Oktoberfest season is back. Here’s where to raise a stein around Boston.
Is that oompah music we hear?
The nights are getting cooler, the air is getting crisper, and the lederhosen you buried in the back of your closet is itching to be worn. Good thing, then, that Oktoberfest season is upon us, a time to drink and be merry and to see whether all those bicep curls will help you win a stein-holding contest. Take a look at our guide to Oktoberfest parties happening around Boston, and put that lederhosen to good use.
This list will be updated as more Oktoberfest 2019 events are announced.
Where: Olde Magoun’s Saloon
When: Wednesday, Sept. 4–Saturday, Sept. 28
Cost: No cover
Details: Olde Magoun’s is celebrating Oktoberfest all month long with a special menu, beer promotions, Sunday roasts, and one giant party. On Wednesdays from 5 p.m.–11 p.m. until Sept. 25, the Somerville bar will offer German dishes like weiner schnitzel, Bavarian pork knuckles, and plenty of bratwurst. Beer promotions from German brewers will also be available on Wednesdays between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (through Oct. 30), and Sundays are dedicated to roast nights. But the big party isn’t until Sept. 28, when Olde Magoun’s will throw an all-day celebration featuring live music, specialty dishes, and a ceremonial tapping of a keg of Paulaner Weisn.
Where: Idle Hands Craft Ales
When: Saturday, Sept. 14 from noon–10 p.m.
Cost: $10
Details: The Malden brewery is throwing a day-long Oktoberfest party with all the necessities: German food from Brato Brewhouse + Kitchen and Swissbäkers, traditional German music from Daigle’s Beer Hall Boys and the Almighty Buck, a stein-hoisting competition, a dunk tank, and all the beer you can handle. A $10 cover includes a souvenir stein plus your first pour — ask for Idle Hands’s Brocktoberfest, or maybe their eighth anniversary beer: Clay, a German brown ale.
German fare at Bronwyn.
Where: Bronwyn
When: Thursday, Sept. 19–Sunday, Oct. 13, various times
Cost: No cover
Details: Somerville bratwurst and beer destination Bronwyn will offer a special menu during its almost month-long celebration of Oktoberfest. Order dishes like the wurst trio (knackwurst, bratwurst, and kielbasa), the bretzel ball, and the reibekuchen, a potato pancake. A long list of German beers will fill the menu, as well as cocktails like the Czech Yourself — Bronwyn’s version of a negroni.
Where: Aeronaut at Zone 3
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 from 1 p.m.–10 p.m.
Cost: $10–$30
Details: Raise a stein to Aeronaut’s Oktoberfest Allston, a party featuring live music from Daigle’s Beer Hall Boys and Lokensgard Blechblaser Ensemble. One liter steins can be purchased along with a ticket, or you can buy a ticket plus separate regular-sized pours (12- or 16-ounces based on style). With a stellar lineup of food trucks on-site — including Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Brato Brewhouse + Kitchen, and Eastern Standard Provisions — this is one Oktoberfest event worth putting your lederhosen on for.
Where: City Tap House
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m.–close
Cost: No cover
Details: The Fort Point restaurant’s patio will be transformed into a festive German beer garden on Sept. 21, complete with oompah band Ludwig and Auntie Hilda and live music from The Royal Furs. Fill your steins with Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Weihenstephaner, and other Oktoberfest-themed beers (available in half-liter and liter pours) while noshing on pretzels, bratwurst, and German chocolate cake. There will, of course, be a stein-holding contest — so maybe don’t drink too much beer beforehand.
Oktoberfest at Dorchester Brewing Co.
Where: Dorchester Brewing Co.
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Dorchester Brewing has plenty of projects under its belt, but it hasn’t forgotten about Oktoberfest. The brewery will pour steins of its Oktoberfest beer at this annual fête while music from a live German band provides the entertainment. Enjoy traditional German food from DJ’s European Market from 2 p.m.–8 p.m., music from the Hofbrau Spieler Band from 2 p.m.–6 p.m., and a piano sing-along and requests from Klipper Music from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m. The first 300 guests in line will score a free Oktoberfest mug.
Where: Night Shift Brewing (Everett)
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Night Shift may be expanding at a head-spinning rate, but they still make time to throw a party. The brewery’s original Everett location will throw an Oktoberfest shindig with new releases (Shimmer, Pfaffenheck, and Steinbier), Oktoberfest beer flights, food from Night Shift Eats and Brato Brewhouse + Kitchen, and German music from 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Put your stein-holding skills to work with a competition at 3 p.m.
Trillium is throwing its first Oktoberfest celebration.
Where: Trillium (Canton, Fenway, Fort Point, and Garden on the Greenway)
When: Saturday, Sept. 21, various times
Cost: No cover
Details: It’s hard to believe that this is the first time Trillium will be throwing an Oktoberfest party, but good things take time. At each of the brewery’s locations — Canton (noon–6 p.m.), Fenway (noon–8 p.m., on the lawn at 401 Park), Fort Point (noon–6 p.m.), and Garden on the Greenway (11 a.m.–10p.m.) — festivities will include Eastern Standard Provisions pretzels, live music, and so much beer. Trillium’s new Oktoberfest Wiesnbier will be tapped at noon and served alongside other brews that include Pilsner, Party Pump, Permutation 6.28, and a new session lager. Guests at Canton, Fenway, and Fort Point also have the chance to purchase limited edition, one-liter Trillium steins.
Where: Notch Brewing
When: Sunday, Sept. 22 from noon–8 p.m.
