Find a local pick your own farm here!

Looking for Octoberfests in the U.S.,Canada, Britain and Australia! in 2024? Scroll down this page and follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above. If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

If you have questions or feedback, please let me know! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.

Where, When and More to Find a Octoberfest / Oktoberfest Near You!

Look for a Oktoberfest? There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! All the Octoberfests in the US, Canada and Britain we can find are listed on this page! If you love Oktoberfests, look for a festival near you below! And I'm looking for more Oktoberfests! Please write me, if you know of any to add! I update the dates as soon as the festivals publish their information, but you can always click on the links (usually the name of the festival) to see the current information on the festival's own website.

Especially this year, due to Coronavirus, be sure to click on the links (the blue, underlined name of the each festival) to confirm this year's dates on the website for each festival. If they don't have a website, call the phone number provided, but ALWAYS CONFIRM THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES BY EITHER VIEWING THEIR WEBSITE OR CALLING.

Also, see our pages on easy illustrated directions about how to make whichfruit jam at home!

[United States] [Canada] [Britain] [Australia] [Japan]

United States

Know of any others? Write me!

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Phoenix Oktoberfest - mid October
Phoenix, AZ. sauerkraut Cooking Contest; Beer Stein Holding, and Alphorn Blowing! Bring the kids! They will have fun trying to blow the Alphorn horn.

Arkansas

California

Alpine Village Oktoberfest - every Friday to Sunday from the second week in September through the end of October
833 West Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90502. Phone: (310) 327-4384. Among the fun activities is a cow-milking contest, Woodsawing, Steinholding, Food, Beer, Chicken Dance and MUCH more! Beer Garden: Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Alpine Inn: Wednesday & Thursday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. THE LARGEST AND LONGEST OKTOBERFEST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA! OMM PA PA BRASS BANDS.

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Helen, Georgia Oktoberfest - Helen's 41st Oktoberfest begins September 22 and continues each day through October 30.
Helen, Georgia. Helen's Biggest Celebration! German music, dancing, food & drink. Hours: Monday - Thursday 6 PM to 10:30 PM; Friday, 6PM -Midnight; Saturday 1PM-Midnight; Sunday 1 PM to 7 PM. Admission $7.00 per person, $9.00 on Saturdays, Sundays free. Food drink are extra.

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Maine

Maryland

Blob's Park Oktoberfest - September 22-October 28, 2012
8024 Max Blob's Park Road, Jessup, Maryland. Says they were America's first Oktoberfest. Music,family fun, food and more. $8-12 admission.
Charles County Oktoberfest - 2012 Dates TBA, hours are Saturday Noon-7 pm, Sunday Noon - 5 pm
Charles County Fairgrounds, 8440 Fairgrounds Road, La Plata, MD. Phone: 240-320-6749. Email: tmessick@hospiceofcharlescounty.org. A family friendly event with German foods, beer, wine, music, children's activities, and live Bavarian entertainment.
Das Best Oktoberfest - typically held in late September, noon to 6 pm
National Harbor, MD. The outdoor festival will include over 100 unique beers, German wines and schnapps, German foods and other festival goodies, Oompah bands, live music, contests and much more. Admission: $25, Children ages 12 and under are free.
Oktoberfest at Fort Meade - TBA
Fort Meade Pavilion, Llewellyn Avenue, Fort Meade, Maryland. Carnival and midway, culinary demonstrations, German and international food, travel bureau, live German bands, and more. Admission is free.
Oktoberfest at Henderson Hall - Dates TBA, hours 11:30 am to 5:30 pm
1555 Southgate Road, Arlington, VA 22214. Authentic German food and beverages, family-friendly activities and contests, music, beer and wine tastings and more. It is free and open to all Department of Defense ID card holders and their guests.
Germantown Oktoberfest - October 6, 2012, 9:45 am to 5 pm
High Point Farm, 23730 Frederick Road, Clarksburg, Maryland. Live music, kid's games, German foods, Biergarten and family fun.
Oktoberfest at the Kentlands - October 14, 2012, noon - 4 pm
Kentlands Village Green, Gaithersburg, Maryland. A family friendly Oktoberfest featuring Bavarian music, dance, food, crafts, pony rides, moonbounces, pumpkin decorating, face painting and more.

