Every year the city of Munich in Germany hosts the world’s largest beer festival known as Oktoberfest. This year the festival begins on September 17th and runs until October 3rd. One of the first questions you may be asking is why it’s called Oktoberfest if it takes place in September? Well, originally, when the festival began in 1810 it took place on October 12, but over the years management decided to make the festival longer and they also decided to start it earlier in September as weather in Munich is better towards the end of September.  Next you may be wondering how all these festivities came about. The first Oktoberfest took place to celebrate the matrimony of Prince Ludwig and Therese of Sax-Hildburghausen and since then it has become an extravagant festival, carnival and beer garden.

Now while every beer enthusiast wishes they could travel to Germany and join in all the traditional festivities it may not be the most feasible and that’s why numerous locations in the United States have taken it upon themselves to bring the German custom of Oktoberfest to the States. Large cities like San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, St. Louis and many others go ahead and host their own Oktoberfest carnivals for those who can’t make it to Germany.

Going to be sightseeing in San Francisco the weekend of September 30th? The Oktoberfest by the Bay is a waterfront celebration that takes place on Pier 48 and includes traditional Bavarian music and dancing by a professional dance group known as the Nature Friends Schuhplattler.  This event is supported by the United German American Societies of San Francisco and Vicinity, therefore, you can be guaranteed to have a close to authentic Oktoberfest experience here by the bay.

Who better to host an Oktober beer fest than a brewery? From September 29th to October 1st you can celebrate Oktoberfest when visiting Denver, Colorado  with the Brewers Association at the Great American Brew Festival.  This festival is recognized to be the largest ticketed beer festival in the United States and for good reason, there are 2,400 beers served at the festival by 465 participating brewers.

Even though LA may be known as the land of glitz and glam and dirty martinis, Angelinos know how to host an Oktoberfest just as good as the next city. So when you’re traveling in LA this October make sure to stop by The Los Angeles Oktoberfest on October 22nd. The festival will include a 25 member band, a polka band with Bavarian dancers, a silent auction and unlike other Oktoberfests there will be wine tasting, yes, wine tasting! Wine tasting is complimentary to all festival attendees and allows you to sample some of the best wines Germany has to offer.  

Hosted by a German founded American brewery, Anheuser-Busch presents the Soulard Oktoberfest in St. Louis, Missouri. Taking place October 7 – 9 the festival celebrates the cities strong German heritage with 2,000 kegs of beer and a whopping 14 bands. The festival also includes a number of contests ranging from bratwurst eating contests and strongest beer maid contests. One of the best parts about this festival is that if you come dressed up in your best German outfit you get in for free!

So just because you can't be in Munich celebrating Oktoberfest wearing your best lederhosen, drinking mass amounts of uber delicious German beer  doesn’t mean you can’t have an awesome Oktoberfest. You can still enjoy a good beer, a savory bratwurst with sauerkraut and some good polka at one of these other Oktoberfests. Don’t let distance stop you from saying beifall or cheers!