Though a trip to Munich sounds nice right about now, you don’t have to travel all the way to Bavarian for an excuse to break out your lederhosen and dirndl dresses. On the contrary, Colorado plays host to a plethora of Oktoberfest celebrations, complete with marzen beers, pretzels, sausages, dancing, polka and more. Here are a few of our favorites.
Oktoberfest at Odyssey Beerwerks
Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.
More info: facebook.com/events/1255418178623556/
This festival is so good that even the Arvada mayor gets in on the action. Jam out to music from Polkanauts while feasting on El Jefe’s Brats and Tots and, of course, sipping beers.
Dogtoberfest at River North Brewery
Sept. 10
More info: rivernorthbrewery.com/event-details/dogtoberfest
bring the four-legged members of your family down to River North Brewery for this fun one-day festival, complete with doggy photo shoots and a dog adoption event.
Loveland Oktoberfest
Sept. 16-17
More info: oktoberfestloveland.org
Get your fill of delicious beers from Loveland breweries, plus German food, music and fun for the whole family at this beloved annual celebration.
Wibby Oktoberfest 5K
Sept. 17
More info: wibbybrewing.com
Get in a quick workout before you start sipping beers at Wibby’s Oktoberfest 5K race in Longmont, part of the Brewery Running Series. When your reach the finish line, you’ll get a free craft beer and a collector’s pint glass or some other seasonal swag. Stick around in your sweaty clothes afterward to enjoy food trucks, vendors, live music, giveaways and, of course, tasty beers.
Vail Oktoberfest
Sept. 9-11, Sept. 16-18
More info: oktoberfestvail.com
Two weekends of Oktoberfest are better than one. At Vail Oktoberfest, participate in Bavarian costume contests, stein-lifting competitions and even a special kid-toberfest. There’s also tons of live music, dance performances and a keg-bowling championship. Prost!
MainStage Oktoberfest Fest
Sept. 16-17
More info: facebook.com/events/478598587081759/478606290414322/
Venture up to Lyons for a smorgasbord of Oktoberfest-inspired beers from more than a dozen Colorado breweries. Think: A festbier from Oskar Blues, “The Hunt for Red Oktoberfest” from Comrade and a marzen from Weldwerks, just to name a few. Also enjoy polka, brats, pretzels, games and more.
Fiction Beer Company Oktoberfest
Sept. 17
More info: fictionbeer.com/food-trucks-and-events/2022/9/17/oktoberfest
Feeling competitive? Sign up to challenge your friends in Fiction Beer Company’s stein holding, stein chugging AND empty keg squat competitions, then reward yourself with a chilly mug of MAV Marzen. Live music from Some Sweet Day is also on the menu.
LUKI Brewery Oktoberfest Celebration
Sept. 17 – Oct. 3
More info: lukibrew.com
Why limit Oktoberfest to one or two weekends when you could be celebrating with fun, food and beer for three weeks? If that’s your philosophy, be sure to make a trip down to LUKI Brewery for pretzels wth authentic German mustard, food trucks, live polka music, stein-holding competitions and beer releases. LUKI will be releasing In Like a Lion (a German märzen), Helles Breaks Loose, (a light session German helles) and Grammy’s Pumpkin Pie.
Breckenridge Oktoberfest
Sept. 23-25
More info: gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-oktoberfest
Get a collectible stein when you celebrate at Breckenridge Oktoberfest, which also features a ceremonial keg tapping, tons of live music, a 5K trail run and a brewmaster dinner on Thursday.
Bohemian Biergarten Oktoberfest
Oct. 1-2
More info: bohemianbiergarten.com
Don’t miss the ceremonial keg tapping, the giveaways, the live polka bang and the stein-holding contests all weekend long at Boulder’s Bohemian Biergarten.
Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen
Oct. 1
More info: facebook.com/events/841033546874053
Windsor’s Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen is doing a special beer release, live music from the Poudre Valley Playboys and bratwurst plates all day long.
