Put on your leiderhosen and dirndl, and get ready to party as Boston celebrates Oktoberfest at our local breweries, bars, and restaurants each fall. There's even a day-long festival with a parade, live music, performers, and plenty of beer gardens when Oktoberfest takes over Harvard Square.
You'll get to sample traditional German specialties, dance the oompah, and of course raise a stein (or more) overflowing with your favorite German lagers, ales, Marzen, and special Oktoberfest beers.
Three important things to know about Oktoberfests in Boston:
- Contrary to what the name "Oktoberfest" leads you to believe, the first ones kick off in September soon after Labor Day and continue through about mid-October
- As Boston's craft brewery scene expands, so does the number of Oktoberfests across the city
- They're a lot of fun!
Oh, and you should also know: you must be 21+ and show ID to attend most of them.
We round up the best Oktoberfests for you in and near Boston starting in mid-September.
Get ready to enjoy German-style pretzels, sausages, oompah music, dancing, and your favorite seasonal beers on draft!
Top photo: Friends celebrating Oktoberfest - Credit: iStock.com/ViewApart
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Democracy Brewing Oktoberfest
Democracy Brewing, a worker-owned cooperative brewery and pub in Downtown Crossing, kicks off its big Oktoberfest celebrations on October 2 - 4 (to be confirmed) with German-style beer and German food specials.
More to enjoy: Democracy Brewing's ales, pilsners, IPAs, stouts, and hard seltzers, plus tasty eats (including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free choices) from the talented chef and cooks.
Schedule & activities: October 2 (5pm-7pm, with music, food, beer), Oct 3 (all day, with beer, special menu, beer pong, & a steinholding contest), and (Oct 4, 12 noon - 5pm, with beer, bratwurst, & DJ Zytka) (to be confirmed)
Admission: Free
Where: 35 Temple Place, Downtown Crossing; nearest T station: Green & Red Lines/Park Street
Sam Adams Brewery Oktoberfest
Sam Adams Brewery pulls out all the stops to celebrate Oktoberfest at its two Boston locations: the Downtown Taproom near Faneuil Hall, and the Boston Brewery in the Jamaica Plains neighborhood.
At both sites, Oktoberfest revelry includes lots of live music (German and local bands), stein hoisting contests, awesome food specials (Fest Plates with brat and pretzels with beer cheese, and Kalte Plattes with sauerkraut, salami, sausages, cheese, bread, and pickles), and special Oktoberfest-inspired beer releases to celebrate Sam Adams' love of lager.
The lineup of food selections, live music and DJs, and stein-hoisting contests varies by day and venue - so check the details on Sam Adams' website
Where: Samuel Adams Downtown Boston Taproom (60 State Street, near Faneuil Hall; nearest T station: Blue Line/Government Center) and Samuel Adams Brewery (30 Germania Street, Jamaica Plain neighborhood, Boston; nearest T station: Orange Line/Stony Brook)
When: September 20 - 21 in the Downtown Taproom, and September 27 at the JP Brewery (to be confirmed)
Tickets: Presale tickets start at $10 and include advanced entry to the Downtown events, a half-liter plastic stein to drink from while you're onsite, and guaranteed Octoberfest swag; you can also get tickets for $15 at the door (assuming space is available), which include a 7 oz pour of Oktoberfest. A $30 ticket gets you entry to both sites.
Oktoberfest at the Boston Public Market
The Pine Bar at Boston Public Market hosts Oktoberfest on their outdoor patio (weather willing) on Saturday, September 21 with draughts from Von Trapp Brewing,
More to enjoy: A keg slap, stein holding contest, food demos, costume contest, and live Bavarian oompah band (1pm-3pm)
Location: 100 Hanover Street; Closest T station: Haymarket
When: September 20, 12 noon - 3pm (to be confirmed)
Admission: Free entry (you'll pay for beverages and food), but you should reserve a spot
Oktoberfest dates don't work for you? Try one of these fun tours offered throughout the year:
Harpoon Brewery's Octoberfest
Harpoon Brewery stages one of the biggest Octoberfests (yes, Harpoon spells it with a "c" ) in Boston, with open-air tents pitched next to the brewery, and going strong for the past 30+ years.
