Rise and stein, everyone! Oktoberfest in Milwaukee is back for more in 2024. An annual nod to the traditions of Munich, Germany, which welcomes 7.2 million people each year for the 18-day celebration of German culture, music, food and, of course, massive amounts of beer, Milwaukee’s strong German heritage carried the fall festival to the Cream City where it continues to flourish today. Since the first Oktoberfest's in Milwaukee over 60 years ago, more and more events continue to pop up around town, ranging from the authentic to the fascinatingly unique. Explore the one-of-a-kind celebrations, grab your favorite lederhosen and discover your best Oktoberfest in Milwaukee.
For an Authentic Oktoberfest: Old Heidelberg Park
There are some events that feel as though they have always been fixtures on the community calendar. They’re the classics, the mainstays, local institutions that are staples of the season. Oktoberfest at Old Heidelberg Park is the city’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebration. Beginning in the 1960s, Oktoberfest at Old Heidelberg Park has a carefully curated atmosphere, almost perfectly replicating the vibes of Munich’s own celebration. So, if you’re looking for a truly authentic Oktoberfest experience, skip the 11-hour flight to Germany, and make the short 15-minute trip to Glendale.
Oktoberfest at Bavarian Bierhaus runs Friday through Sunday, now through October 6.
For the History Buffs: Pabst Mansion
Milwaukee is well-known as Brew City. Names like Miller, Blatz and Pabst built Milwaukee into the brewing behemoth, putting the city’s German roots front and center, paving the way for Milwaukee to flourish. At the Pabst Mansion, you can take a peek into the German beer mogul’s family life. This month, on September 20-21 and 27-28, you can take a deep dive into Milwaukee’s German roots on a special guided tour of this beautifully preserved mansion, accompanied by samples of local Oktoberfest beers and German Riesling (a known favorite of Captain Pabst), all paired with Milwaukee-style German cuisine.
Tours take place on Friday, September 20 and 27 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, September 21 and 28 at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
For the Four-Legged Friends: WAAGtoberfest/Oktoberfest at Black Husky
Next weekend, Black Husky is hosting a paws for a cause event with Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever (WAAGR) during WAAGtoberfest. Stop by the taproom to meet some of your new best friends--golden retrievers—take part in raffles and sample some Black Husky brews, all while supporting a good cause from 2-6 p.m. on September 14.
Then, the following weekend, Black Husky is hosting an Oktoberfest Black Husky Style on Saturday, September 21, beginning at 1 p.m. Stop in with your furry friend for the pet costume contest, free firkin beer, a yodeling contest and live music throughout the day.
WAAGtoberfest: September 14, 2-6 p.m.
Oktoberfest at Black Husky: September 21, beginning at 1 p.m.
For the Creative Culinary Spirits: Sausage Sculpting at Mobcraft
Mobtoberfest is another phenomenal Oktoberfest-style celebration in its own right. Live music, good food, craft beer, hammerschlagen and everything you’d expect from a quality Oktoberfest. But Mobcraft has always done things a little differently. A brewery that crowdsources its beer and hosts an annual event called Weirdfest would stand to reason then that sausage sculpting would be in the mix for the day’s programming. Swing by for the culinary artistry that is sausage sculpting starting at 6 p.m. or, if you think you have what it takes to bring your artistic vision to life in meat form, you can take part in this one-of-a-kind tradition (registration starts at 5:45 p.m.).
Mobtoberfest takes place on Saturday, September 21, from noon to close.
For the Football Fanatic (the European Kind): Estabrook Beer Garden
As summer shifts into fall, there’s a lot of football on TV. The Packers are back in action, college football is well underway, and soccer is already in the thick of it. At Estabrook Beer Garden’s Oktoberfest Weekend celebration on September 27-29, you have a chance to catch Germany’s premier team, FC Bayern, on the big screen. At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, stop by the beer garden to see Bayern take on the defending Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen. Then, stick around for a free beer! At 2 p.m., the beer garden is hosting a keg tapping, with free beer while supplies last.
For an Oktoberfest Your Way: Local Beer
When you’ve got a pack of Oktoberfest in your fridge, any season is Oktoberfest season. You can raise a stein, a boot, a pint or, more simply, a can in your favorite koozie from parking lot tailgates at American Family Field, a crackling fire of a campsite or in the comfort of your own home. Check out our beer finder below to see which breweries are brewing a batch of fresh Oktoberfest.
