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2023 Oktoberfest events are all over the U.S. like other festivals showing up annually in the early autumn. And during the fall, the Northeast in the U.S. is a great area to watch the autumn leaves fall backdrop. 🍂
Oktoberfest is edibly known for bratwurst, soft pretzels, German potato salad, large drumsticks, beer, and German desserts. Pennsylvania Dutch 🥨 with German mustard, please!
Sometimes there’s a Kirchdorfer band.. and t.here’s always fun lederhosen leather and dirndl bodice with full skirt 👗
Oktoberfest costumes that were once the work attire for farmers and peasants. They’d probably laugh at our suspenders and denim today. 😅
And our modern Oktoberfest tradition started in Munich, Germany in 1810 as a wedding celebration 👰♂️for the crown prince of Bavaria (…and reminds me of the make-believe Genovia in Princess Diaries for Genovia). The Oktoberfest events in U.S. today are definitely a celebration in spirit. 🇩🇪
And I got a ‘lil Oktoberfest German inspiration from The Great Britisth Baking Show… making my own gingerbread cookies batches that has become an Advent Christmas tradition.
You probably remember your first Oktoberfest event you experienced that could’ve been with desserts
…My first Oktoberfest event was under the pavilion at the Reston Town Center.
Every year for several years, the winter ice skating rink was transformed into the famous German fest with blue and white checkered tablecloth tables.
And if you’re an Oktobest fan-goer, the ones below in the Northeast U.S. are worth a visit for the cool landscape.
The question is…
To kid or not?… while Oktoberfests are as common as county fairs, they differ in that these events are often more adult-friendly than family-friendly.
It’s kinda like deciding whether to take your kids to a concert or not. 💭 And good to research in advance. If you see gallery photos from previous years of beer pitchers 🍻on tables as the main focus, then probably better to keep the kiddos at home.
…But then if a petting zoo is on the agenda or you see kiddos in photos, then you know. And good to check out the plan in advance anyway, as some Oktoberfest have healthy adult mountain climbs and other exciting annual opps you don’t wanna miss… but remember, it’s rooted as a fun German ground fest with the Chicken Dance and not a serious yodeling Swiss Alps fest.
2023 Oktoberfest Events to Check Out
Bier Garden Oktoberfest in Portsmouth, Virginia (my home state ❤️) – Saturday, September 30.
Das Best Oktoberfest in Baltimore, MD – Saturday, October 28
Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest in Newark, DE – September 15-17
Bavarian Oktoberfest in Canonsburg, PA – September 15-17
Oktoberfest in Portland, Maine – September 7 (where you can drive up the Maine coast to Bar Harbor and stay at a fab boutique hotel on the water)
And if you prefer to stay inland in the middle of the state, then Rangeley, Maine could be your Oktoberfest on October 8 (with cider seltzers and a 5K mountain opportunity).
New York Oktoberfest in New York City (on Pier 15)- September 8 – October 29. There’s no Little Germany, but this could be what you’re looking for.
Mountain Creek Resort 35th Annual Oktoberfest – September 21 – 22. There’s even a lodging boutique onsite.