This year you'll find three stages, each featuring different music, contests, and dancing.
So wear your best liederhosen and get ready for chicken dancing, live oompah music, pretzel-eating contests (sign up with customer service to participate in the contents), stein hoisting, Harpoon beers and hard seltzers, and lots of yummy things to eat from local food trucks and caterers for sale.
Are you the designator driver? You'll find plenty of non-alcoholic choices including Pumpkin Spice Iced Lattes from Dunkin's.
Pro Tip #1: Dress for the weather because although the tents feel cozy, the bathrooms are outside.
Pro Tip #2: This may be a cashless event - so bring a credit or debit card.
Where: 306 Northern Ave, South Boston Waterfront neighborhood
When: (to be confirmed)
- October 4: 6pm - 11pm (doors close at 9:30pm)
- October 5: 12 noon - 7pm (doors close at 5:30pm)
Tickets: $30-$55 (plus Eventbrite booking fee - prices go up a bit after August 31) reserved online (price varies by date and by the number of beer tickets; in addition to entrance, also includes a souvenir cup); you can also purchase tickets at the door as capacity allows for $35 (plus Eventbrite booking fee), which includes your first beer and a souvenir cup)
New this Year: Saturday-only access to the Beer Hall (including indoor restrooms) - but very limited number of tickets available, so book now.
Ages: Strictly 21+
More information: Harpoon Brewery website
Harvard Square Oktoberfest
Harvard Square's legendary Oktoberfest takes place on the Sunday, October 5 this year (to be confirmed) - and attracts over 100,000 people.
You'll find multiple beer gardens, many food vendors, lots of street performers and live music, sidewalk sales in front of many stores, arts and crafts vendors, vintage goods, and family-friendly activities.
The entire Harvard Square area basically turns into a massive street party.
A highlight is the huge HONK! music parade, which is part of the 3-day HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands going on this weekend (October 4-6 - a week earlier than normal).
After the parade, the bands will continue performing everything from oompah music to Dixieland jazz in locations throughout the square.
The weather typically is beautiful on the weekend, with lots of colorful fall foliage - but in case of rain, Harvard's Oktoberfest will take place on the following Saturday.
What to enjoy: Chicken dancing, live music, a big selection of Harpoon beers and ales, and lots of bratwurst and other German food
Where: Harvard Square; closest T station: Harvard
Getting there: Don't even think about driving to this event because all streets through and around the square will be closed to traffic starting at 5am and any parked cars will be towed.
If possible, take the T's Red Line to the Harvard Square station. If you're coming from a distance and do need to drive, the best strategy is to park at the Alewife T station (or any other T station with a large parking lot/garage) and take the T from there.
You could also take MBTA's Fitchburg Line commuter rail to Porter, and walk from there to Harvard Square (about 5 minutes)
Admission: Free
More Ways to Enjoy Boston's Best Brews
Aeronaut Brewing Company (Aeronaut Allston location)
Put on your liederhosen and join Aeronaut Brewing at their Allston beer garden location for their annual Oktoberfest.
You'll get to enjoy their mouthwatering German fare, dance as the the Polka Hall of Fame's Dennis Polisky & The Maestro's Men play your favorite oompah tunes, and raise your stein filled with your favorite Aeronaut beers on draft, including Oktoberfest, Hefeweizen, Summer in Cologne Kölsch, and more.
Where: 267 Western Ave, Boston's Allston neighborhood
When: October 5, 1pm-9pm (to be confirmed)
Tickets & more information: Aeronaut website
Blackmoor Bar & Kitchen
Swing by Blackmoor Bar & Kitchen, a craft beer gastro pub in Boston's Charlestown neighborhood, on October 5 and 12 (to be confirmed)to celebrate Oktoberfest.
Look for a large selection of German-brewed Oktoberfest beers, authentic German food, and live music on the patio (weather permitting) on 10/5 (3-9pm) from The Vagabonds and Tubafrau, and on 10/12, (2-10pm) from Hofbrau Speler, Vagabonds, and the Bavarian Brothers. No cover. (to be confirmed)
What to Enjoy: Oktoberfest Specials from Blackmoor's kitchen, including pork schnitzel, a haus worst plate with beer-steamed German sausages, sauerkraut, warm German salad, and currywurst, and a platter with German ham and sausages, Obatza-Bavarian cheese spread, and German dark rustic bread - available after 2pm from 9/13 - 10/31.
