It’s time to don your lederhosen or dirndl — Oktoberfest celebrations are happening all over the Bay Area this month and into October. The Bavarian festival may have gotten its start in Germany, when King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in 1810, and the citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate in front of the city gates, but the two-week extravaganza since grown to become an annual global phenomenon. Raise a stein to celebrate the season — Bay Area-style — with brats, bier, polka and pretzels and get your chicken dance on at one of these Bay Area Oktoberfest events near you.
Featured Photo: Campbell Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco
When: 6pm to 9pm, October 3
Where: Park Chalet, 1000 Great Highway, San Francisco
Cost: $40, including a limited-edition stein and 1 liter of beer; private tables available for an additional fee
At its annual Oktoberfest event, Park Chalet channels a Bavarian village with authentic German music and beer poured into custom steins, plus a stein-holding contest. Sample some Bay Area Oktoberfest fare or order from the regular menu.
When: 4pm to 10:00pm, Sept. 27
Where: United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Ave., San Francisco
Cost: $25–$35
When it comes to holidays associated with drinking beer, we’d bet on the Irish to know how to celebrate, so we’re betting the Oktoberfest event put on by the United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco is sure to be a good time. Enjoy authentic German food and drink and music and dance performances in a large outdoor beer hall and garden.
North Bay
When: 3-8 pm, Sept. 20
Tam Valley Community Center, 203 Marin Avenue, Mill Valley
Cost: $20 Advance General Admission, $15 at the door, $15 Seniors
The first of a few Oktoberfest celebrations coming to Marin this fall, Tam Valley Community Center gets the festivities started with games, food, music and beer.
Marin Country Mart, 2257 Larkspur Landing Circ., Larkspur
Cost: Free
This special concert from the Marin Symphony Orchestra brass section All-Stars at Marin County Mart features a festive mix of Oktoberfest favorites, alongside classical gems from Bach and Brahms, and maybe a Star Wars bar song! There will also be kids’ pretzel crafts, stein-holding contests, best-dressed awards, and plenty of food and beer.
South Bay
When: 4pm to 10pm, Sept 27
Where: 383 Castro Street, Mountain View
Ludwig’s makes it easy for groups to attend its annual Oktoberfest extravaganza with an entry fee that includes a table reservation for up to eight people. A traditional Oktoberfest menu including Schweinshaxe, Nuernberger Sausages and baked chicken will be on offer, along with a DJ and live music and costume and stein-holding contests.
When: Sept. 19-28 (except Sept 22). Variable times; check website for more details.
Where: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway St., Redwood City
Cost: Ticket prices range from $10-$25 for all ages (Non-Drinkers), and $16-$35 for Drinkers 21+. All tickets include a commemorative stein and a drink ticket. VIP 6-person table-seatings offered at $250 on weekends.
Redwood City’s Courthouse Square is transformed into a Bavarian beer-drinking playground at the city’s annual Oktoberfest event. With 1,100 feet of family-style bench seating, there’s plenty of space for all to enjoy traditional German live music and dance performances, contests and of course, brews, brats and pretzels.
When: 10am to 6pm, Oct. 18; 10am to 5pm, Oct. 19
Where: Downtown Campbell
Cost: Free admission; advance drink ticket and package purchases available
Historic Downtown Campbell plays host to this family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration put on by the Campbell Chamber of Commerce. The event boasts 100 artisan booths, five stages of live music featuring German, rock and roll, R&B, blues and country music; a community stage with performances by local talent; food vendors; wine tasting from local wineries; and a beer garden serving Gordon Biersch beer, Bavarian pretzels, German food vendors and a stage with live German music. Sign up early for the stein-holding contest.
When: 12-8 pm, Sept. 13
Where: Civic Center Lawn, Los Gatos
Cost: Free admission
Benefitting local TV and radio station KCAT Public Media, Los Gatos’ Oktoberfest event kicks off with a “tapping of the keg,” followed by German music and beer; stein-holding contest and beer pong tournament; and plenty of brats, spaetzle and pretzels in the festival tent’s beer and wine garden.
East Bay
When: 11am to 7pm, Oct. 4, 10am to 5pm, Oct. 1
Where: Dimond District, Fruitvale Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland
Cost: Free admission
Oakland’s historic Dimond District is throwing a two-day, seven-block Oktoberfest street festival complete with four stages of live music; traditional German food including pork schnitzel, bratwurst, bread dumplings, braised red cabbage and fresh-baked strudel from prominent Bay Area chefs; hundreds of clothing and craft venders; and more than 200 craft beers on tap from local brewers including Altamont, Drake’s, Laughing Monk, Federation, HenHouse, Line 51, South City Ciderworks. Families are welcome too, with attractions including a root beer garden serving up root beer floats aplenty. Dining hall seating with German food platters is also available with advance reservations.
When: 5–10pm, Sept. 26, 12pm–9pm, Sept. 27
Where: Civic Park, 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Cost: Free admission
Head to Downtown Walnut Creek for the town’s annual Oktoberfest celebration featuring live entertainment, music, dancing, gourmet food, dozens of artisan vendors and a beer garden with dozens of craft beers and wine. Families will find kid-approved activities in the Kinder Platz Kids Zone.
