Oktoberfest is a two-week festival held every year in Munich, Germany. Starting in late September, it runs through early October. More than 6 million people attend this huge festival each year to have fun – and drink lots and lots of beer. While the main celebration for Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Germany, this celebration is also held in various other cities across the world, including the US. Here are some of the biggest and the best places in the USA which hold Oktoberfest celebrations.
Oktoberfest in Leavenworth Washington
Leavenworth is a two-hour drive from Seattle. This is a great place to celebrate Oktoberfest with its traditional half-timbered homes, Alpine murals, and window boxes dripping with fragrant flowers. Starting in early October, Oktoberfest in Leavenworth is all about beer from Germany, music, bratwurst, and everything else German. Tickets for the event are priced at $10 on Friday and $20 on Saturday.
Oktoberfest in By the Bay in San Francisco
From September 19 – 21, Pier 48 in Mission Bay is dedicated to celebrating Oktoberfest. This is presented by Munich brewery Spaten and features a 21-piece Bavarian band and the Deutscher Musikverein of the Bay Area. If you wish to have a good time and eat plenty of German cuisine, you should be by the Bay in San Francisco on these days. Admission is $25, and if you wish for $75 you can sample the German buffet with reserved seating and a private bar. Check online for discounts.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati in Cincinnati
This is the country’s largest Oktoberfest festival and the second biggest in the world. Oktoberfest in Cincinnati draws a whopping 500,000 people every year. The fun and excitement are available to all as the entrance is free! Beginning on the 19th of September and continuing thru the 21st this festival features seven stages of live German music, 30 food vendors selling everything from strudels to schnitzels, and the best news of all – 1,300 barrels of beer. This is a fun festival and includes many games and entertainment for all ages.
Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas
From November 7th to the 16th Texas Hill Country city celebrates all things German from music and beer to sausages and costumes. The present-day festival is very different from the original one in 1961 which featured a one-day Sausage Festival and drew only 2,000 people. Today, over 100,000 people enjoy the various forms of entertainment that are featured in this festival including an exhibit about Grimm fairytales and a polka-dance contest.
So, what are you waiting for? Hurry, and select any one of these cities to enjoy Oktoberfest celebrations before it is too late. It’s time to get into your festival mood and enjoy this October in style!
