Washington, D.C., may be more than 4,000 miles away from Munich, Germany, but that doesn’t mean you have to fly to raise a stein to Oktoberfest.
The 188th Oktoberfest in Bavaria from Sept. 16 to Oct. 3 is expected to draw millions of visitors. Only six traditional Munich breweries are allowed to serve their brews: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten and Staatliches Hofbräuhaus.
While those beers are mostly German-style lagers, many of the Oktoberfest brews you find in the U.S. are red-hued, slightly sweet beers known as a Märzen — and actually may be pretty similar to the beers served at the first festivals in the early 1800s, according to Food and Wine.
Beer lovers around the D.C. area can join in on the legendary beer festival at breweries, German-style beer halls and beyond.
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Oktoberfest in D.C.
Wunder Garten's 9th Annual Oktoberfest Festival
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
📅 9/15 to 10/15
📍 Wunder Garten (1101 First Street NE, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
This beer garden boasts “the DMV’s largest and most festive Oktoberfest.” Between the traditional tapping of the keg on Friday, Sept. 15, and the festival’s close, you can join the “Bavarian Olympics,” dive into a beer foam dance party and polka along to DJs and oompah bands while sampling traditional Märzen-style brews and German food.
Wunder Garten encourages everyone to dress in traditional German outfits for a chance to win on-the-spot prizes.
Special events include PRIDEtoberfest on Sept. 28, Yappy Hour on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m.
Dacha Oktoberfests
💲 Free admission
A Decade of Dacha Oktoberfest is a two-week celebration at the beer garden’s Shaw location (1600 7th St NW) featuring brews, competitions and dog-friendly fun.
Dacha’s Navy Yard location (79 Potomac Ave SE) will host a kickoff party on Saturday, 9/16, starting with a ceremonial keg tapping at 2 p.m. A polka band, Bavarian dancers, a boot-holding contest, a German spelling bee, a pretzel eating contest and a Rock Creek Kings concert are on tap the rest of the day.
Oktoberfest celebrations in Maryland
Mount Airy Oktoberfest
📅 Rescheduled: Sat., 10/7, noon to 6 p.m.
📍 Downtown Mount Airy
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Mount Airy's Oktoberfest is returning in Oktober after rain washed out the original date.
Two stages of live music, axe throwing and more will entertain all ages while kids hop on a moon bounce and inflatable obstacle course. Mount Airy’s own Liquidity Aleworks will pour German-style beers. You can also check out German-themed specials at local restaurants.
Gaithersburg Oktoberfest
📅 Sun., 10/8, noon to 5 p.m.
📍 Bohrer Park (506 South Frederick Avenue)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Bring the whole family for a day of live entertainment, Bavarian music, dancing and fall-themed activities and of course beer, non-alcoholic beer, mead and cider. Food will be available for purchase. Admission, shuttles and parking are free.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery
📅 9/23-9/24; 9/29-10/1; 10/6-10/8
📍 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, Maryland
💲 Free (general admission)/$25-$595 (VIP experiences)
🔗 Details
German food is taking over the menu at Guiness’ outpost near Baltimore, and five German-style beers will be available. It’s free to go and enjoy the live music.
VIP experiences range from a guided tasting of Oktoberfest brews ($25) and a Beer & Breakfast Experience ($45).
(If you’re craving a taste of Ireland, the brewery is celebrating Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day 9/15-9/17).
Oktoberfest in Virginia
Vienna Oktoberfest
📅 10/7, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
📍 Historic Church Street, Vienna, Virginia
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Three stages of live entertainment, beers from local breweries, kids’ activities and a local marketplace are on tap. Almost all the kids’ activities are free, according to the event’s FAQ.
A free shuttle will run between the Vienna Metro station, James Madison High School and the festival.
Oktoberfest at Frontier Culture Museum
📅 Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
📍 1290 Richmond AvenueStaunton, Virginia
💲 $19 (adult), $12 (seniors 60+ and youth age 13 to college), $9 (ages 6-12)
🔗 Details
Live music, beer and a special exhibit on how Germans brewed in the 18th century are on tap. It's free for kids age 5 and under.
Oktoberfest at Alexandria Bier Garten
📅 Through 10/7
📍 Alexandria Bier Garten (710 King Street)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Raise a stein in the newly-unveiled rooftop bar or the indoor beer garden, join stein-holding contests on Saturdays (9/30 and 10/7), do trivia and try German food at this classic Bavarian beer hall in Alexandria. Check here for more Oktoberfest special events.
List of Oktoberfest 2023 events in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Senior Services of Alexandria Oktoberfest fundraiser
10/4, Port City Brewing (3950 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, Virginia), $75+
Woodworkers Club Annual Oktoberfest Festival & Craft Fair
Sat., 10/7, Rockville, free entry
Family-friendly
Oktoberfest at John Carlyle Square
10/21, John Carlyle Square in Old Town Alexandria, free entry
Past events
PIKEtoberfest
📅 Sun., 10/1, noon to 4 p.m.
