It’s September again, which means it’s time to celebrate Oktoberfest. Don’t let the seemingly mismatched months throw you. Historically, everybody’s favorite German festival has ended in October, and its start dates have shifted earlier through the centuries so revelers can enjoy warmer weather and longer daylight. So now is the time to put on your lederhosen and dirndl, raise a stein of beer, and celebrate Oktoberfest like you’re German. It’s a long way from Colorado to the mother fest in Munich, but Colorado Springs, the Front Range and mountain towns all over Colorado know how to throw down for the occasion. And you can celebrate Oktoberfest every weekend of September and into October if you want.
Whether you’re looking to tap into your inner Bavarian or just enjoy some good old-fashioned German hospitality, here’s a full list of where you can check out one — or many — of Colorado’s many Oktoberfest celebrations. Check out the whole list or jump to these sections:
Oktoberfest in Colorado Mountain Towns
Beaver Creek Oktoberfest
Aug. 29-31
Village Green and Terrace Lawn, Beaver Creek Resort
Beaver Creek has the first Oktoberfest of the season over Labor Day weekend. It’s three days of food, drinks and fun for the family in the beautiful ski resort setting. You’ll find lots of dirndl and lederhosen, competitions, German food and drinks and live music by the Vail Valley legend Helmut Fricker, as well as Austria’s Trachtenkapelle band and more.
Keystone Oktoberfest
Aug. 30
River Run Village, Keystone Resort
Bavarian style fun for the whole family includes stein hoisting competitions for men, women and kids. You’ll also find live music, face painting, kid crafts and polka lessons. Check in at Warren Station for a-la-carte food tickets and to pick up your pre-ordered steins. This is your chance to make Labor Day Weekend Bavarian.
Vail Oktoberfest
Sept. 5-7 and 12-14
Lionshead and Vail Village, Vail
Oktoberfest at Vail is so big, it takes two full weekends. The lederhosen and dirndl are legit. The festival tents are huge. And Vail’s Bavarian village makes a perfect setting for one of Colorado’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations. The festivities include full schedules of Bavarian music featuring the Oktoberfest icon Helmut Fricker and many more. This year’s lineup also includes Alex Miexner, one of the most dynamic accordionists on the scene today.
There’s also yodeling, keg bowling, bratwurst-eating and more contests and festivities. Dance during the free concerts on Saturday nights, and let the kids play in the family zones. It’s also a beautiful time to be in the mountains, and you’re likely to see fall color glowing in the massive aspen groves surrounding Vail. For more tips and ideas for other activities, check out our Guide to a Summer of Fall Getaway in Vail.
Steamboat Oktoberwest
Sept. 5-6
Downtown and Steamboat Resort Base Area, Steamboat Springs
Celebrate craft beer with about 30 brewers from Colorado and beyond. This one is more brewfest than Bavarian, but you’ll still see plenty of lederhosen and dirndl. This year’s Oktoberwest brings back crowd favorites like the beef cook-off, a games competition and family-friendly activities. Exciting new features include a vendor market and optional on-site childcare.
Breckenridge Oktoberfest
Sept. 12-14
Main Street, Breckenridge
Breck’s traditional mega fest is a full-blown three-day street party on historic Main Street with free admission. Now in its 29th year, Breckenridge Oktoberfest blends Bavarian tradition with Colorado mountain culture. Experience a Munich-like celebration with live music all day long and plenty of German themed beer and cuisine. The brews will include Breckenridge Brewery’s toasty Oktoberfest lager and easy-drinking Funslinger, authentic Paulaner München (Saturday and Sunday only), brews from Launch Pad Brewery, plus cider from Incline Cider Company and plenty of nonalcoholic options. Play authentic German games and dance to more than 25 hours of traditional polka music.
New this year is an expanded Kid’s Zone at the South End of Main Street, where families can enjoy the enhanced experience with more room for fun. And now it’s open all three days of the festival. The area will include a bounce house, face painting, and more.
Fall color should be at its peak, adding even more beauty to the festive mountain scene and making it a perfect pairing for leaf-peeping hikes, drives, bike rides and more.
