Your Guide to Oktoberfest & Other Fall Happenings

Fall means a chill in the air, colorful leaves and shorter days. But it also means Fall festivals, Autumnal beers and Oktoberfests out the wazoo. We’ve tracked down all the details on the season’s happenings. Check out where to get the most authentic German food as well as where to drink pumpkin beers till you swear you’ll never drink a spiced beer again.

McGillins – McGillins has totally jumped the gun and is already serving German food and fall beers. Look for Stoudts Fest, Flying Fish Octoberfish, Ramstein’s Oktoberfest and many others. As the season progresses look for more pumpkin beers. German lunch and dinner specials have been added to the menu including a sausage platter, kasebrotchen and of course authentic potato salad.

Stoudts – It is the 20th annual Microfest in Adamstown, PA. The $35 tickets provide four hours of tastings, live music and complimentary buffet.

Hop Angel Brauhaus – Look for three weekends of Oktoberfest action that will include outdoor music, food and beer. The fun starts on Saturday, September 17th and ends Sunday, October 2nd.

Brauhaus Schmitz – Philadelphia’s German restaurant starts a week of celebrating on Monday, September 19th and culminating Saturday, September 24th with their big Oktoberfest. This year they will close down South Street for the party. Check out the brochure here.

Standard Tap – Philadelphia’s first gastropub celebrates with a week long Sausage Fest. Running from Friday, September 23rd through the Thursday the 29th the Tap will offer Oktoberfest beers and $5 sausage platters everyday. Check out the brochure here.

Four Seasons Beer Garden – The With Love Beer Garden will make one last appearance on Friday, September 23rd. The beer garden will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature Victory’s Summer Love and Fest beers. There will also be brats, wienerschnitzel and other German foods available.

Midtown Village – The annual Midtown Village Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, October 1st. The neighborhood from Walnut to Chestnut and 12th to Juniper will be filled with performances, food, drink and more.

Yuengling Oktoberfest – The Pride of Pottsville is introducing their new Yuengling Octoberfest from September 29th to October 2nd and again from October 6th to 9th at the SteelStack arts and cultural campus in Bethlehem, PA.

The Institute -The Third Annual Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin Beer Festival starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 1st. More than 20 pumpkin beers will be tapped and prizes will be awarded to those who finish six pumpkin beers first. Look for unique beer offerings from Stoudts and Yards.

Farmers’ Cabinet – On Saturday, October 1st  celebrate Franctoberfest. Nine gravity barrels of German lagers from the Franconian region will be pouring. All the beers come from small breweries and are brewed for the season.

Garces Trading Co. – On Monday, October 3rd enjoy six courses of German-inspired fare paired with a variety of unusual and delicious German-style craft beers. All for $65. Full Menu (PDF)

Memphis Taproom – Celebrate Thirstoberfest at Memphis on Saturday, October 15th and say goodbye to the beer garden for the season. They’ll be pouring more than 25 limited release beers. The event is pay-as-you-go and will feature special Thirstoberfest hot dogs.

Frankford Hall – The Frankford Avenue beer garden will have special Oktoberfest beers on tap and live entertainment on October 15th and 16th. The Ja Ja Jas will perform live on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. They’ll be back again on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. On Saturday there will also be line dancers, magicians, jugglers and a face painter.