Where: 1 Chelsea Street, Charlestown (on the Freedom Trail)
When: October 14 (to be confirmed)
More information: Blackmoor Bar facebook page
Night Shift Brewing Oktoberfest
Dress in your best leiderhosen and dirndls for Night Shift Brewing's Oktoberfest festivities at its Esplanade and Allston Beer Gardens on Friday, 4pm-10pm ,September 20, its Everett taproom from 12 noon - 11pm on Saturday, September 21, and at Lovejoy Wharf Brewery and Restaurant from 12 noon - 8pm on Sunday, September 22. (to be confirmed)
And of course, what's Oktoberfest without new brews? Night Shift rolls out 5 new German-style beers just for this event: Owltoberfest (German-style Helles), Chill Zwickelson (German-style Zwickelbier), Kolsch Encounters (German-style Kolsch), Dunkel John's Band (Munich style Dunkel), and Prost Malone, an unfiltered Munich lager.
Activities vary a bit by site, so check Night Shift's website for details.
More to enjoy: Night Shift's full array of other lagers, IPAs, ales, sour ales, and limited release beers as well as hard ciders, hard seltzers, and specialty coffees.
Where: Everett location: 87 Santilli Highway; Lovejoy Wharf location: 1 Lovejoy Wharf
Admission: Free; no tickets or registration needed; however, if you want a table, reservations are strongly recommended
Trillium Oktoberfest
Join Trillium Brewing at its Boston locations (Fenway, Trillium Beer Garden on the Greenway, Fort Point) and in Canton south of the city for a fun family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration complete with lederhosen, lagers, and music.
More to enjoy: Stein pours, traditional music, German food specials, and Trillium's Märzen lager showcasing German malts and Hallertau Mittelfruh hops with floral hop aromatics - plus lots more! More details comiing soon.
Boston locations: Trillium Fenway by Time Out Market (T station: Green Line/Fenway); Trillium Garden on the Greenway (near 369 Congress Street - T station: Blue Line/Aquarium); Trillium Fort Point (50 Thomson Place); and Trillium Canton (100 Royall St)
When: September 20 and 21 (to be confirmed)
Admission: Free; no tickets required
More information: website
Dorchester Brewing Oktoberfest
Dorchester Brewing's big Oktoberfest party features two Saturdays of celebrations and showcases the brewery's German-style beers including Festbier plus its IPAs, ales, stout, and lager.
Can't decide which ones to try? Choose a flight - and then get your own limited edition Dorchester-branded Oktoberfest stein (included with the registration fee) to enjoy full-liter pours of your favorites.
More to enjoy: Beer-braised brats and barbeque from Dorchester's in-house M&M BBQ plus a BRAT-eating contest, stein-hoisting competitions, live music, sweet treats, games and prizes in the bierhall, and lots of music.
While you're there: Pay a (free) visit to Dorchester Brewing Company's onsite Museum of Bad Art (relocated a few years ago from the Somerville Theatre) where you'll see sincerely-attempted art where something has gone wrong - sometimes very wrong - but in a way that results in compelling, interesting, and yes, sometimes humorous images.
Where: 1250 Massachusetts Ave, Dorchester; nearest T station: Red Line/JFK-UMass
When: September 13 and 20, 1:30am-10pm (to be confirmed)
More information: website
Oktoberfest at The Beehive
The Beehive salutes Oktoberfest with seasonal brews, Bavarian & German food such as sausages, sauerkraut, potato salad, and pretzels, plus live music from the Cocek! Brass Band.
Come for dinner (reservations strongly suggested), or gather at the bar. Don't forget your dirndl and lederhosen!
Where: Located in Boston Center for the Arts, 541 Tremont Street, Boston's South End neighborhood; nearest T station: Orange Line/Back Bay
When: September 26, 5pm-12 midnight (to be confirmed)
More Fun Ways to See Boston
More to Do in Boston in October
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- Halloween in Boston - lots of fun things to do
- Fall is just around the corner - and now is a good time to start planning a breath-taking fall foliage cruise
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