Evergreen Oktoberfest
Sept. 20
Buchanan Park, Evergreen
The scenic little town of Evergreen hosts its Oktoberfest with fun for eveeryone. The Saturday afternoon festival includes live polka bands, gravity-defying stein-hoisting, giant beer-pong showdowns, mouthwatering bratwurst, axe-throwing thrills, costume contests, kids’ corner magic, photo booths and brewery pours.
humanitix.com/evergreen-oktoberfest
Montrose Oktoberfest
Sept. 27
Montrose Rotary Amphitheater at Cerise Park
Head for the Western Slope to take in some prime fall color and celebrate all things Bavarian in Montrose. It’s a great way to sample live music from Cousin Curtiss and Black Canyon Boys, local food and craft breweries on the Western Slope. And you don’t want to miss the stein hoisting and stein relays.
La Veta Oktoberfest
Oct. 4
Main Street, La Veta
It’s about an hour and 40-minute drive down to Huerfano County, where La Veta turns itself German for the day. You’ll find a biergarten, live music, street dancing, arts and crafts, hot rod show and lots of vendors.
Oktoberfest in Colorado Springs & the Pikes Peak Region
Oktoberfest Train
Sept. 6 – Oct. 27
Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Cañon City
Willkommen an bord der bier train! A one-and-a-half to two-hour train ride through the spectacular Royal Gorge features fall color, and all 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. departures have the option to add on an authentic German style bison bratwurst with sauerkraut and spicy mustard on a pretzel bun . Be sure to get an Oktoberfest beer from the bar car too.
Pawtoberfest
Sept. 13
Union Printers Hill
Oktoberfest goes to the dogs to benefit the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. This popular event returns to Union Printers Home at Printers Hill from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. As one of Colorado’s only dog-friendly festivals, Pawtoberfest features multiple pet contests. And for the humans, there’s music, food trucks and lots of craft brews and spirits to taste. Note that you must buy your tickets ahead.
Colorado Springs Oktoberfest
Sept. 26-28
Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Colorado Springs
This weekend-long fest is the Springs’ largest Oktoberfest. Live oompah music, wiener dog races, costume and stein-hoisting contests and more make for lots of Bavarian vibes. Admission is free. Then you pay for beer, stein and experience tickets, and parking. Pick your package, and you can enjoy Warsteiner and other beers from a stein or das boot. You can also take a deeper German dive by upgrading your experience with tickets to Beer, Wine or Schnapps Schule. There are also contests and competitions, including the Dachshund Dash.
Pikes Peak Oktoberfest
Sept. 30
Hillside Gardens
Hillside Gardens will transform into a Bavarian venue for a day. Dress in your lederhosen or dirndl, and enjoy authentic German fare, tunes and games. Test your strength in the stein-holding contest. Join or cheer on the competitors in the beard and mustache showdown. It will be all festive fun on a crisp autumn day.
Oktoberfest Bier Garten in Bloom
Oct. 4-5
Gather Mountain Blooms at Ventucci Farm
Gather Mountain Blooms flower farm is hosting its first Oktoberfest with a family-friendly celebration with all the fall feels and Bavarian vibes. The weekend will be a mashup of seasonal favorites, including local craft beers, authentic German food, a kid zone, cornhole, tether ball, hayride, artisan craft market and of course flower picking and pumpkin picking.
Oktoberfest at Colorado Springs Breweries
Red Leg Brewing Company Oktoberfest
Sept. 20
Red Leg Brewing Company
Ready to get your lederhosen in a twist? Red Leg will be pouring German beers and serving Bavarian fare from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be live polka music for dancing and contests like stein-holding, sausage toss, keg squat and Best Dressed at Oktoberfest. It’s family-friendly and free unless you want to upgrade to the VIP Experience.