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Lee's Summit Missouri Oktoberfest - September 25 -26
Soulard Oktoberfest -
St. Louis, MO. within sight of the St. Louis Arch, Claims to be the fastest growing Oktoberfest in America.

Montana

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Cincinnati Oktoberfest - Saturday, typically held in mid Sept., 11 am to midnight, Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm
Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati USA is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in North America and the second largest in the world. It is a huge outdoor festival held every September in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio that showcases the rich German heritage of Southwestern Ohio, as well as offering lots of German-style music, food and beer. First held in 1976, the event has grown and over 500,000 people attend each year, coming from all over the country. It's the closest you will get to the original Munich Oktoberfest!

Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest - multiple days in late October
Features live music with bands from Germany, exceptional food. Normally from 4- 9 pm.

Oregon

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - September 13th through 16th, 2012
PO Box 1054, Mount Angel, Oregon 97362. Phone: 855-899-6338. Oregon's oldest and best-loved Oktoberfest began in 1966 as a traditional harvest festival to celebrate the bounty of the earth and the goodness of creation. It is Oregon's largest folk festival with traditional biergarten, weingarten and ALpinegarten. (ADDED: August 24, 2012, by JBS)

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

We are having our first annual Octoberfest on September 29th in Tripp Sd. There will be lawnmower races to replace the traditional horse races, A Polka Contest, Hayride, Brat Eating contest, Traditional dancers, and a Polka dance along with brats, beer, funnel cakes, and kuchen. If you have any questions please let me know. Jim"

Tennessee

Texas

Addison Oktoberfest - September 15 - 18, 2011
Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive, Addison, TX. Addison Oktoberfest listed as one of the Top 10 Oktoberfests in North America by USA Today. More than 60,000 fans of polka, German food and Spaten Bier will gather in Addison's spectacular Addison Circle Park for four days of music, folk dancing, sing-alongs, children's entertainment and more.

Utah

Vermont

VVirginia

Capitol City Brewing Company Oktoberfest - 2012 Dates TBA, hours arefrom 12 pm to 7 pm
Shirlington Village, Arlington, Virginia. Sample more than 60 beers and a variety of foods, while enjoying lively German entertainment. Admission: $25. Shirlington library will host kid's events.
Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest - Thurs / Sept 29, 2011 /from 6 pm to 10 pm, Fri / Sept 30, 2011 / 6-Midnight, Sat / Oct 1, 2011 / Noon-Midnight, Sun / Oct 2, 2011 / Noon-8pm
Fremont Field, Fort Belvoir, VA. Directions: Located off of Rt. 1 in Fairfax County, Virginia, The annual festival, open to the general public, includes authentic German food and beer, carnival rides, live entertainment, kids activities and more. Entry is FREE and Open to all!Bring cash for Food Vendors and to buy a wristband for Carnival rides.
Fort Lee, Virginia Oktoberfest -
All day long, food, festival, beer tent, polka music.Usually a Volksmarch on the same day.
Kings Dominion's Oktoberfest - 2012 TBA; hours are,from 5 pm to 7 pm
Enjoy a full day at Kings Dominion, Halloween Haunt, an All-You-Can-Eat picnic meal with German Specialty Items, Souvenir Event Cup and Live Entertainment by the SGTEV Hirschjäger Bavarian Dancers.
Lovettsville's Oktoberfest - typically held in late September
Loudoun County, Virginia. Food, crafts, and entertainment.
Oktoberfest Reston - typically held in early October,from 3 pm to 11 pm
Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston, Virginia. Sample the best in fall brews and traditional Oktoberfest fare provided by some of Reston's finest eateries. Live entertainment.
October Fest in Ruckersville - pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, farm market, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, Bouncy castle or moon bounce, birthday parties, school tours
9386 Seminole Trail, Ruckersville, VA 22968. Phone: 703-725-5011. Alternate Phone: 434-985-2433. Open: Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 8pm, Friday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm. Directions: Across route 29 from Lowes home improvement in Ruckersville Virginia. Click here for a map and directions. October Fest from September 27 thru October 31. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Huge kids playland featuring giant 33 foot shark slide, dragon castle obstacle course, cave man slide, Halloween castle bounce, straw tunnels and hay ride. Also toddler town and bounces. Fun for all. All Halloween decoration goods and Flowers.

Washington, D.C.

