Here’s the full list of Oktoberfest events that I’ve rounded up over the past few weeks. We’ll get back to our normal cadence on Monday (after I dig out of a few hundred beer news alerts), but until then, dig out your lederhosen and dirndl and get ready to hoist some steins.
And to get you into the mood, all the photos below were taken by myself during my Oktoberfest trip in 2016. If you love beer, the Munich Oktoberfest is 100% bucket list worthy. It’s amazing. You should go.
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A Somewhat Comprehensive List of Chicagoland Brewery-Related Oktoberfests (and other similar celebrations):
We start off with one of my annual favorites: You can get the gemütlichkeit started at Lincoln Square’s German-American Fest celebration, running through Sunday.
The 6th is also when Temperance gets things started up in Evanston.
Sept. 12 - Oct. 12: You have plenty of time to head to the Loop for an Adams Street Brewing / Berghoff Oktoberfest visit.
September 13-15: Imperial Oak -toberfest in Brookfield (with the Polkaholics on Friday!)
September 13-15: Banging Gavel hosts their first “Vogtoberfest” .
The 13th-14th is also when Orange & Brew is hosting the Downers Grove Oktoberfest celebration (featuring music from G. Love and Special Sauce? Wow). Owner Eric Schmidt tells me that they’re celebrating with Werk Force’s Werktoberfest, Misbeehavin Mead's Caramel Apple Hard Cider, and even Triptych's Together Forever Pils, which was made for the University of Illinois Alumni Association “though of course you don’t have to be an Illini fan to enjoy it!” adds Eric.
We’re not done yet: Crystal Lake Brewing hosts their tenth-annual Oktoberfest on the 13th-14th…
…Goldfinger hosts their fifth Oktoberfest celebration on the 14th…
…Alter Brewing also hosts their annual Alterfest (which is sorta more of a birthday party, but whatever) at their Downers Grove location on the 14th…
…and Half Acre hosts their Lager Town Oktoberfest gathering on the 14th as well.
You can also head to Oak Park for their Oaktoberfest on the 13-14th and have some Kinslahger marzen/festbier and then swing by the nearby Beershop
And it keeps going through September…
Sept. 19: Join Revolution downtown for an Oktoberfest Riverwalk Pub Crawl.
Sept. 19-21: Two Hound Red hosts an Oktoberfest weekend gathering.
Sept. 20-21: Church Street pours Itascafest Marzen at their Oktoberfest.
Sept. 20-21: Bitter Pops starts their celebrating on the 10th but are hosting some bigger events this weekend like special Paulaner firkin pours and a stein hosting contest.
Sept. 20-22: Sketchbook hosts their O’fest in both Skokie and Evanston.
Sept. 20-22: Head to Hopewell for their Oktoberfest with rotating “Fest Guest” beers from Goldfinger, Seedz and Sundial.
Sept. 20-22: Old Irving Brewery combines O’fest and a birthday together for their 8th annual Hoptoberfest celebration.
Sept. 21: Noon Whistle Lombard.
Sept. 21: Soundgrowler O’fests also.
Sept. 21: Goose Island hosts their first Salt Shed O’fest along the river.
Sept. 21: The Open Bottle hosts Opentoberfest in Tinley Park.
Sept. 21: Pollyanna hosts their Oktoberfest at the Forge in Lemont.
Sept. 21: Double Clutch Brewery’s Clutch-toberfest takes place in Evanston.
Sept. 21: Penrose parties in Geneva from 2-10pm with a Crossfit-sponsored stein holding competition. That could get interesting.
Things slow down a bit in the final weekend of the month:
Sept. 27-29: Imperial Oak moves their Oak-toberfest to their Willow Springs location.
Sept. 27-29: Guinness Chicago also hosts their first OGB Oktoberfest over the weekend as well.
Sept. 28: Tighthead hosts their Hoptoberfest this afternoon.
And (of course) things carry into October:
Oct. 3: Plank Road Taproom hosts an “Oktoberfest Snacktacular” (love it) called Liters and Links on this date, and then rolls into the weekend with…
Oct. 5-6: …Plank Road’s official Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday and Sunday.
Oct. 5-6: Head to Une Annee / Hubbards Cave for their Oktoberfest with some interesting menu items coming from their kitchen and an awesome looking stein.
Oct. 5: Noon Whistle Naperville.
Oct. 5: Maplewood has turned their Pug Day into Pugtoberfest this year. Bring the dogs!
Oct. 12-13: Begyle & Dovetail’s Oktoberfestiversary.
Oct. 20: Cap things off with Burning Bush’s 2nd annual Fall Fest (it’s O’fest approximate, anyways)
…and Beyond
Up for a road trip this fall? Here are a handful of other Midwestern Oktoberfest celebrations we’ve found:
In Minnesota, Fair State celebrates their tenth Co-Optoberfest on the 20-21st.
In Grand Rapids, City Built’s Oktoberfest is set for September 21.
Of course, we have to mention the massive Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, running from the 19th to the 22nd.
In Savoy, Triptych hosts their annual Sausage (and Beer) Party on September 29.
That’s what we’ve found so far. I’m going to try to keep this post up to date as best I can, and we’ll continue to update you with other events that cross our inbox as well.
Need someplace to stop in between weekend events? Laschet’s Inn always has a great menu and an awesome variety of true German festbiers and marzens. Not to mention the best spaetzle and goulash we’ve ever had.
Have fun out there, y’all.