German-inspired cuisine, music and live entertainment. Included with park admission. sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/events/
Oktoberfest at California’s Great America: Select dates Sept. 14 to Oct. 26, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. This Oktoberfest celebration offers authentic German food, beverages, music and family-friendly entertainment. Included with park admission. cagreatamerica.com/events/
Old Town Auburn Oktoberfest: 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 19, Old Town Auburn, 1583 Lincoln Way Auburn. This festive street fair will include live polka music by the Alpenmeisters, local craft beers and wines, an artisan craft market and kids activities. Free admission. tinyurl.com/OldTownOktoberfest
Schroeder’s Annual Oktoberfest Block Party: 2 to 10 p.m. Sept. 20, 240 Front St., San Francisco. Come out for Schroeder’s annual Oktoberfest Block Party featuring live music, beverages and bites, plus beer hall games including stein chugging, stein holding and costume contests. Free admission. schroederssf.com/event/oktoberfest-2024/
Ludwig’s Oktoberfest: 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 20-21 and 27-28, at 383 Castro St., Mountain View. Get ready for back-to-back weekends of Oktoberfest fun at Ludwig’s in Mountain View! For two straight weekends, Ludwig’s will be celebrating with authentic German beer, delicious Bavarian food, and lively music. Free admission; $150 table reservation. ludwigsmv.com/
Deutscher Musik Verein of San Francisco performs at the Redwood City Oktoberfest in downtown Redwood City, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Redwood City Oktoberfest: Sept. 20-22 and 24-29, Courthouse Square, Redwood City. Immerse yourself in traditional Oktoberfest revelry with authentic German music, brimming steins and tasty German delights, plus dance contests, stein-holding challenges, yodeling competitions and other festivities. $10 to $30. redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/oktoberfest
Tahoe City Oktoberfest: 12 to 5 p.m. Sept. 21, Gatekeeper’s Museum, 130 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Dive into the Oktoberfest festivities with Bavarian-themed food options, craft brews from regional breweries, live music from Coburn Station, a stein squat, a yodel contest, arts and crafts activities and a vendor village. $23.18. tinyurl.com/TahoeOktoberfest
Oktoberfest at San Francisco Brewing Co.: 12 to 9 p.m. Sept. 21, 3150 Polk St., San Francisco. San Francisco Brewing Co. is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration featuring Bavarian-inspired menu items, German style biers and traditional Volksmusik, plus costume and pretzel eating contests. $35. tinyurl.com/OktoberfestSFBrewing
Walnut Creek Oktoberfest: Sept. 27-28, Civic Park, 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Raise your beer steins high and let your lederhosen loose because Walnut Creek’s annual Oktoberfest is back, complete with biergarten, German delicacies, artisan vendor booths, live entertainment and a Kinderplatz activity zone. Free admission. walnutcreekdowntown.com/marquee-events/oktoberfest/
Peter Brandon, of Walnut Creek, lets out a big smile while posing for a photograph with his wife Alice Brandon while attending the 4th annual Walnut Creek Oktoberfest at Civic Park in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Oktoberfest Midtown Sacramento: 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28, Der Biergarten, 2332 K St., Sacramento. This Midtown block party features German beer, entertainment, food and games. $23.18. tinyurl.com/OktoberfestSac
Parktoberfest: 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 4, Park Chalet Coastal Beer Garden, 1000 Great Highway at Ocean Beach, San Francisco. Don your dirndls and lederhosen for an evening of merriment, as Park Chalet transforms into an old-world Bavarian village with specialty craft brews, stein-holding contests, authentic German food and music by Alpine Sound. $41 early bird admission. parkchalet.com/
Gold Country Oktoberfest: 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 4, Gold Country Fairgrounds & Event Center, 209 Fairgate Road, Auburn. Join Gold Country Rotary for its 35th annual Oktoberfest celebration, complete with delicious food, live music and of course, plenty of beer. $55. tinyurl.com/GoldCountryOktoberfest
San Ramon Historic Foundation Oktoberfest: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5, Forest Home Farms Historic Park, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. This annual fundraising event will feature a German-themed lunch, live music from the Olympia Fields Brass, a sheep herding demonstration and tractor tours of Forest Homes Historic Park. $20-$40. srhf.org/index.php/event/oktoberfest/
Oktoberfest at Touchstone Brewing: 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5, 116 N. 16th St., Sacramento. Get ready for a day of Oktoberfest fun including a stein-holding contest, German food specials, a new beer release, live German music and a kids zone. Free admission. tinyurl.com/TouchstoneOktoberfest
Piedmont Oktoberfest: 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5, Piedmont Park, 356 Highland Ave., Piedmont. This festive fundraiser features local craft breweries, the Wente Wine Grotto, grilled sausages, German-style pretzels and a fantastic lineup of live music. $60-$200. piedmontoktoberfest.com/
Oktoberfest by the Beach: 4 to 10 p.m. Oct. 5, Irish Center SF, 2700 45th Ave., San Francisco. The United Irish Cultural Center’s sixth annual Oktoberfest by the Beach will feature music by Alpine Sound, plus indoor and outdoor beer gardens. Find pricing details at irishcentersf.org/event/6th-annual-oktoberfest-by-the-beach/.
