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Near Boise

Famous for Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest 2026 in Boise

Oktoberfest in Boise keeps sensible hours. Early on the beer gardens run on live music and giant steins, and later it's dancing, though the lederhosen never mattered. The food covers the whole evening, bratwurst and pretzels on nearly every menu and communal tables downtown with the foothills sitting behind everything. Or is a good beer with friends nearer the mark? Look through Oktoberfest 2026 events and parties across Boise, compare what's on, and book your tickets before they're claimed.

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Fresh listingsupdated

On now in Boise

36th Ward Temple Night

Apr 24 – Oct 16 · 7:00 PM · Meridian Idaho Temple

Happening now

See the event

Every listing

Oktoberfest events in Boise

On now

Apr 24 – Oct 16Meridian Idaho Temple176 days

36th Ward Temple Night

The 7:00pm Session at the Meridian Temple. Please reserve a spot ahead of time, as Friday nights tend to fill up.

7:00 PM

On nowBest on a budget

Oct 2–31The Boardwalk, Garden City30 days

Greenbelt Harvest Market

Join us every Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 4–8 PM for an outdoor market filled with local vendors, seasonal finds, fall activities & food! Spend your fall weekends at the Greenbelt

4:00 PM

FreeFamily-friendly

On now

Oct 12–13Knitting Factory Concert House - Boise2 days

Tinlicker

5:00 PM

On now

Mon, Oct 12Knitting Factory [Boise]

Paul Cauthen Tickets

Paul Cauthen is a powerhouse country singer known for his deep baritone, soulful sound, and bold Texas outlaw-country style. 🎶🔥 #PaulCauthen #CountryMusic #OutlawCountry

8:00 PM

Oct 13–14Treefort Music Hall2 days

Fruit Bats

5:00 PM

Tue, Oct 13ExtraMile Arena

ZOMBIES – Cast in Boise

🎶 Don't Miss this Out! ZOMBIES – Cast is Live at ExtraMile Arena on Tuesday, October 13, 2026! 🎶 This is your moment. ZOMBIES – Cast is hitting ExtraMile Arena on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 , and with

7:00 PM

Oct 15–17The Adelmann3 days

Serial Killer Speakeasy - Boise, ID

⭐ Serial Killer Speakeasy is a chilling immersive experience where four infamous stories unfold live on stage. It’s like stepping inside your favorite true-crime podcast—but with premium cocktails, an ominous atmosphere, and a killer twist. 🔪 Highlights ✨

6:00 PM

$68.90

Oct 15–311923 N Kcid Rd, Caldwell17 days

Haunted Trail

Our 3rd year opening! We have been adding more each year! Similar style to haunted world. $15 a person openThursday through Saturday. Haunted 6 acre trail with scares along the way. We stay with more of a g

8:00 PM

$10 – $17.85Family-friendly

Get the look

Dress up, raise a stein, throw your own

Outfits, steins and party kit for the season. Check delivery dates before you order.

Links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, AllEvents earns from qualifying purchases.

Nearby

More Oktoberfest events around Boise

Worth the trip from Boise, soonest first.

Worth the trip

Sat, Oct 17Our Lady of the Valley, Caldwell

Oktoberfest

4:00 PM

Where to go

The rooms Boise keeps going back to

These venues are running Oktoberfest on more than one date this year — the closest thing Boise has to a beer hall season.

Links go to the listing. Hours and dates change — check before you travel.

Before you go

Know before you go in Boise

Tickets, timing, what to wear, and whether the kids can come.

What a ticket costs in Boise

Every listing with a price, cheapest first.

