If washing down the heat with a nice cold beer is at the top of your to-do list this fall, then get your calendar ready. Oktoberfest in the tristate area, which begins in mid-September and runs through October, is a great way to quench your thirst and please your palette. Enjoy authentic German food, beer, wine, and polka dance to traditional music by bands clad in Bavarian garb, or take an Oktoberfest fun run. Activities for kids, parades, and shopportunities make these celebrations a full blown family affair. Many of the local communities and businesses donate some or all of their proceeds to support local charities and other alcohol-free events. Some offer discounted admission for designated drivers. Here are a few of the area’s most popular that put community first. Prost!
Barrel & Bushel Crowlers are on Tap
Come taste more than 25 exclusive seasonal craft beers and pumpkin ales at Barrel & Bushel and take home some crowlers! At B&B we can ‘can’ your favorite beers on tap! Proudly featuring Virginia brewers, including Hardywood, Evolution, and AleWerks. For a limited time, we’ll be pouring the B&B signature beer!
Barrel & Bushel
7901 Tysons One Place
Tysons Corner, VA 22102
St. Benedict’s Oktoberfest
Friday, September 15, 4pm–11pm
Saturday, September 16, 11am–11pm
Sunday, September 17, 12pm–6pm
Admission: Free
St. Benedict Parish has a strong German tradition and many of the charter members were German brewers. Steeped in tradition, parish members bring authentic food, music, beverages, and even their own Christkindlmart to the community. The three-day event has lots of activities for kids and parents alike, all for a good cause. Proceeds provide direct and indirect scholarships and financial aid to Saint Benedict Catholic School, Benedictine College Preparatory, and Saint Gertrude High School.
For more information, visit stbenedictoktoberfest.com.
St. Benedict Catholic Church
300 N. Sheppard Street
Richmond, VA
Hoppy Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 16, 12pm–6pm
Join us as we turn the Market Square into an outdoor Biergarten! Enjoy a selection of the region’s top IPA and Oktoberfest beers including the tapping of our Hitzig Frau Oktoberfest Lager, grilled fare, and live music at this family-friendly event!
Mad Fox Brewing Company
444 West Broad Street, Suite I
Falls Church, VA 22046
H Street Festival
Saturday, September 16, 12pm–7pm
Hosted by H Street Main Street, a nonprofit dedicated to an H Street renaissance, the 11 block H Street Festival is one of the largest neighborhood festivals in the District. Going on its 12th year, the Festival celebrates H Street restaurants, shops, local artists and musicians who come together for a day of entertainment and fun. Organized by volunteers, this event benefits small businesses on H Street and has successfully reduced the vacancy rate on H Street from 75% to 5%.
Check out hstreet.org or H Street Festival on Facebook for more information.
H Street
between 4th and 14th Streets, North East
Washington, D.C.
Biergarten Haus
Kickoff
Saturday, September 16, 12pm
Being at the Biergarten Haus during Oktoberfest is almost like being at Theresienwiese in Munich. For a taste of Bavaria on Capital Hill all year round, this is the place to go. Oktoberfest kicks off with a ceremonial keg tapping Munich style in conjunction with the H Street Festival. Biergarten Haus also hosts stein hoisting competitions, live German music and Oompah bands throughout the season, and its season finale on October 8th includes a pig roast.
For more information, visit biergartenhaus.com.
Biergarten Haus
1355 H Street North East
Washington, D.C.
Snallygaster
Saturday, September 23, 1pm–6pm
Admission: $35 – $60; Free for kids under 14
Enjoy more than 350 of the globe’s best craft beers at DC’s largest beer fest including local debuts, autumn seasonals, cask ales, and barrel-aged brews. Local food trucks, live music, and games provide entertainment throughout the day. Proceeds benefit arcadia.org.
For more information, visit snallygasterdc.com.
The Yards
1300 First Street South East
Washington, D.C.
Das Best Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 30, 12pm–6pm
Admission times and prices vary.
Designated driver tickets available for a reduced price.
Beer, brats, and bands … but first, run! Das Best kicks off with a 21 and over run—5K or a 1 Mile Beer Run, your choice—and plenty of liquid hops and barley to quench your thirst during and after. Live music, beer games, and competitions will make this a memorable event for years to come. Run registration ($49) is open until Tuesday, September 12th, or until race capacity is met. A portion of the proceeds go to Sprit of Hope Chlidren’s Foundation.
