The Best Oktoberfest Celebrations Around Philly
The German beer fest is back, so grab a stein and a soft pretzel as big as your face — it’s time to party.
Prost! It’s Oktoberfest season. / Photograph courtesy of Ardmore Initiative
Munich celebrates its 189th Oktoberfest this fall. Closer to home, some old local favorites are also back — plus some new celebrations. We’ve got the best German beer-centric events where you can grab a giant stein and a soft pretzel as big as your face.
For more fall festivals, check out our guide.
DelcoFest
2SP Brewing is hosting a party at its Aston-based brewery, and they even have a special lager for the occasion. The afternoon will have live music from Polkadelphia, plus food trucks. The event is kid-friendly and includes games (and a stein-hoisting competition, so start strengthening those forearms). And new for this year, there will be a pup-centric event, too! Enter your small dog in the Lowrider Dog Derby to race on 2SP’s 50-foot grassy track for a $10 donation to Rags 2 Riches Rescue.
Pay-as-you-go, September 14th, noon-8 p.m., 2SP Brewing, 120 Concord Road, Aston.
16th Annual South Street Oktoberfest
Brauhaus Schmitz lives every week like it’s Oktoberfest. On September 21st, they’ll take over the 700 block of South Street with live music and German dancers, games, face painting, and the “liter lift” competition where the person who holds a full beer stein for the longest wins. Plus, as always, abundant German food and beer from a place that specializes in it all year long. (You can also upgrade to an all-inclusive VIP experience which gets you private access to an indoor space with bathrooms, a buffet with Bavarian food favorites, exclusive draft offerings, seven beer tokens, and some commemorative swag.)
Pay-as-you-go (VIP tickets are $125), September 21st, noon-8 p.m., Brauhaus Schmitz, 718 South Street.
Oktoberfest on South Street / Photograph courtesy of Brauhaus Schmitz
USA vs. The World: An Oktoberfest Celebration
If you enjoy things more when there’s a little competition involved, Human Robot has the party for you. Breweries from Philly and beyond will be pitted against their German ancestors to determine whose lager is best. Want more competition? Enter their annual milktube race! Plus, eat food truck fare and enjoy live music and entertainment from polka to a German house DJ set. Tokens and special steins are available online if you want to skip the lines. Human Robot also has brewed a special Festbier in honor of the season.
Pay-as-you-go (beer tokens are available online), September 21st, noon-5 p.m., 1700 block of Germantown Avenue.
Evil Genius Oktoberfest Celebration
The Fishtown brewery will be tapping their “Is Butter a Carb?” pretzel beer and will celebrate with a stein-holding competition, branded steins for sale, live music, pretzels and German food.
Pay-as-you-go, September 21st, noon-5 p.m., 1727 Front Street.
Oktoberfest at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
Neshaminy Creek’s Oktoberfest is like a mini German-themed Olympics. The brewery is hosting a series of competitions where contestants can show off their feats of beer strength in the form of a wiener toss and a stein-hoisting competition, as well as a yodeling contest. Also, music from Polkadelphia.
Pay-as-you-g0; September 21st, noon-7 p.m., Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, 909 Ray Avenue, Croydon.
Oktoberfest at Frankford Hall
Raise a stein at this family-friendly beer garden in Fishtown. The day includes live music, food and drink specials, kids’ activities till 4 p.m., and indoor and outdoor fun.
Pay-as-you-go, September 28th, noon-8 p.m., Frankford Hall, 1210 Frankford Avenue.
Photograph courtesy of Frankford Hall
Fishtown Fall Feastivale
And Frankford Hall’s celebration is just part of a bigger neighborhood extravaganza. Fishtown’s Fall Feastivale features more than 50 restaurants serving up beers and cocktails, and lots of food. Plus, carnival games, face painting, pop-up performers, a dunk tank, DJ sets, and art and retail vendors. This event is family- and dog- friendly, too.
Pay-as-you-go, September 28th, noon-8 p.m., Frankford Avenue from Girard to Palmer Avenue and side streets.
