It’s almost the most brew-tiful time of the year: Oktoberfest.
This folk festival originated in Munich, Germany in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Louis to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The tradition has continued to grow into the world’s largest Volkfest — read: people festival — filled with beer, traditional Bavarian music, performances, parades, and German outfits.
But don’t worry, you won’t need to hop on a plane to join the festivities. We gathered six weeks worth of celebrations to plan for a pitcher-perfect Oktoberfest.
Raleigh Brewing | Sunday, Sept. 10 | Listen and watch the Little German Band and dancers perform while sipping on the brewery’s Oktoberfest Lager, and take your pick from food trucks serving German eats like Truman’s Smokehouse & Kitchen. There will also be a keg hoisting contest and an exclusive merch release.
Gizmo Brew Works | Saturday, Sept. 16 | Enjoy a live music lineup running from 12 to 9 p.m., on-site food trucks like Rescue Dogs, and sipping on craft brews.
Crank Arm Brewing Company | Sunday, Sept. 17 | This downtown brewery is closing down the street for a German-style block party — dubbed Sproktoberfest — featuring the Little German Band and dancers, a stein hoisting contest, and bites from Capital Club 16.
Lonerider Five Points | Saturday, Sept. 23 | Try your hand at the stein holding competition and enjoy German tunes, food, and beer.
Lafayette Village | Saturday, Sept. 30 | The star of this German celebration is the eighth annual wiener dog race where Dachshunds will stampede to compete to win. There will also be fall brews, German-inspired foods, and live music.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre | Friday, Oct. 6 + Saturday, Oct. 7 | Enjoy the running of the wiener dogs followed by a parade, family-friendly fun in the Kid Play Area, food vendors like Capital Club 16, and German competitions like Yodeling and Mr. + Mrs. Oktoberfest. Plus, this festival has the largest selection of authentic German beer out of all of the Oktoberfest events in NC.
Trophy Brewing on Maywood | Saturday, Oct. 14 | At Oktrophyfest, enjoy German sounds from the Little German Band and Mozel Franzi and the JaJaJas, bites by the Wandering Wolf Food Truck, and the release of this year’s German-style beer. Bonus: Join the brewery as it attempts the world’s largest Underberg toast.