Oktoberfest at Cerberus Brewing
Sept. 20
Cerberus Brewing Company
Grab your steins. Cerberus Oktoberfest is an official qualifying location for the Colorado State Steinholding Championship. Yes, that’s a real thing. Winners will go on to represent Cerberus at the state championship in Grand Junction and maybe even the first-ever National Finals. Even if you’re not up for the competition, you can enjoy Cerberus’s Märzen and German-style beers. There’s a lederhosen and dirndl costume showdown. Get brunch specials 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. and German food all day long.
JAKtoberfest Colorado Springs
Sept. 20
JAKs Brewery Colorado Springs
Tis the season to Wiesn! JAKs annual Jaktoberfest at its Platte and Powers location will feature four beer releases, costume contests, music, plus food and fun all day long.
JAKtoberfest Dublin
Sept. 20
JAKs Taproom Dublin
You can celebrate JAKtoberfest at JAKs Dublin too. Enjoy a full day of Oktoberfest festivities with new merch, fun games, and German classics like bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad and more. Come for the beer, stay for the fun.
TOSCtoberfest Taproom Takeover
Sept. 20
Mash Mechanix Brewing Company
Put your Oktoberfest fun toward a good cause. The Trails and Open Space Coaltion (TOSC) will be taking over at Mash Mechanix. So of course the activities will get started with a Biketoberfest Legacy Loop Ride at 2 p.m. that starts and ends at the brewery. There will also be a special Oktoberfest collab beer release, cornhole games, a stein holding contest and more.
Oktoberfest at Phantom Canyon
Sept. 26-28
Phantom Canyon Brewing Company
Holy schnitzel! Colorado Springs oldest brewery goes Bavarian with a full weekend of Bavarian fun. The steins will be filled with freshly brewed Phantom Festbier and Wynkoop’s Märzen along with mouthwatering menu features and oompah tunes all weekend long. Make your reservations now.
Oktoberfest at Goat Patch Brewing
Sept. 27
Goat Patch Brewing
Immerse yourself in Bavarian tradition at the original Goat Patch location at Lincoln Center. There will bh competitions and activities like the stein hoist, wiener toss and dog costume contest. Enjoy the upbeat tunes of Pourly Edukated and food truck eats all day 11 a.m-11 p.m.
Oktoberfest at WestFax Springs
Sept. 27
WestFax Brewing Springs
Celebrate at one the Westside brewery with live music, German contests like stein holding and keg holding. You’ll also find pours of Oktoberfest and new beer releases Raisin’ Helles and Hipsters. And there’s a specialty Oktoberfest cocktail release: the Caramel Apple Sparkling Cocktail is autumn in a glass.
JAKtoberfest Falcon
Sept. 27
JAKs Brewing Company, Falcon
JAKs has been throwing an Oktoberfest celebration at its original Falcon brewery for 10 years now, so they’re going big with the anniversary/Oktoberfest celebration. The festivities include four beer releases: Charlie’s Choice Altbier, What the Hefe, JAKtoberfest Festbier and Köntrol Freak Kölsch. You’ll also find a costume contest, German games, a cornhole tournament, giveaways, family fun and more all day long.
Black Forest Oktoberfest
Sept. 27-28
Black Forest Brewing Company
Black Forest Brewing will have the festival tent set up for its eighth annual Black Forest Oktoberfest. Enjoy seasonal beers, German food, live polka music by Hot Schnapps, games including traditional German Hammerschlagen and stein hoisting contests, plus a kids coloring contest and more fun.
Oktoberfest at South Park Brewing
Sept. 27-28
South Park Brewing
South Park Brewing combines its 11th anniversary with the German Oktoberfest tradition for their biggest party of the year. The taproom will be decorated as a German Beer Hall with German music playing all day. Enjoy $5 German style beer pours with a commemorative mug, plus special food menu including Jagerschnitzel, brats and their German smashburger. .
Pikes Peak Brewing Oktoberfest
Oct. 4
Pikes Peak Brewing Monument Tap Room
Head to the Pikes Peak Brewing Monument Tap Room for the Bavarian celebration. Start the morning with goat yoga in the beer garden. Celebrate with live music by Pourly Edukated all afternoon, 1-4 p.m. German PretzelKings and Ciao Down food trucks will be seriving.
