Is It Time To Start Thinking About Oktoberfest Already?

The Amory will become home to an Oktoberfest celebration | Photo by Vanessa Beahn

Oktoberfest has always been kind of a big deal in Philly–driven primarily by the large-scale block parties thrown by the crew behind Brauhaus Schmitz.

This year though? They’re doing their South Street party AND a three day Oktoberfest in Center City.

This year, on October 7-9, the owners of Brauhaus Schmitz are taking over the entire 23rd Street Armory for what they’re calling the biggest Oktoberfest celebration in the tri-state area. They’ll be able to hold 1500 people per session (they’re dividing up the days to allow for more people), for a total of 7500 tickets available at $45 a pop ($65 for VIP). Here’s how the schedule breaks down:

Friday, October 7, 2016, 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Saturday, October 8, 2016, 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, October 8, 2016, 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Sunday, October 9, 2016, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, October 9, 2016, 6:00pm to 10:00pm

The whole thing is happening over Columbus Day weekend and the Armory is going to be decked out “to mimic an authentic Munich festival tent.” That means lots of blue and white canvas tenting, “authentic festival tables and benches imported from Germany,” plus a stage for all those tuba players.

There’s going to be food (of course) and beer (of course). Jeremy Nolen and his Brauhaus crew will be handling the grub and the Hofbrauhaus is bringing the beer. Here’s a schedule of how the days (and sessions) will break down.

Day One – October 7th, 2016
Kick off Columbus Day Weekend at our first available session! Starting at 7PM enjoy Philadelphia’s most authentic Oktoberfest Festzelt! General Admission $45 includes: open seating on imported festival benches, traditional Bavarian food, liter of beer, glass 1L mass stein to take home and entertainment by the German Hungarian Dancers as well as Accordian aficionado Alex Meixner! VIP $65 includes: all of the above plus VIP quick entrance, reserved seating by the band and dance floor, table service, and brotzeit (meat & cheese board) on table when you arrive.

Day Two – October 8th, 2016
So many options!! On Saturday choose between the afternoon session 1-5PM or the evening session 7-11PM. General Admission $45 includes: open seating on imported festival benches, traditional Bavarian food, liter of beer, glass 1L mass stein to take home and entertainment by the German Hungarian Dancers as well as Die Heimatklange during the day and Alex Meixner at night! VIP $65 includes: all of the above plus VIP quick entrance, reserved seating by the band and dance floor, table service, and brotzeit (meat & cheese board) on table when you arrive.

Day Three – October 9th, 2016
Close out the holiday weekend by attending either our afternoon session 12-4PM or evening session 6-10PM. General Admission $45 includes: open seating on imported festival benches, traditional Bavarian food, liter of beer, glass 1L mass stein to take home and entertainment by the German Hungarian Dancers as well as Die Heimatklange during the day and Bavarski at night! VIP $65 includes: all of the above plus VIP quick entrance, reserved seating by the band and dance floor, table service, and brotzeit (meat & cheese board) on table when you arrive.

Yep, so even with this huge new event, Brauhaus Schmitz will STILL be doing the South Street Oktoberfest that they’ve been hosting for years, shutting down an entire block of South Street on September 17 and hosting roughly 10,000 fans of beer, oompah music and tube-shaped meats. This whole party at the Armory? That’s something extra.

Anyway, information on the locations, dates, session and tickets can all be found at the link below. Better start making your plans now.

Brauhaus Schmitz Oktoberfest(s) [Official]