Oktoberfest 2026 in Takoma Park

Oktoberfest reaches Takoma Park once autumn commits. Beer festivals and Bavarian nights come with live music, giant steins and dancing, and nobody checks whether the lederhosen are yours. Bring a group and the food decides it, bratwurst and pretzels on nearly every menu and long tables that fill in behind you. If a good beer with friends is the plan, fine. Take a look at Oktoberfest 2026 events and parties across Takoma Park, see what fits, and book your tickets before they run out.

Fresh listingsupdated

On now in Takoma Park

11th Annual Oktoberfest

Sep 18 – Nov 6 · 3:00 PM · Wunder Garten, Washington

Free

Happening now

See the event

Every listing

Oktoberfest events in Takoma Park

On nowBest for a date

Sep 18 – Nov 6Wunder Garten, Washington50 days

11th Annual Oktoberfest

Celebrate Wunder Garten’s 11th Annual Oktoberfest with beer, music, markets, contests & more! Wunder Garten’s 11th Annual Oktoberfest September 18 – October 11, 2026 </stro

3:00 PM

FreeLive music

On now

Oct 4–25201 East Frederick Drive, Sterling22 days

October Coffee Hour Fun

There’s something special happening at St. Matthew's every Sunday! Join us for worship at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM, and between services, grab a cup of coffee, catch up with friends, and join in! 🥕 October 4 | Garden Delights Enjoy items created from St. Matt

10:00 AM

Oct 16–18Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds, Mount Airy3 days

FOXtoberfest "Yellowstone" Weekend with HCIBH

Join us for a Wild West Weekend in MD hunt country! Friday Night Barn Party, Saturday Yellowstone Ride & Sunday Hunting with a Western Flair Welcome to our annual FOXtoberfest with a twi

6:30 PM

$25 – $150Live music

Most popular

Sat, Oct 1711900 Palace Way, Fairfax

Oktoberfest Market

Join us for Oktoberfest celebrations, including local craft beer samples and hand-braided pretzels while you shop 40+ local artisans and exclusive deals at Fairfax Corner’s shops! 🥨 Grab a freshly twisted pretzel and sample local Craft Beers 🍹 Sip & S

12:00 PM

Live music

Best for groups

Sat, Oct 177581 Colshire Dr, Tysons

Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival

Where Bavarian Bier Hall meets Medieval Revelry! ⚔️🍺 Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival at Shipgarten 👑🔥 Where Bavarian beer hall meets medieval revelry. Step into a world where steins are r

1:00 PM

FreeLive music

Sat, Oct 177581 Colshire Dr, Mclean

Oktoberfest Reniassance Festival

⚔️🍺 Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival at Shipgarten 👑🔥 Where Bavarian beer hall meets medieval revelry. Step into a world where steins are raised high and knights roam the beer garden. Shipgarten proudly presents our Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival — a on

1:00 PM

Live music

Sat, Oct 17Columbia Island Marina, Washington

NPYC 2026 Oktoberfest

NPYC Oktoberfest is Saturday, October 17 at Columbia Island! Wear your best lederhosen or dirndl, bring a side (e.g. sweet and sour red cabbage, German cucumber salad, deviled eggs, your grandmas' favorite dish, etc.) or dessert to share, and clean out yo

1:00 PM

Sat, Oct 17American Legion Post 24, Alexandria

Annual Oktoberfest Festival

Join us for the Annual Oktoberfest Festival—good beer, Polka music, and tons of fun with friends! Annual Oktoberfest Festival American Legion Post 24’s Annual Oktoberfest returns to the historic

5:00 PM

$12.50 – $25Live music

Sun, Oct 1815200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie

Bowie Farmer's Market Featuring Oktoberfest

Celebrate the season at the Bowie Farmer's Market on Sunday, October 18, with Oktoberfest activities beginning at 10 a.m. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., giving you plenty of time to shop local and enjoy the festivities. Paint a pumpkin and tur

9:00 AM

Sun, Oct 18Old Stein Inn, Mayo

The Prost Polka Partei Band

Oktoberfest in the Biergarten with The Prost Polka Partei Band

2:00 PM

Live music

Sun, Oct 18Base lounge, Bladensburg

Unionsoundz presents: Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest Is a DMV ungergound music lovers Dream Day🔥 Live music from some of the best Talent The DMV underground has to offer 🔥 Exclusive merch from some of the HOTTEST Local DMV Brands 🔥🧥 Live DJ Sets🔥 Great networking environment So come solo and