📍 Pike & Rose in Bethesda
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Owen’s Ordinary will host the beer garden for this dog- and kid-friendly Oktoberfest with live music, a makers market, games and more. RSVP for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest
📅 9/28-10/1
📍 Fremont Field, North Post of Fort Belvoir
💲 Free
🔗 Details
Fort Belvoir is opening its gates for anyone to celebrate Oktoberfest with carnival rides, live music, the dog- and stroller-friendly Volksmarch 5k and plenty of beer.
Parking, admission, music and the Volksmarch are free. Wristbands for unlimited rides cost $27-$35. Bring cash for food and drink purchases.
Midlands Beer Garden Oktoberfest
📅 9/15 to 10/1
📍 3333 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
The Michigan football and Lions bar says it will serve $6 pints and $12 steins and food specials. Want to show off your strength? Half-Time Hoists are scheduled during the Michigan games on 9/16, 9/23 and 9/30.
Atlas Oktoberfest Party
📅 Thu., 9/14, 6-8 p.m.
📍 Atlas Brew Works Half Street Brewery & Tap Room (1201 Half Street Southeast, Washington, D.C.)
💲 $35
🔗 Details
Celebrate the release of Atlas’ Marzen Lager Festbier with an open bar, brats, pretzels and polka music.
Oktoberfest Weekend at The Wharf
📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 The Wharf
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
The Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday is one of the doggone cutest things about Oktoberfest in the District; you can register your Dachshund here for $30. Proceeds benefit Rural Dog Rescue. Viewers can arrive early to get a spot or watch on one of the two jumbotrons.
You’ll also find polka dancing on Friday (7-9 p.m.) and a stein hoisting competition on Sunday (2-5 p.m.) at participating restaurants, including Boardwalk Bar & Arcade, Brighton SW1, Canopy Central, Cantina Bambina, Easy Company, H-Bar at Hyatt House, Kaliwa, Kirwans On The Wharf, Lucky Buns, Whiskey Charlie and Rappahannock Oyster Bar.
Hotel Hive Oktoberfest Rooftop Party
📅 9/16, 5 p.m.
📍 2224 F Street Northwest NW, D.C.
💲 $40 for general admission
🔗 Details
Hotel Hive’s expansive rooftop near the Foggy Bottom Metro station is hosting a party with all-you-can-drink beer and a live oompah band. Table and couch bookings cost extra.
Shipgarten Oktoberfest
📅 Kickoff 9/16
📍 Shipgarten in McLean, Virginia
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Tyson’s Biergarten, within the outdoor food and drink hall Shipgarten, is celebrating multiple rounds of Oktoberfest.
The celebrations kick off at 1:15 p.m. Saturday with the tapping of a keg flown in from Germany. Contests, beer specials, live music and DJs are all on tap. It’s also dog-friendly and welcomes kids -- costumed character appearances are on the schedule for many Sundays.
Look for more festivals on their calendar.
OktoberFEST Kickoff at Old Town Pour House
📅Fri, 9/16, 6-9 p.m.
📍 Old Town Pour House (Downtown Crown - Gaithersburg)
💲 $25
🔗 Details
The ticket price gets you a spread of German snacks, including beer brat bites and pretzel bites, two drink tickets and some Oktoberfest music.
Frederick’s Oktoberfest
📅 9/29-9/30
📍 Frederick Fairgrounds
💲 $6-$12 for adult admission
🔗 Details
Frederick’s Oktoberfest has indoor and outdoor tents with beer, food and live music during the last weekend of September.
Friday is for people aged 21 and up only, while Saturday’s festival will be for all ages with plenty of fun activities for kids.
You can save a couple of dollars on admission by purchasing tickets online in advance.
Lovettsville Oktoberfest
📅 9/22-9/23
📍 Lovettsville, Virginia
💲 Free entry; drink tickets cost $9
🔗 Details
Lovettsville goes big on Oktoberfest -- the town says its two-day celebration is one of the best in the world.
Wiener dog races, stein hoisting and hauling competitions, a beer garden on the Town Green and a family-friendly parade are just some of the events on the schedule. Tickets can be purchased in advance for a discount. Stay tuned for more details.
Middleburg Oktoberfest
9/16, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., S. Madison & Federal Streets, Middleburg, Virginia, free entry
Oktoberfest at the Swiss Bakery
9/17 and 10/15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free entry
Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery 5th Annual Oktoberfest
9/16-9/17, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Waterford, Virginia, free entry
7 Locks Oktoberfest
Fri., 9/22, 5-10 p.m., 12227 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland, free entry
Oktoberfest on the Plaza
9/22-9/24, Courthouse Plaza (2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia), free admission
Dog-friendly
2nd Annual Zinnia Oktoberfest
Sept. 23, Zinnia (Silver Spring), $45
Oktoberfest at The Boro
9/23, 2-5 p.m., 8350 Broad Street, Tysons, Virginia, free entry
Family-friendly
Montgomery Parks Ale Trail
9/24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Needwood, free entry
Family-friendly
Oktoberfest Beer Tasting, Dinner, Dance, at German-American Heritage Museum
9/29, German-American Heritage Museum of the USA (719 6th Street NW, Washington, D.C.), $59-$75
Family-friendly
Oktoberfest Bar Crawl
9/30, Dupont area of Washington D.C., $10
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