Cost: $20
Details: Notch Brewing in Salem is getting into the Oktoberfest spirit with an all-day fête that will take over both the beer hall and a portion of its parking lot. Enjoy oompah sounds from the Tubafrau Hofbräu Band while trying festive fare from Bambolina and Karl’s Sausage Kitchen & European Market, then wash it all down with specially brewed lagers (your $20 ticket includes a limited-edition steinkrug). Other entertainment will include a stein-holding contest, a dance-off, and prizes for the best lederhosen and dirndl.
Where: State Park
When: Monday, Sept. 23 from 5 p.m.–9 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Head to Kendall Square’s quirky watering hole for a lively Oktoberfest party, complete with liters of Jack’s Abby Copper Legend and a spirited stein-hoisting contest. Live music will be available on the patio.
The bocce court at Branch Line.
Where: Branch Line
When: Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Short and sweet, the Oktoberfest festivities at Branch Line take place over two hours on Sept. 24 — the perfect post-work event to enjoy a couple of beers. The Watertown restaurant will be hosting a stein-holding competition, and offering brews like Copper Legend from Jack’s Abby and Pearly Wit from Springdale Beer.
Where: Brewer’s Alley at Boston Harbor Hotel
When: Wednesday, Sept. 25–Saturday, Oct. 26; Monday–Friday from 4 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday from noon–10 p.m., Sunday from noon–8 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Brewer’s Alley launched as a pop-up at the Boston Harbor Hotel in May, and has been hosting a number of different breweries throughout the summer. For Oktoberfest, the pop-up is showcasing beers from eight breweries, including Shacksbury Cider, Notch Brewery, and Berkshire Brewing.
Jack’s Abby is introducing the launch of Copper Legend at its Oktoberfest celebration.
Where: Jack’s Abby
When: Friday, Sept. 27 from 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 28 from 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 29 from 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: The Framingham brewery is throwing a raucous Oktoberfest celebration with a three-day party that will introduce the brewery’s seasonal beer, Copper Legend. In addition to a handful of other German-style beers, Jack’s Abby is going all in with an oompah band, German food, stein hoistings, and plenty of decorations. VIP packages are available for purchase here.
Where: Samuel Adams Boston Brewery
When: Friday, Sept. 27 from 5 p.m.–8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 28 from noon–6 p.m.
Cost: $5
Details: Head to Jamaica Plain for an Oktoberfest celebration at Sam Adams Boston Brewery, a two-day party featuring live music, lawn games, food, and a stein-hoisting contest. Your $5 ticket includes a pint of Sam Adams’ classic Octoberfest beer; follow it up with more seasonal beers from one of Boston’s best-known breweries.
Remnant Brewing is hosting an Oktoberfest party at Bow Market.
Where: Bow Market
When: Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29 from noon–8 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Hosted by Remnant Brewing at Union Square’s Bow Market, the Somerville Oktoberfest gathering will bring together businesses from around the market for a festive, weekend-long celebration. Order a beer at the brewery and enjoy music in the courtyard, then head to Rebel Rebel for some curated German wines; Hooked Fish Shop for a pretzel roll with smoked salmon pate, grain mustard, and arugula; Saus for a Beyond sausage currywurst; and Maca for macarons featuring Remnant Brewing’s Fest Lager.
Where: Harpoon Brewery
When: Friday, Oct. 4 from 6:30 p.m.–11 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 5 from 1 p.m.–7 p.m.
Cost: $25–$42
Details: Harpoon’s annual Oktoberfest is back with their largest festival of the year, a multi-day celebration (plus Dogtoberfest on Sunday, Oct. 6) where guests can enjoy live oompah music, stein-hoisting competitions, and food from local vendors like The Bacon Truck, The Chubby Chickpea, Moyzilla, and more. Purchase tickets at the door for $25 (your first beer and a souvenir cup is included), or buy early access tickets for $30 (which includes your first beer and a cup) or $42 (which includes three beers and a cup); both allow you to get in an extra hour early each day.
Where: SoWa Open Market
When: Sunday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: Have you been to the beer garden at SoWa Open Market yet? There’s only a few weeks left until the outdoor garden closes for the summer, and it’s winding down with a bang: On Oct. 6, Littleton, N.H.-based Schilling Beer Co. will take over the beer garden, while a handful of food trucks and carts (Blackbird Doughnuts, Eastern Standard Provisions, Mr. Tamole, and more) provide bites. From noon–1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m–3:30 p.m., catch the TubaFrau Hofbrau Band providing the oompah soundtrack.
Where: Fairmont Copley Plaza
When: Friday, Oct. 11 from 7 p.m.–10 p.m.
Cost: $125
Details: The Fairmont Copley Plaza is hosting its own Oktoberfest celebration as other festivities around the city peter out, but it’ll be well worth the wait. Tickets include a flight of beer on Oak Long Bar + Kitchen’s patio, followed by a five-course dinner highlighting German fare: a mini soft pretzel with beer cheese, smoked bluefish pate, ham-wrapped figs, beer-braised pork belly and bratwurst, and black forest cake. Each dish comes with a pairing of German wine — hey, it can’t all be about beer.
Where: Beat Brew Hall
When: Friday, Oct. 11–Sunday, Oct. 13, various times
Cost: No cover
Details: The Harvard Square watering hole is transforming into a Bavarian beer hall for three days in October, with executive chef Colton Coburn-Wood serving sausages, pretzels, and sauerkraut in addition to his regular menu. Guests can partake in a stein-hoisting competition, listen to live music from The Mad Bavarian Brass Band, and drink from a solid lineup of German beer.
Where: 41st Annual Oktoberfest & 14th Annual HONK! Parade
When: Sunday, Oct. 13 from noon–6 p.m.
Cost: No cover
Details: This annual neighborhood block party and parade is part food festival, part arts and crafts fair, and part dance party. Stop by Harvard Square for global bites, five beer gardens, live music, and festive crafts.