3:00 PM

Live music

Fri, Oct 23689 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park

Oktoberfest

Mark your calendars for SJAA's Oktoberfest on Friday, Oct. 23 from 6:30-9:30p.m. in the school's auditorium. This is an adults-only event, so secure your sitters! Celebrate with Biergarten and Oktoberfest games. Tickets are $35 per person and include snac

6:30 PM

Nearby

More Oktoberfest events around Takoma Park

Worth the trip from Takoma Park, soonest first.

Worth the trip

Sat, Oct 17The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

OktoBEARfest

1:00 PM

Live music

Sat, Oct 317581 Colshire Dr, Tysons

Bier-O-Ween

1:00 PM

Free

Before you go

Know before you go in Takoma Park

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

What a ticket costs in Takoma Park

Every listing with a price, cheapest first.

  1. 11th Annual OktoberfestFree
  2. Oktoberfest Renaissance FestivalFree
  3. SOPROTOBERFESTFree
  4. Grateful Oktoberfest$10 – $50
  5. Annual Oktoberfest Festival$12.50 – $25
  6. FOXtoberfest "Yellowstone" Weekend with HCIBH$25 – $150
  7. Goatoberfest: Goat Social at Gustave's$44.43

11 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 Takoma Park: 3 of 18 free to get in; paid tickets from $10 to $150.

When to go

Takoma Park starts between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

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

In Takoma Park: Saturday is the big day, with 9 of 18 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 Takoma Park: 1 family-friendly event.

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.

On the plate

  • Most eaten

    Hendl

    Spit-roasted half chicken

  • Schweinshaxe

    Crackling roast pork knuckle

  • Brezn

    The giant salted pretzel

  • Bratwurst

    Grilled sausage in a roll

  • Weisswurst

    Veal sausage, eaten before noon

  • Obatzda

    Beer-garden cheese spread

  • Steckerlfisch

    Whole fish grilled on a stick

  • Vegetarian

    Käsespätzle

    Cheesy egg noodles

  • Kartoffelpuffer

    Crisp potato pancakes

  • Radi

    Spiral-cut salted radish

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.

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 stein raised at Oktoberfest in 2026 is, in a roundabout way, a toast to a couple married in 1810. Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese wed that October, and Munich celebrated with a horse race on a meadow outside town, the Theresienwiese. The festival that grew from it now starts in September, moved forward for the better weather.

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

Asked and answered

Oktoberfest in Takoma Park: the basics

When is Oktoberfest in Takoma Park in 2026?

Oktoberfest events in Takoma Park run from Sep 18 to Oct 25, 2026: 18 events. The busiest weekend is Oct 16 – Oct 18, with 9 events.

Is there an Oktoberfest event in Takoma Park this weekend?

Yes: 11 events are on for Oct 16 – Oct 18, including 11th Annual Oktoberfest at Wunder Garten, October Coffee Hour Fun and FOXtoberfest "Yellowstone" Weekend with HCIBH at Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds. Another 2 events are on nearby.

Are there free Oktoberfest events in Takoma Park?

Yes: 3 of the 18 listed are free to get into, including 11th Annual Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival and SOPROTOBERFEST. Paid tickets for the rest run from $10 to $150. Food and drink are usually paid for on the day.

Is there an Oktoberfest near Takoma Park?

Yes: 4 more events are listed within reach of Takoma Park, in Fredericksburg, Baltimore and Tysons. The soonest is Oktoberfest Walk-Around Wine & Beer Event in the Courtyard in Fredericksburg, on Sat, Oct 17.

Where is Oktoberfest held in Takoma Park?

At 17 venues, including Old Stein Inn (2 dates), Wunder Garten, Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds and Columbia Island Marina.

What are the best Oktoberfest events in Takoma Park?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are 11th Annual Oktoberfest at Wunder Garten (Sep 18 – Nov 6), Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival (Sat, Oct 17) and Oktoberfest Market (Sat, Oct 17).

Can you take kids to Oktoberfest in Takoma Park?

1 listing says it is family-friendly: SHOPTOBERFEST - Shop Local with a Trick or Treat Twist!. 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.