Fall for Ardmore Festival
Head to Schauffele Plaza (outside Tired Hands) in Ardmore for food, beer, live music, and fun for all ages. Expect lots of beer, Oktoberfest-inspired snacks like bratwurst, sauerkraut, pierogies, and Bavarian pretzels. (If you’re looking to elevate your experience, spring for the VIP Beer Garden with reserved seating and pre-paid drink tickets.) This event is all-ages, and there will be a kids’ zone — thanks to Lulu’s Casita — for the little ones, and more fun and shopping around town.
Pay-as-you-go (VIP tickets extra), September 28th, 2-6 p.m., Schauffele Plaza and around Ardmore.
Oktoberfest at La Cabra Brewing
Enjoy seasonal beers, traditional German fare, and a variety of yard games and live music. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged, and there will be a tricycle contest for prizes and bragging rights. La Cabra will bring back their seasonal Oktoberfest beer in addition to other traditional German-style beers. They’re also selling 20-ounce glass mugs for the event — and your first pour is free with purchase.
Pay-as-you-go, September 28th, 1-6 p.m., 642 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn.
Morgan’s Pier Oktoberfest
A ticket gets you an open beer bar, unlimited soft pretzels, live music by Sometimes Why, and German inspired food specials. Plus, the first 200 attendees get a Morgan’s Pier stein. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 13th.
$50 in advance, $60 at the door; October 5th, 2 p.m., 221 North Columbus Boulevard.
Roxtoberfest
In its 12th year, Roxborough’s annual fall street festival features craft beer, German folk music, circus performers, food trucks, and Oktoberfest-themed competitions: a lederhosen/dirndl costume contest (for people and dogs) and stein-holding. In addition, there will be dozens of arts and craft vendors lining the streets. And new for this year is Spocktoberfest, a Star Trek-themed celebration with costume contests, a performance by the sci-fi rock band the Roddenberries, and more. What does this have to do with beer/Germany? Nothing! But whatevs! Also, there’s a new scarecrow walk — this festival has everything.
Pay-as-you-go, October 5th, noon-6 p.m., Ridge Avenue between Lyceum and Leverington avenues.
Philly Goat Project’s GOAToberFest / Photograph by Kerri Sitrin
GOAToberFest
If you’ve always wanted to drink beer and cocktails while playing with goats, Philly Goat Project’s fundraiser at West Laurel Hill is the party for you. They say that 13 goats will be present, which is delightfully specific (If it were only a mere dozen of goats, forget about it!), and they’ll be launching their 2025 calendar which features the goats at Philly landmarks. New for this year, Triple Bottom Brewing is supplying a special GOAToberFest beer — it’s actually their Oktoberfest Crunch Beer rebranded for the event with a special commemorative label designed by local artist Jessica Kat Miller. In addition to enjoying the beer at the event, you can purchase four-packs to take home — and 50 percent of the proceeds go to PGP. Plus, bid in silent auctions for art created by goats! And finally, costumes are highly encouraged, as there will be a costume contest. The host? None other than drag queen Dominique Lee. The event welcomes “mature teens” ages 14 and older if accompanied by an adult; drinking is strictly for ages 21 and up.
$75; October 6th, 3-5 p.m., Laurel Hill West Conservatory, 215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd.
The Armory is transformed into a German beer hall for Oktoberfest. / Photograph by HughE Dillon
23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest
The two-day Armory Oktoberfest returns, transforming the 16,000-square-foot fortress into a Munich-inspired festival tent with blue-and-white-striped ceilings, tables and benches imported from Germany, and a lofted stage for musical acts, along with German dancing. Expect traditional Oktoberfest food (soft pretzels as big as your head!) and beer from Hofbräu München in giant steins, naturally. Tickets are by the session — choose one of three four-hour timeslots across Friday and Saturday — and include one liter of beer (it’s pay-as-you-go after that). VIP and “UBER VIP” options are available as well, which include more food and drink, reserved seating and more extras.
$30-$95, October 11th and 12th, 22 South 23rd Street.
Peddler’s Village OctoberFeast
While they’re also celebrating their 45th annual Scarecrows in the Village festival all month, Peddler’s Village will host a weekend featuring food trucks, a beer garden, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.
Pay-as-you-go, October 12th-13th, Peddler’s Village.
