These American cities know how to throw a proper Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest has become one of America’s biggest cultural street parties, drawing hundreds of thousands each fall. Cities from Cincinnati to Denver transform downtown blocks into Bavarian playgrounds filled with bratwurst, beer tents and non-stop music. This year, expanded dates, new entertainment lineups and regional spins promise even bigger celebrations.

Crowds will find everything from dachshund races in Milwaukee to keg bowling in Denver, with each event adding a unique twist to the tradition. And with more cities extending festival hours and opening larger venues, Oktoberfest in America is clearly scaling up to meet growing demand.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati returned to Cincinnati’s riverfront Sept. 18-21, 2025. First launched in 1976, it has grown into the largest Oktoberfest in the United States, with more than 808,000 visitors celebrating the city’s German heritage.

This year’s edition began Thursday, Sept. 18, with longer hours to celebrate. Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove became a Bavarian fairground where free admission and bigger grounds welcomed festivalgoers. Bratwurst grilling, Samuel Adams beer and live bands throughout the weekend underscored why Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is widely known as America’s largest German-heritage festival.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee’s Oktoberfest takes place at the Henry Maier Festival Park on Oct. 3-5. Entertainment will run all weekend with nightly polka bands, stein-holding contests, dachshund races and family-friendly games that make the event feel like a party anyone can join.

Food offerings will include pretzels, schnitzel, potato pancakes and sausages served alongside German-style beers and local brews. The festival will also invite people to get involved, whether by joining contests, volunteering or supporting local cultural groups that help keep traditions alive.

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style village all year, but Oktoberfest makes it burst with color each October. The festival will run on Oct. 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18, filling the streets with music, dancing and lively parades.

Food is a big part of the fun, and the festival will showcase more than bratwurst and schnitzel. Visitors can also enjoy Mexican flavors, Italian specialties, farm-to-table cuisine and pub classics.

This year’s entertainment lineup will bring a mix of returning favorites and international acts, with S-Bahn performing all three weekends alongside West Coast Prost, German yodeler Michael Stoessl and Austria’s Die Jungen Weststeirer. Fans can also look forward to Manuela Horn, European Takeout, the Aqua-Nets and traditional groups such as The Smilin’ Scandinavians, Ted Lunka Polka Band, AlpenFolk and the Enzian Schuhplattler Dancers.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Fredericksburg will put a Texas spin on Oktoberfest from Oct. 3-5. Food stalls will serve bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels and potato pancakes, alongside American staples such as burgers and BBQ. Sweet treats from strudel to funnel cakes add extra flavor and keep festivalgoers coming back for more.

The drink selection will be just as broad, offering Texas craft beers, German imports and domestic favorites on tap. Guests can also enjoy wine, cider and frozen cocktails, ensuring there’s something to match every taste.

Known as the Polka Capital of Texas, Fredericksburg lives up to its name each Oktoberfest. Five stages will feature nonstop performances, from regional favorites such as the Czechaholics and Walburg Boys to longtime polka favorites such as the TubaMeisters and Der Kleine Steins.

Helen, Georgia

Helen claims the country’s longest-running Oktoberfest, stretching from Sept. 4 through Nov. 2, 2025. The official celebration takes place at the Festhalle, just a short walk from downtown, where German bands, folk dancing and beer gardens set the tone. The parade began on Saturday, Sept. 6, followed by the traditional keg tapping at the Fussen Biergarten.

Music is a highlight, with a rotating lineup of polka groups, German ensembles and regional favorites. Bands such as Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express, the Alex Meixner Band and Mollie B and Friends keep the energy high each week.

Food rounds out the festivities with German staples such as knockwurst and pretzels served with sides such as sauerkraut and potato salad. Visitors can also enjoy American snacks, sweet desserts and a wide range of drinks from coffee to German beers.

Denver, Colorado

Denver’s Oktoberfest will return Sept. 19-21 and 26-28, 2025. For more than 50 years, Larimer Street has hosted keg bowling, stein-hoisting and live German music, drawing crowds from across the state.

Visitors can upgrade to a VIP experience that comes with a commemorative stein and unlimited beer and wine. The package also comes with two Jägermeister shots and a spread of meals and appetizers throughout the day. Additional cocktails, spirits and seltzers will be available for purchase at a private bar.

VIP access goes beyond food and drink, offering a private bar, restrooms, seating and games in an exclusive area. Guests can also enjoy all-day entry to activities that make the festival both comfortable and festive.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

This year’s Frankenmuth Oktoberfest ran Sept. 18-21, 2025, at Heritage Park in Frankenmuth. Guests sampled food favorites such as sausage plates, sauerkraut and potato salad, as well as cider, coffee, sodas and local brews that completed the menu.

Music was lively as always, with a mix of polka groups, folk ensembles and regional bands filling the festival grounds each day. Performers such as Sorgenbrecher, Da Frankenmuda Fratz’n, Aaron Dussing and the Frankentrost Band kept crowds entertained from morning into the night.

America’s Oktoberfest heartbeat

Across the United States, Oktoberfest is creating a shared sense of joy that connects people in every corner. Texas brings its flair with two-step polkas, while Washington shines with Bavarian mountain vibes, proving how regional flavor can still honor German roots. Festivalgoers leave not only with plates of bratwurst and echoes of live music but with a real sense that American cities are keeping tradition strong while putting their own mark on it.

Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.