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! Oktoberfest season is here. / Photograph courtesy of Frankford Hall
Munich celebrates its 190th Oktoberfest this fall. Closer to home, some favorite local celebrations are back, plus a few new ones to check out. Here’s Philly’s 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). Plus, enter your small dog in the Lowrider Dog Derby to race on 2SP’s track for a $10 donation to a local animal charity.
Pay-as-you-go, September 13th, noon-6 p.m., 2SP Brewing, 120 Concord Road, Aston.
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! Or dress your dog in their finest lederhosen for the Long Dog Beauty Contest. Plus, eat food truck fare and enjoy live music and entertainment. 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 20th, noon-5 p.m., 1700 block of Germantown Avenue.
Oktoberfest at Frankford Hall
Raise a stein at this family-friendly beer garden in Fishtown. The day includes live music, food and drink specials, and kids’ activities.
Pay-as-you-go, September 20th, noon-8 p.m., Frankford Hall, 1210 Frankford Avenue.
Photograph courtesy of Frankford Hall
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. Also, music from Polkadelphia. (Those guys really get around!)
Pay-as-you-g0, September 20th, noon-7 p.m., Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, 909 Ray Avenue, Croydon.
17th Annual South Street Oktoberfest
Brauhaus Schmitz lives every week like it’s Oktoberfest. On September 27th, 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 27th, noon-8 p.m., Brauhaus Schmitz, 718 South Street.
Dancers at South Street Oktoberfest / Photograph courtesy of Brauhaus Schmitz
Oktoberfest at Yards
Don your best dirndl or lederhosen — the best-dressed will win a prize! — and enjoy live music from Polkadelphia, German-inspired eats, a stein-holding competition, and exclusive, event-only beers (Yards Festbier, Hefeweizen, and Schnitzengiggles). Your ticket gets you a special Yards Oktoberfest stein and your choice of one of four German-inspired Yards beers.
$34, September 27th, noon-4 p.m., 500 Spring Garden Street.
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 race! La Cabra will bring back their seasonal Oktoberfest beer in addition to other traditional German-style beers.
Pay-as-you-go, September 27th, noon-5 p.m., 642 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn.
Oktoberfest on South Street / Photograph courtesy of Brauhaus Schmitz
Evil Genius Oktoberfest
The Fishtown brewery will be tapping four limited-edition German-style beers (including “Is Butter a Carb?” pretzel beer) and will celebrate with live music by (you guessed it) Polkadelphia, games, and German food. Plus, their stein-holding competition has some added stakes: It’s the qualifying round for the official U.S. Steinholding Association championship. Winners will be invited to the state championship on October 11th for a chance to compete at Nationals in November.
$10-$30, October 4th, noon-6 p.m., 1727 Front Street.
Roxtoberfest
In its 13th year, Roxborough’s annual fall street festival features craft beer, German folk music by Galena Brass Band, circus performers, food trucks, and family fun. In addition, there will be dozens of arts and craft vendors lining the streets. Plus, the scarecrow walk returns!
Pay-as-you-go, October 4th, noon-5 p.m., Ridge Avenue between Lyceum and Leverington avenues.
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.
$50 in advance, $60 at the door; October 4th, 2-6 p.m., 221 North Columbus Boulevard.
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.
$40-$100, October 10th and 11th, 22 South 23rd Street.
Peddler’s Village OctoberFeast
While they’re also celebrating their 46th 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 11th and 12th, Peddler’s Village.
Philly Goat Project’s GOAToberFest / Photograph by Kerri Sitrin
GOAToberFest
Okay, so this one isn’t really an Oktoberfest, per se, but it gets points for the name and also for originality. 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!) 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 Marian Bailey. 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.
But wait, there’s more! PGP will be launching their 2026 calendar which features the goats at Philly landmarks. Plus, s’mores around the fire pit, lawn games, a photo booth, and raffles 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. Note: The event welcomes teens ages 14 and older if accompanied by an adult; drinking is strictly for ages 21 and up.
$75, October 18th, 2-5 p.m., Laurel Hill West Conservatory, 215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd.