For more information, visit dasbestoktoberfest.com.
National Harbor
300 Waterfront Street
Baltimore, MD
Frederick’s Oktoberfest
Saturday, 30 September 30, 11am–10pm
Sunday, October 1, 11am–6pm
Online admission: $8 adults (S19 with beer stein), $5 children, 2 and under: free
Same day admission: $10 adults, $5 children, 2 and under: free
Partake in bratwurst, festive beers, wines, dancing, music, and events for kids, all in support of Frederick County charities. Spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek and the Rotary Club of Southern Frederick County, this cultural event helps raise thousands of dollars for area non-profits.
For more information, visit frederickoktoberfest.org.
Frederick Fairgrounds E-ventplex
797 East Patrick Street
Frederick, MD
Oktoberfest Vienna
Saturday, October 7, 11 am–7 pm
Admission: Free
Vienna’s free, family-friendly Oktoberfest features live entertainment on the town green, a beer and wine garden, plenty of food, a shopper’s marketplace, and lots of children’s activities. Presented by the Vienna Business Association, proceeds support First Night Vienna, an alcohol-free New Year’s eve celebration.
For more information, visit viennaoktoberfest.org.
Historic Church Street
between Center and Mill Streets
Vienna, VA
Derpin’ in DC Presents: “Corgtoberfest”
Saturday, October 8, 3pm–6pm
Spend some time at a dog and family beer garden to mingle with fellow corgi owners and corgi lovers on Columbus Day weekend from 3pm to 6pm. Fun activities include a corgi short race, pie eating contest, costume contest and portrait booth.
Tysons’ Biergarten
8346 Leesburg Pike
Tysons, VA 22182
Blue Ridge Highlands Oktoberfest & 5K Trail Race
Saturday, October 14, 10:30am–4pm
Race registration: $25; $15 for children 13 and under
Festival admission: $10 (day of) $5 (pre-ordered); Free for children 13 and under
Kickoff your Oktoberfest with a 5K Trail Race at Westlake Towne Center. Afterward, enjoy some special Oktobertfest brews and brats from Sunken City Brewery. All proceeds benefit the Franklin County YMCA.
For more information, visit smloktoberfest.com.
Smith Mountain Lake
84 Westlake Road
Hardy, VA
All You Care to Taste
Saturday, October 14, 12pm–6pm
Admission times and prices vary.
Designated driver tickets available for a reduced price.
Baltimore’s All You Care to Taste event features more than 150 different international, domestic, and local beers, wines, and schnapps. Live music, games, and contests are ongoing throughout the day. This event does not cater to children, however a portion of the proceeds go to Sprit of Hope Chlidren’s Foundation.
For more information, visit dasbestoktoberfest.com.
M&T Bank Stadium Lots
1101 Russell Street
Baltimore, MD
Richmond Oktoberfest
Friday, October 20, 6pm–11pm
Saturday, October 21, 2pm–11pm
Admission: $15
$12 65 & older
$12 Active military, National Guard & Reserves
$12 Advance purchase
Free admission for children 15 & under
Come out and celebrate Richmond’s 49th annual Oktoberfest, Virginia’s oldest, most authentic festival. Eat German food and drink a variety of German and domestic beers. Dance to polkas, waltzes, and American standards. Watch the Grand March and crowning of the Oktoberfest Queen. Plenty of live music, shopping opportunities, and children’s activities including crafts, face painting, and games. The Deutscher Sports Club, a German-American social club, helps organize this event to help maintain German customs and traditions in the “new world.”
For more information, visit richmondoktoberfestinc.com.
Old Dominion Hall
Richmond International Raceway
600 E Laburnum Avenue
Richmond, VA
Oktoberfest at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Saturday, October 28, 11am–4pm
Admission: $13
$11 for seniors 55 and up
$8 for children 3 – 12
Free for members and children 2 and under
What could be better than viewing the glorious fall colors in a botanical garden while eating local food and drinking beer from the Center of the Universe Brewery? Doing it all while supporting a local charity. Bring canned goods donations to help support FeedMore and you’ll be doing more than feeding your Oktoberfest buzz.
For more information, visit lewisginter.org.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Avenue
Richmond, VA
