Oktoberfest is a world-famous German folk festival held annually in the fall. Since Munich’s original Oktoberfest over 200 years ago, the tradition has grown into the most popular party in the world. During September and October, small mountain towns and huge city centers alike host parades, showcase live entertainment, and cook up authentic German cuisine. These are six of the best Oktoberfest celebrations around the South!
Helen Oktoberfest | Helen, GA
September 5 – October 27, 2024
Unsurprisingly, the South’s favorite European-feeling town hosts one of the most authentic Oktoberfests in the South. Filled with traditional German music, dancing, food, and bier, the Helen Oktoberfest is the longest-running of its kind in the United States. It runs Thursdays through Sundays from now through September 22 and nightly from September 22 through October 27.
Each fall, slews of visitors pick Alpine Helen and Georgia’s Blue Ridge foothills for fall color, waterfalls, wineries, and cool mountain air. In its 54th year, Helen Chamber’s Oktoberfest features jovialität and fröhlichkeit, musicians, dancers, and performers from Germany and German communities from many states.
Throughout the festival, the Helen Festhalle is the epicenter for German bands, lively dancing, and authentic food and beverages in a traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere like no other. Catch performers in traditional dirndls, Tyrolean hats, and lederhosen while sampling dozens of beers, six kinds of wursts, German potato salad, and many more delicacies!
Hofbräuhaus Newport Oktoberfest | Newport, KY
September 13 – 15, 20 – 22, and 27 – 29, 2024
America’s first authentic Hofbräuhaus brewery and restaurant opened over 20 years ago in Newport, Kentucky, modeled directly after the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich. Even though this spot gives Oktoberfest year-round, their multi-weekend Oktoberfest draws large crowds each year thanks to its authenticity, lively atmosphere, and Bavarian-style beer and food.
One of the main draws here is the beer brewed on-site following the traditional German purity laws (Reinheitsgebot) from 1516. Pair your crisp brew with classic German foods like pretzels, schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and potato pancakes. Tunes of traditional German oompah bands, accordion players, and polka music set the scene, and players encourage crowd participation.
Plop down with your crew at a long communal table in the massive outdoor beer garden for a day of revelry. This place is reminiscent of the traditional beer halls in Munich but with waterfront views of the Ohio River. The beer garden is often packed with locals and visitors, and there’s an area for kid-centric activities, too.
Addison Oktoberfest | Addison, TX
September 19 – 23, 2024
Addison’s Oktoberfest is one of the largest outside of Munich, drawing more than 70,000 visitors annually. For the last thirty-five years, the small town has welcomed visitors from across the nation to enjoy tasty brews, including the traditional Paulaner Bier, and delicious Bavarian dishes like bratwurst, schnitzel, sauerkraut, pretzels, and American favorites.
There’s more to this Oktoberfest than just bier and stein hoisting! During the four-day event, dozens of entertainers hit various stages at Addison Circle Park. The Partyhalle has music, the Draught Haus Bier Garden shows sports, and the Marketplatz offers opportunities for some early holiday shopping.
Visitors can enjoy barrel rolling and barrel bowling, Dachshund races, a German spelling bee, a car show, and a carnival complete with rides, games, and food galore.
Oktoberfest Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg, TX
October 4 – 6, 2024
Fredericksburg, nestled in the Texas Hill Country, has deep German roots. Experiencing Oktoberfest in this quaint, historic town enhances the experience and creates one of the country’s most authentic and well-loved fests. The three-day-long party typically takes place the first weekend of October and draws crowds that are 25,000 strong.
Under huge tents on Marktplatz, expect traditional German music, dancing, beer, food, and a market area with many local arts and crafts. Fredericksburg is the Polka Capital of Texas, so music will be in the air all weekend long across five stages. Ogle the traditional dancers or join in on the communal dance if you feel so inclined!
Cullman Oktoberfest | Cullman, AL
October 3 – 5, 2024
Cullman, Alabama, hosts one of the most authentic and family-friendly Oktoberfest celebrations in the Southeast, reflecting the town’s strong German heritage. Their festival dates back to 1977 and has become an annual tradition commemorating Cullman’s founding by German settlers in 1873.
While it’s not one of the biggest Oktoberfests in the South, it’s a significant gathering for a town of Cullman’s size, reflecting strong community involvement and the town’s deep German roots. From Thursday, October 3, through the closing of the Hofbräu Biergarten on Saturday, October 5, Cullman’s streets will be filled with lively music, cultural displays, and delicious German cuisine.
The event’s smaller scale compared to major city festivals allows for a more intimate and authentic experience. Watch the adorable Wiener Dog Race, sign up for the 10K, 5K, brat-eating contest, stein-hoisting competition, costume contest, and more.
Nashville Oktoberfest | Nashville, TN
October 3 – 6, 2024
Nashville Oktoberfest is one of Music City’s oldest festivals and purported to be America’s second-largest Oktoberfest! The event draws over 250,000 people annually to Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood. While the festival used to take place all over the streets of Germantown, it’s now enclosed within Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park.
In its exciting 45th year, the festival is filled with authentic food, German-important beer, music, and cultural celebrations, including a hugely attended 5K Bier Run, dog races, parades, and lots of great costumes. One of Oktoberfest’s crowd-favorite events is the Masskrugstemmen, or stein-holding contest. Participants compete to see who can hold a full liter of beer at arm’s length the longest.
A big PROST! to these fabulous Oktoberfests in the South.
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