  1. Greenbelt Harvest MarketFree
  2. Boise Art and Craft FestivalFree
  3. The Fright Crawl | Boise Halloween Bar Crawl 2026 | Thurs, Oct. 29$8.17 – $71.09
  4. The Fright Crawl | Boise Halloween Bar Crawl 2026 | Fri, Oct 30$8.17 – $71.09
  5. The Fright Crawl | Boise Halloween Day Bar Crawl 2026 | Sat, Oct 31$8.17 – $71.09
  6. The Fright Crawl | Boise's #1 Halloween Bar Crawl 2026 | Sat, Oct 31$8.17 – $71.09
  7. Haunted Trail$10 – $17.85
  8. Idaho Dream Wedding Expo$10.38 – $33.85

And 21 more. 70 listings do not show a price.

Tickets and money

Every organiser sets its own prices, and entry, food and drink are often sold separately. Check what a ticket covers before you buy.

In Boise: 2 of 99 free to get in; paid tickets from $8.17 to $86.79.

When to go

Boise starts between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM.

Weekend afternoons fill up first. Go early if you want a table.

In Boise: Saturday is the big day, with 36 of 100 dates.

What to wear

Dirndl or Lederhosen are welcome, never required. In Bavaria they are everyday clothes, not a costume.

Bow tied leftsingle
Bow tied righttaken

Traditionally said, from the wearer's side. A custom, not a rule.

With kids

Festivals in parks and streets are usually all ages; events in bars are often 21+. The listing says which.

In Boise: 19 family-friendly events; 8 are 21+.

Eat and drink

What to order at Oktoberfest

Same word, two beers: Munich pours a pale lager, North America an amber one.

What Munich pours

Festbier

Colour
Pale gold
Malt
Lighter, bready
Finish
Smooth and easy-drinking
Strength
Around 6%

What North America calls Oktoberfest

Märzen

Colour
Amber
Malt
Rich, toasty, bready
Finish
Fuller, with a dry finish
Strength
Varies by brewer
A horse-drawn brewery wagon carrying six barrels

Ask for these on tap

Only these six Munich breweries may pour at the Wiesn. Their festival beers are the real thing.

  1. Augustiner
  2. Hacker-Pschorr
  3. Hofbräu
  4. Löwenbräu
  5. Paulaner
  6. Spaten
A one-litre Maß beside a US pint glass and a 330 ml bottle

Pace yourself

1 litre

A Maß is more than two US pints of 6% lager. Eat something with it. In Munich in 2026 one costs about €15.61.

Three glasses: lager with lemonade, wheat beer with lemonade, and cola with orange soda

Driving? Ask for these

  • Radler Beer and lemonade, about half the strength.
  • Russ Wheat beer and lemonade.
  • Spezi Cola and orange soda. No alcohol.

For afters

  • Kaiserschmarrn

    Torn pancake with plum compote

  • Gebrannte Mandeln

    Warm candied almonds

  • Dampfnudel

    Steamed dumpling in vanilla sauce

  • Apfelstrudel

    Apple strudel

  • Lebkuchenherz

    Gingerbread heart, worn not eaten

At the party

What happens at an Oktoberfest

So you know what to do when the band stops playing and the whole room stands up.

Every 15 minutes or so

Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
der Gemütlichkeit.
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
der Gemütlichkeit.
Oans, zwoa, drei — g'suffa!

“A toast to good company.” Stand up, raise your glass, sing it twice, count to three, clink and drink.

The songs everyone sings

Most bands play these, loudly, more than once.

  1. Take Me Home, Country RoadsJohn Denver
  2. Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond
  3. FliegerliedThe arm-flapping one
  4. Skandal im SperrbezirkSpider Murphy Gang
  5. HulapaluAndreas Gabalier

How the games work

  • Masskrugstemmen

    Stein hoisting

    Hold a full litre at arm's length, elbow locked. Last arm up wins.

  • Keg bowling

    Kegs for balls, pins at the end of the lane, against the clock.

  • Stein race

    Carry full steins to the line. Fastest run with least beer spilled wins.

  • Bratwurst eating

    Ten brats, no buns, one clock.

  • Dachshund racing

    America's own: sausage dogs sprinting for their owners.

  • Costume contest

    Best dirndl, best lederhosen, judged by applause.