Biergarten Haus Oktoberfest - 2012 Dates to Be Announced.
1355 H St NE Washington, DC. The Bavarian pub offers their regular 12 drafts and 11 additional Oktoberfest drafts, food and live music.
Snallygaster DC - October 13, 2012,from 1 pm to 5 pm
Yards Park, 3rd and Water Street, Washington DC. The outdoor beer festival will feature more than 100 different ales and lagers, food vendors, live music, DJ's, recreational and family-friendly activities. $5 admission contributions will benefit the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture. Drink and food tickets will be sold separately.

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

La Crosse Oktoberfest - 2011 Oktoberfest is Friday, September 23 through Saturday, October 1
La Crosse, WI. Phone: (608) 784-3378. Fax: (608) 782-2098. Email: office@oktoberfestusa.com. Celebrating over 50 years of Oktoberfest.

Know of any other Oktoberfests? Write me!

Canada

British Columbia

Manitoba

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)

Australia

Italy

Japan

(English websites)

Canning Books, Supplies and Accessories

These are my favorite essential canning tools, books and supplies. I've been using many of these for over 50 years of canning! The ones below on this page are just the sampling of. my preferred tools. but you can find much more detailed and extensive selections on the pages that are linked below.

The Ball Blue Book of Home Canning

The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving: Over 350 of the Best Canned, Jammed, Pickled, and Preserved Recipes Paperback

This is THE book on canning! My grandmother used this book when I was a child.; It tells you in simple instructions how to can almost anything; complete with recipes for jam, jellies, pickles, sauces, canning vegetables, meats, etc.

If it can be canned, this book likely tells you how! Click on the link below for more information and / or to buy (no obligation to buy)The New Ball Blue Book of Canning and Preserving

Canning & Preserving For Dummies in Paperback

Canning and Preserving for Dummies by Karen Ward

This is another popular canning book. Click here for more information, reviews, prices for Canning and Preserving For Dummies

Of course, you do not need to buy ANY canning book as I have about 500 canning, freezing, dehydrating and more recipes all online for free, just see Easy Home Canning Directions.

Home Canning Kits

McSunley 21.5 quart Water Bath Canner, Stainless Steel See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

I have several canners, and my favorite is the stainless steel one at right. It is easy to clean and seems like it will last forever. Mine is 10 years old and looks like new.

The black ones are the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce.

This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, Jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. It's only missing the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book.

You will never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)!

The complete list of canners is on these pages:

Water bath canners - Good for acidic foods, like applesauce, pickles, salsa, jams, jellies, most fruits
Pressure canners - needed for low and non-acidic foods, like canned vegetables (corn, green beans, etc), and meats
Canners for glass top stoves if you have a glass or ceramic stove
Canners for induction stovetops

Pressure Canners

If you plan on canning non-acidic foods and low acid foods that are not pickled - this means: meats, seafood, soups, green beans corn, most vegetables, etc., then you ABSOLUTELY must use a Pressure Canner.

Of course, you can use a pressure canner as a water bath canner as well - just don't seal it up, so it does not pressurize. This means a Pressure Canner is a 2-in-1 device. With it, you can can almost ANYTHING.

There are also other supplies, accessories, tools and more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!

Canning Supplies Starter Kit - Canning Jar Lifter, Canning funnel, Scissor Tongs, more

Basic Canning Accessories

From left to right:

Jar lifting tongs to pick up hot jars
Lid sanitizer / lifter - to remove lids from the pot of boiling water (sterilizing )
Lids- disposable - you may only use them once
Ring - holds the lids on the jar until after the jars cool - then you remove them, save them and reuse them
Canning Jar funnel - to fill the jars

FREE Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

Don't spend money on books. that you don't need to. Almost everything you can find in some book sold online or in a store is on my website here for free. Start with theEasy Home Canning Directions below. That is a master list of canning directions which are all based upon the Ball Bblue book, the National Center for Home Food Preservation and other reputable lab tested recipes. Almost every recipe I present in addition to being lab tested com. is in a step by step format with photos for each step and complete. explanations. that tell you how to do it, where to get the supplies and pretty much everything you need to know. In addition, there almost always in a PDF format so you can print them out and use them while you cook.

[ Easy Home Canning Directions]

[FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems]

[Free canning publications to download and print]

Octoberfests in the U.S.,Canada, Britain and Australia!

PickYourOwn.org - Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze!