Oktoberfest

5 Oktoberfest Celebrations In The US Worth The Tip

Summer is coming to an end, but the party’s just getting started. Oktoberfest is everyone’s favorite excuse-to-get-drunk holiday in the fall, and it’s right around the corner.
Ideally, you’d be able to make the trip out to Munich for a truly authentic Oktoberfest experience, but for many of you, that’s probably not in the cards. The good news is you can still tap into your German side here at home, thanks to the many Oktoberfest celebrations happening all across the United States.

Here are 5 Oktoberfest events worth checking out.

1. Cincinnati, Ohio
If you’re looking for the biggest party, you need to check out Zinzinnati — America’s largest Oktoberfest celebration with over 500,000 annual attendees. From September 20 to 22, Zinzinnati is filled with German music and food — including bratwurst, soft pretzels, and jumbo pickles — and tons of Sam Adams’ OctoberFest beer. You can also flex your beer mug muscles in the stein-holding contest. Zinzinnati names one lucky daschund “King or Queen of the Wiener Dogs!” If that’s not enough adorable-ness for you, the festival is also home to what it claims is the “world’s largest chicken dance.” After the dancing ends, check out the brat-eating championship.

2. La Crosse, Wisconsin
The longest running Oktoberfest in the midwest, nicknamed Das Beste, takes place annually in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from September 26 to 29. A royal family is named every year, which includes a Fest Master and Miss Oktoberfest. There are several parades during La Crosse Oktoberfest, including the Maple Leaf Parade and Torchlight Parade. One event, called Barks & Brews, allows our beloved canine friends to join in on the festivities. German beer will be flowing, but true connoisseurs will also want to check out the Craft Beer Night.

3. San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s version of the iconic German festival is Oktoberfest by the Bay. You’ll find authentic German music provided by polka bands playing the glockenspiel and accordion, activities for families, and, of course, beer. Traditional Bavarian dancers will perform, too. The festival lasts three days (September 20 to 22) and has enough singing, dancing, and drinking to make you forget you’re not actually in Munich. On the last day of the festival, the United German American Society will host a parade during which German flags will be presented and the German consul will even be on hand to tap the keg.

4. Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a Bavarian village year-round, and Oktoberfest is its time to shine. Spread over the course of three weekends (October 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19), you can partake in all the classic Oktoberfest activities with the snowy Cascade Mountains in the background. It’s not a little village in the Alps, but it sure looks like one. When you start to get hungry, turkey legs, pulled pork sandwiches, and barbecue ribs are all on the menu. If your kids are coming along, a bouncy house and clown named L-Bow will provide entertainment.

5. Helen, Georgia
This small town in Georgia has one of the oldest Oktoberfest celebrations in the country — this year will be the 48th annual event. Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen is a replica of a traditional German village in the Alps. Specialty shops sell handcrafted German imports, and the local Festhalle offers authentic food and drinks. Expect to dance the polka with locals, and don’t forget to try out a few German specialities while you’re there. Local restaurants will be serving goulash, wursts, and Reuben sandwiches.