    On in Boise, Oct 24–25

Words you will hear

Prost!prohst
Cheers. Look the other person in the eye when you clink.
O'zapft is!oh-TSAPFT iss
“It's tapped!” Shouted as the first keg is opened.
Maßmahss
The one-litre stein. Order one and you are holding two pints.
Gemütlichkeitge-MYOOT-lish-kite
Warmth and good company. The toast song is named after it.
Die Wiesndee VEE-zn
What Munich calls Oktoberfest, after its meadow.
Trachttrakht
Traditional dress: dirndl and lederhosen together.
BreznBRAY-tsn
The giant soft pretzel.
RadlerRAHD-ler
Beer and lemonade, for a lighter glass.

Since 1810

Why it is called Oktoberfest when it happens in September

A horse race on a Munich meadow in 1810, watched by a royal couple and a cheering crowd

Every Oktoberfest, Boise's included, traces back to one meadow in Munich. It was named Theresienwiese after Princess Therese, whose wedding to Crown Prince Ludwig in October 1810 was celebrated there with a horse race. Munich still calls the festival die Wiesn, the meadow, and holds it mostly in September, because the weather is kinder than in October.

Munich's 2026 Wiesn ran from September 19 to October 4.

Asked and answered

Oktoberfest in Boise: the basics

When is Oktoberfest in Boise in 2026?

Oktoberfest events in Boise run from Apr 24 to Nov 27, 2026: 99 events. The busiest weekend is Oct 23 – Oct 25, with 28 events.

Is there an Oktoberfest event in Boise this weekend?

Yes: 18 events are on for Oct 16 – Oct 18, including 36th Ward Temple Night at Meridian Idaho Temple, Greenbelt Harvest Market at The Boardwalk and Serial Killer Speakeasy - Boise, ID at The Adelmann. Another 1 event is on nearby.

Are there free Oktoberfest events in Boise?

Yes: 2 of the 99 listed are free to get into, including Greenbelt Harvest Market and Boise Art and Craft Festival. Paid tickets for the rest run from $8.17 to $86.79. Food and drink are usually paid for on the day.

Is there an Oktoberfest near Boise?

Yes: 1 more event is listed within reach of Boise, in Caldwell. The soonest is Oktoberfest in Caldwell, on Sat, Oct 17.

Where is Oktoberfest held in Boise?

At 51 venues, including The Sapphire Room at The Riverside Hotel (7 dates), Revolution Concert House & Event Center (6 dates), Treefort Music Hall (5 dates) and Albertsons Stadium (5 dates).

What are the best Oktoberfest events in Boise?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Bluey's Big Play at Morrison Center For The Performing Arts (Oct 14–15), Taste of Chaos with In This Moment, Hollywood Undead and more at Revolution Concert House & Event Center (Wed, Oct 21) and Matt Rife at Ford Idaho Center (Mon, Oct 19).

Can you take kids to Oktoberfest in Boise?

19 listings say they are family-friendly: Greenbelt Harvest Market, Haunted Trail and Logan Ryan Band. 8 listings are 21+. For the rest, check the listing before you go: many events held in bars are 21+.

When is Oktoberfest in Munich in 2026?

Munich's 2026 Oktoberfest ran from September 19 to October 4, 2026, 16 days on the Theresienwiese.

What is Oktoberfest, and why is it in September?

A Bavarian folk festival that began in Munich as a royal wedding party: Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese on 12 October 1810, and the celebrations ended with a horse race on 17 October. Munich later moved the start forward into September, when the weather is warmer, and the festival usually ends on the first Sunday in October.

What do you wear to Oktoberfest?

Traditional dress, a Dirndl or Lederhosen, is welcome but never required, and ordinary clothes are completely normal. In Bavaria, Tracht is everyday clothing for family occasions rather than a costume.

Worth the trip

Cities famous for Oktoberfest

Where the season is the whole city's business, from Munich's meadow to a Bavarian village in the Cascades.

Keep exploring

More to do around Boise

Cities near Boise