Clayton Oktoberfest: Oct. 5-6, Main Street, Clayton. Experience a Munich-style Oktoberfest in picturesque downtown Clayton with an authentic German biergarten, delicious German foods, live music and dancing, arts and crafts vendors, plus a full-size carnival with amusement rides, game booths and street performers. Free admission. claytonoktoberfest.com/
Mountain View Oktoberfest: Oct. 5-6, Steins Beer Garden, 895 Villa St., Mountain View. Co-hosted by Steins Beer Garden and the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, the ninth annual Oktoberfest will feature live entertainment, contests, dancing, food, a Steins Speakeasy, classic German beers and wine, local artisan vendors and kids activities. Free admission. mvoktoberfest.com/
Oktoberfest at the Northern California Renaissance Faire: Oct. 5-6, Casa de Fruta, 10031 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister. If jousting and pageantry aren’t your cup of tea, don’t fret, because the Renaissance Faire will be hosting a special Oktoberfest weekend. Join the German mercenaries and their camp followers, as they ring in the harvest season with some cold Willingtown ale. $35. norcalrenfaire.com/theme-weekends/
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf kicks things off by tapping a keg at the 9th annual Oaktoberfest in the Dimond District of Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016. The day was filled with food, entertainment for all ages, vendors of all kinds and of course beer. (Dan Honda/Bay Area News Group)
Oaktoberfest in the Dimond: Oct. 5-6, Dimond District, Fruitvale Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland. The 17th annual Oaktoberfest returns with traditional German food and live music, hundreds of vendors and dozens of the Bay Area’s best craft beers. Free admission. oaktoberfest.org/
Oktoberfest at SideTrack Bar + Grill: Oct. 11-12, 30 W. Angela St., Pleasanton. SideTrack’s Oktoberfest returns with live polka and German folk music, German bites and beer, and tons of family-friendly entertainment. Free admission. sidetrackeats.com/events/oktoberfest-save-the-date/
Turn Verein Oktoberfest: Oct. 11-12, Turner Hall, 3349 J St., Sacramento. The Sacramento Turn Verein will hold its 55th annual Oktoberfest at Turner Hall. Enjoy authentic German food, an outdoor biergarten with German beer on tap, live music from three different bands, German music and dancers, plus an array of fun kids activities. $5-$20. sacramentoturnverein.com/oktoberfest/fest-info/
Downtown Brentwood Oktoberfest: 1 to 7 p.m. Oct. 12, Brentwood City Park. Join Downtown Brentwood for this celebration featuring a Sierra Nevada biergarten, live music by Alpine Sound, delicious German cuisine, carnival and beer stein games, a weiner dog costume parade and an Oktoberfest market with local vendors. Free admission. brentwooddowntown.com/oktoberfest-2024
Crockett Oktoberfest: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 13, 628 Second Ave., Crockett. The Crockett Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest will feature live polka music, axe throwing, a classic car show and a yodeling contest, plus German bier, brezen and wurstle. Free admission. crockettcalifornia.com/Crockett-Oktoberfest
Campbell Oktoberfest: Oct. 19-20, East Campbell Avenue, Downtown Campbell. For three decades, the Campbell Chamber has celebrated all things German with this annual festival featuring German foods, beers and ales in the Biersch Garten, arts and craft booths, live music and entertainment, plus stein-holding and costume contests and kids activities. Free admission. campbelloktoberfest.com/
Oktoberfest at Teske’s Germania: 6 to 11 p.m. select dates through Oct. 26, at 255 N. First St., San Jose. This historic restaurant-beer hall amps up its year-round German fare with Friday and Saturday night Oktoberfest music from The Internationals and The Gruber Family Band. Free admission. teskes-germania.com
