Prost! Fall is the season for Oktoberfest, and Philly is ready to celebrate with its own spin on the traditional German festival. Get ready for overflowing steins of beer, delicious bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, folk music and tons of fun.
147th Cannstatter Volksfest (Photo via Facebook)
Labor Day Volksfest (Oktoberfest) at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein
August 31 (12 p.m. to 10 p.m), September 1 (12 p.m. to 10 p.m.) & September 2 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
CannstatterVolksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Road (Northeast Philadelphia)
Located in Northeast Philly, Cannstatter Volksfest Verein is hosting its annual ode to Oktoberfest over Labor Day Weekend. The three-day event features German foods and delicacies, crafts, entertainment (various bands & musicians), prizes, games vendors and shopping opportunities all authentic to German culture and history. Passes are required and cost $6 for a one-day pass, $9 for a two-day pass, $11 for a three-day pass. Children under 12 are FREE!
Oktoberfest at Craft Hall
Friday, September 20 – Sunday October 6
Craft Hall 901 N Delaware Ave
(Wednesday through Sunday)
Wednesdays and Thursdays – 4 pm to 11 pm
Fridays – 4 pm to Midnight
Saturdays – Noon to Midnight
Sundays – 10 am to 10 pm
This fall, Craft Hall will celebrate this German tradition with its own American twist! The 35,000 sq ft space will be transformed into an indoor street festival with colorful banners and decorations, live entertainment, food and Mainstay Independent Brewery specials, beer steins, activities for kids and adults, and more! Save the date and invite the whole family!
United German Hungarian Dance crew leads the crowd in der Fliegerlied (Photo provided by Brauhaus Schmitz)
11th Annual South Street Oktoberfest Presented by Brauhaus Schmitz
Saturday, September 21
12 pm to 8 pm
700 Block of South Street
Philadelphia region’s largest Oktoberfest celebration returns! For the 11th year in a row, Oktoberfest will be held in front of Brauhaus Schmitz beneath a massive tent with seating, making the event rain or shine. Look forward to 10 German beers available on draught, a wealth of German food, live Oom-pah music, German dancers and more. Purchase beers and food on a pay-as-you-go basis or upgrade to an exclusive VIP package. The upgraded $115 ticket includes private access to the Brauer Bund, five private no-wait bathrooms, a Bavarian buffet, seven tokens for beer, official Brauhaus Oktoberfest t-shirt, sunglasses and a commemorative glass liter stein filled with “Oktoberfest survival supplies” to take home. Leading up to the event, you can visit Brauhaus Schmitz for a week of Bavarian specials, music, lederhosen and liters of delicious German beer.
(Photo by Kory Aversa)
Ardmore Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 28
2 pm to 8 pm
Shauffele Plaza, 99 Cricket Terrace
The Main Line’s largest Oktoberfest is bigger and better this year! After a record turn-out last year, Ardmore Oktoberfest is in a new location to allow space for more people, food, beer and family fun. Downtown Ardmore will be transformed into a Bavarian wonderland complete with German fare, robust brews, live entertainment and dancing. Kids can also get in on the fun with pumpkin decorating, crafts, face painting and other outdoor activities. Plus, the VIP Experience offers exclusive offerings of food, beer and access to express beer lines.
(Photo provided by Aversa PR)
Uptoberfest Oktoberfest at Uptown Beer Garden
Saturday, September 28
12 pm to 8 pm
1735 JFK Blvd.
Stop by on Saturday, September 28 for the annual celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig I & Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. There will be beer pouring, German fare, music, dancing, a liter lift competition and other fun – all in one of Philadelphia’s most beautiful fall beer gardens. The menu will include a variety of housemade brats from BRU Craft & Wurst and pulled pork from Tradesman’s, plus currywurst, pretzel, potato pancakes and more. Taps will be flowing with a special German import draft list, plus a few special American release fall seasonals. General admission is free. VIP tickets are available for $20 and include a special VIP-only area, with a separate bar including a special keg of Weissenohe Monks Fest, lite buffet, and a keepsake glass beer boot filled with a beer of their choice.
Oktoberfest at Piazza Pod Park
Saturday, September 28
Noon to 8 pm
1075 Germantown Avenue
Piazza Pod Park welcomes its first fall season with a brand new Oktoberfest! Head to Northern Liberties and watch for BeBot waving hello. Look for Bavarian beer, brats, music and dancing. Pod Park vendors will feature specials – with German and fall releases from Craft Beer Concepts inspired by BRU Craft & Wurst, Craft Cocktail Concepts inspired by Blume, Urban Village Brewing Company and Tiki Tako. Music entertainment will include live bands and DJs. Look for family fun for the kids. Full details to be announced later in August. Save the date!
Morgan’s Pier Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 5
2 pm to 6 pm
221 N Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Between September 25 and October 26, Fall Fest at Morgan’s Pier brings a full month of special events, beer festivals and family fun to Philadelphia’s premiere waterfront outdoor hotspots. As part of Fall Fest, Morgan’s Pier will present Morgan’s Pier Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 5. The best part of any Oktoberfest is the free-flowing beer and an excuse to eat pretzels. Morgan’s Pier will have both, plus live music by Menace Cartel for belting out all of the sing-along drinking songs. Guests receive open beer bar, unlimited soft Pretzels, German-inspired food specials and a limited edition Morgan’s Pier beer stein for the first 200 attendees. Tickets will be $45 ahead or $50 at the door.
23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest (Photo by Kory Aversa)
4th Annual 23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest
Friday, October 18, 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Saturday, October 19, 1 pm to 5 pm
22 S. 23rd Street
Presented by Brauhaus Schmitz
Celebrate with Brauhaus Schmitz at the 4th Annual 23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest. The two-day festival includes three sessions, each able to accommodate 1,400 revelers for one of the biggest beer-drinking events to hit Philadelphia and one of the most authentic Oktoberfest parties in the United States. The fortress-like structure will mimic an authentic Munich festival tent decked out with Bavarian blue and white ceilings, authentic festival tables and benches imported from Germany. The lofted stage area will host musical acts such as The Bratwurst Boys on Friday night and Brauhaus regulars Die Heimatklänge on Saturday. Executive Chef Valentin Bay will prepare traditional Oktoberfest food, and the world famous Hofbräuhaus München – Das Original will provide the beer. General Admission costs $25 per person; VIP is $70 per person; and UBER VIP costs $85 per person. Tickets are on sale now at: www.armoryoktoberfest.com.
