11 of the Biggest and Best Oktoberfest Celebrations in the US

Head to Cincinnati for the largest Oktoberfest festival in the US, nicknamed Oktoberfest Zinzinnati thanks to the pronunciation of the city’s name with a German accent. Ohio—and much of the Midwest—received a wave of immigrants from Germany in the 1800s who greatly influenced local culture and brought beloved traditions. However, it wasn’t until 1976 that the first Oktoberfest Zinzinnati took place, and it’s become a beloved annual event ever since.

Nowadays, this spectacle draws more than 800,000 attendees to the festival grounds by the Ohio River for authentic German eats, the world’s largest chicken dance, and live oompah music. Complement your Oktoberfest experience with a historical tour of Cincinnati’s hidden brewery caverns.

The small town of Helen, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, reinvented itself as a model of a Bavarian alpine village in 1969, and its Oktoberfest celebration began soon after.

Now, the 2-month-long celebrations align with peak foliage season in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Expect imported German beer, traditional foods, and brass bands playing traditional oompah music. Stay right in Helen or check out the festival on a day trip from Atlanta. And while you’re in the area, break up the beer drinking with a North Georgia wine tour or outdoor activities in the mountains.

In typical laid-back Colorado style, Denver’s Oktoberfest—which has been running since 1969—is more of a massive block party than a formal event. The celebration spills out over the Mile High City’s Ballpark District, attracting more than 350,000 festivalgoers.

Because Colorado has a high-quality craft beer scene though, you can expect excellent local brews, along with events such as the Long Dog Derby dachshund races, one of the most distinctive American Oktoberfest celebrations. If you haven’t had enough beer during Oktoberfest, learn more about the local beer scene on a brewery tour during your stay.

For the most visually authentic Oktoberfest in America, make your way to the small town of Leavenworth in central Washington. After all, the village is a replica of a German mountain town, created not by German immigrants (as you might expect) but by town leaders who wanted to save Leavenworth from economic ruin and noticed the resemblance of the Cascade Mountains to the German Alps.

Thanks to the traditional half-timber architecture, German-themed restaurants and bars, and a community that wholeheartedly embraces the theme, the town is a top Oktoberfest destination in the Pacific Northwest. Grab local beers, watch runners finish the Leavenworth Marathon (it takes place during the celebrations), and join a walking tour to learn more about the town.

Thanks to the influence of German immigrants and their descendants, La Crosse, Wisconsin, offers one of the top Oktoberfest events in America, with a legacy dating back more than 60 years. The events here are held on the banks of the Mississippi River, where you can sample beer brewed by the local G. Heileman Brewing Company (founded by German immigrants).

Arguably though, the highlight of the entire festival is its nighttime Torchlight Parade, complete with marching bands and lots of flashing lights. After the party's over, make the most of your time in the area with a cruise up the Mississippi River or a fall wine tour in the nearby Driftless Region full of orchards.

When wondering where to celebrate Oktoberfest in the US, Texas probably isn’t at the forefront of your mind. But the small town of Fredericksburg, located in the hilly wine country, was founded by German immigrants in 1846, and they've shaped the local culture there ever since, even speaking a German-Texan dialect into the 1900s.

In modern times, this heritage is best reflected in the Oktoberfest celebration, where you'll find a mix of German and local beers, plus Texan-sized portions of bratwurst, schnitzel, and fusion food such as German tacos. Combine the festivities with a trip to the nearby Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

As you might expect from Music City, Nashville combines a German beer-drinking festival with great live music beyond that of traditional oompah bands, making it one of the US cities with the best Oktoberfests. The celebrations take place in the Germantown neighborhood—one of the oldest in town—with events including a dachshund derby, pup parade, and a road race.

While you’re in the area, explore beyond the beer on history tours or music experiences, or seek out other classic Tennessee adventures, such as a Cumberland River cruise, which is especially scenic during the fall.

Frankenmuth is known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” thanks to its high concentration of German immigrants; the city’s Oktoberfest was the first outside of Germany to receive a blessing from Munich—the highest of all honors.

Consequently, Munich’s most famous brewery, Hofbräuhaus, is an official partner of the event, and the opportunity to drink authentic beer right from the source surely makes this one of the best German beer festivals in the US. You can also sample beer from Frankenmuth Brewery, a local favorite that has been around since the 19th century.

Mount Angel is a quiet town in the Willamette Valley, known as one of the country’s top wine and hop-growing regions. It also happens to be home to a German-Swiss population, which has led to the development of one of the best Oktoberfest festivals across America.

Because of the area’s agricultural heritage, one focus of the festival is a large obelisk decorated with local produce, and there’s even a glockenspiel around the corner. However, you can also make your way through themed Oktoberfest tents, visit the nearby Benedictine monk brewery, and stick around for a Willamette Valley wine tour or an excursion to the nearby Oregon Garden.

Oktoberfest in Buffalo combines Polish and German immigrant traditions with Bavarian beer culture for one of New York state’s liveliest beer festivals, which also happens to be close to Niagara Falls.

Happily, there’s a branch of the Bavarian Hofbrauhaus beer garden in Buffalo too, which hosts a 7-week Oktoberfest event, complete with enthusiastic accordion duels, shotskis, stein-holding championships, and lots of lakefront revelry. Plus, you can use the event as an excuse to enjoy the stunning New York fall foliage, which is at its peak right around the time of the festival.

It may seem out of place to host an Oktoberfest in the desert, but that’s just part of the charm of Tempe’s annual festivities. The event takes place over just one weekend by the Tempe Town Lake, as it has for more than 50 years.

There, grab German-style lagers produced by local Four Peaks Brewing Company, and get out in the mornings to enjoy the Arizona desert or go kayaking on the town lake. Whether you’re staying in Tempe for a while or just passing through en route to Tucson, plan your trip for early October for some German-themed fun along the way.