JAKtoberfest Old Ranch
Oct. 4
JAKs Taproom Old Ranch
It’s JAKs Old Ranch’s turn to break out the German costume contests, limited edition glassware, music, games and more.
Oktoberfest on the Front Range
Oktoberfest at St. Julien Hotel & Spa
Sept. 7
St Julien Hotel & Spa, Boulder
Want a Front Range destination Oktoberfest? The upscale St. Julien Hotel and Spa hosts Oktoberfest on the lawn and terrace. Tickets include a German-themed buffet including schweinebraten (roast pork), wurslt (Bavarian sausages and sauerkraut), brezen (pretzels), schnitzel and more. Enjoy live music from the Alan Polivka Band and games on the lawn.
Loveland Oktoberfest
Sept. 12-13
Historic Downtown Loveland
Raise your steins in Northern Colorado with a full schedule of German music, food, beer and lots of bouncy inflatables for the kids.
Denver Kickers Oktoberfest
Sept. 12-13
Denver Kickers Sport Club, Golden
The local soccer club throws the party for Golden at its historic clubhouse. It’s a big weekend of live music, folk dancing, stein hoisting, costume contests and all things Bavarian, including Warsteiner on tap.
Denver Highlands Oktoberfest
Sept. 13
Highlands, 3737 W. 32nd St.
Denver’s Highlands neighbor just west of downtown throws a big multiblock festival that goes 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You’ll find lots of live oompah music, costume contests, keg bowling, stein hoisting, a dachshund dash and more. The market has 100 vendors. And there’s even a big Kidtoberfest with inflatables, games, crafts and more.
Denver Oktoberfest
Sept. 19-21 and Sept. 26-28
Larimer and 21st Street in the Ballpark District
Denver’s big Oktoberfest bash spans two weekends, and it’s aiming to win USA Today’s Best Oktoberfest poll. Running since 1969, Denver Oktoberfest is one of the country’s longest-running. You’ll find costume contests, live music from polka to a late-night silent disco, stein-hoisting contests, keg bowling and more. The Oktoberfest Talent Show offers a cash prize and bragging rights for the winner. And if you want to go all in, upgrade to access the Jägermeister VIP Party Tent.
Castle Rock Oktoberfest
Sept. 20
Wilcox Square, Downtown Castle Rock
The Castle Rock festival includes a street fair, food trucks, family games and libations from local and regional craft brewers. Catch the free trolley shuttle service, so you can focus on your sampling. The festival happens 1-9 p.m.
Highlands Ranch Oktoberfest
Sept. 27
Highlands Ranch Town Center
Head for the south Denver suburb for the Highlands Ranch Oktoberfest celebration. There’s an Oktoberfest 5K, plus German food, Dachshund races, music, entertainment and great biers from Paulaner. The run is at 9 a.m. The festivities and entertainment are 1-9 p.m.
Greeley Oktobrewfest
Sept. 27-28
Lincoln Park, Downtown Greely
Celebrate with plenty of Northern Colorado brewers, distillers and food vendors. Expect live music, tasty brews and food, and fire spinners. Saturday will be filled with harvest season games and activities for kids including face painting, balloon art and pumpkin decorating.
Pueblo Oktoberfest
Sept. 27
Pueblo Union Depot
The Pueblo German American Club knows how to throw an Oktoberfest. Head to Union Depot in Pueblo for the 55th annual event. Competitions include a log sawing contest, keg toss, stein relay races, best dirndl and best mustache/beard contests. And, of course, lots of beer, live music and German fare.
Lone Tree Craftoberfest
Oct. 4
Schweiger Ranch
The City of Lone Tree is blending the German tradition with Colorado craft beer. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. you can prost the season and enjoy live polka music, plus gams and contests from cornhole to stein hoisting.
Ever wonder how Oktoberfest got started?
Read about some of the German festivals origins and find some Colorado Springs spots that are German all year long in Inside Oktoberfest.
Want to walk off all that beer?
Here are 10 Favorite Fall Color Hikes in and Around Colorado Springs.
