Oktoberfest, NC-style: German heritage celebrations across the state
Grab your dirndl or lederhosen and get ready for some German-style food and fun at these Oktoberfest events in North Carolina.
Oktoberfest only comes once a year—and North Carolinians really know how to celebrate. From authentic foods, like bratwurst, schnitzel, and soft pretzels, to traditional activities, such as stein-holding competitions and weiner dog races, the Tar Heel State’s Oktoberfest parties have it all. Whether you’re of German heritage or just want to drink beer and try traditional food from Germany, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to celebrate in North Carolina.
Keep reading to learn about the 20 best Oktoberfest celebrations taking place in North Carolina this year. Prost!
1. Mecktoberfest
Mecktoberfest will be held over four weekends at two different locations. The German celebration is hosted by The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, which will release its one-liter glass boots at the start of the festival on Sept. 12 at its LoSo location. Fill das boot with the brewery’s award-winning beers, or try a cocktail, cider, or glass of wine or prosecco.
German fare, such as pretzels with beer cheese, sausage, and schnitzel, will be served. The entertainment lineup includes live music and a stein-holding competition.
Date: Sept. 12-14, Sept. 19-21, Oct. 3-5, and Oct. 10-12
Cost: Free
Address: The first two weekends will take place at 4150 Yancey Rd., Charlotte. The October events will be held at 15025 Bowl St., Charlotte.
2. Glide Brewery Oktoberfest
Glide Brewery Oktoberfest spans three weekends—all packed with German-themed revelry and entertainment. From stein-holding showdowns and stein shuffles to keg tappings and live music, attendees can enjoy all the classic Oktoberfest activities.
Glide’s menu of German fare, which includes dishes like Bavarian bratwurst, currywurst, warm salted pretzels served with German cheese dip, schnitzel, and döner, will be available at the event, as will the brewery’s extensive German beer list.
Date: Sept. 19-21, Sept. 26-28, and Oct. 3-5
Cost: Free
Address: Glide Brewery, 3530 Dewitt Ln., Charlotte
3. High Country Oktoberfest 2025
High Country Oktoberfest will take place at Appalachian Mountain Brewery, founded by two cousins of German heritage with a love for North Carolina. The one-day celebration will kick off with an owner’s toast, followed by a stein-hoisting contest, carnival games, and live music.
Try the brewery’s special release Von Watzdorf Oktoberfest Märzen Lager paired with German fare, including pretzels, traditional brats, veggie brats, and German potato salad, as well as wood-fired pizza.
Date: Sept. 20
Cost: $5
Address: Appalachian Mountain Brewery, 163 Boone Creek Dr., Boone
4. Lafayette Village Oktoberfest
At Lafayette Village Oktoberfest, attendees can treat themselves to German-inspired foods and seasonal brews, listen to live music, shop at local small businesses, and cheer on speedy dachshunds during multiple wiener dog races.
Date: Sept. 20
Cost: $25 registration fee for the weiner dog races
Address: 8450 Honeycutt Rd., Raleigh
5. B/S/H Oktoberfest Fundraiser
Support a worthy cause while celebrating Oktoberfest at the B/S/H Oktoberfest Fundraiser. The event is hosted by the New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club to raise funds for the organization’s charitable projects. Tap your feet to popular Oktoberfest tunes or test your strength in the traditional stein-holding contest.
Fuel up with German-style fare, including bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, giant Bavarian pretzels, and German mustard, and sip on wine and beer, including a special Oktoberfest beer brewed exclusively for the event.
A tapping of the keg party will take place a few days before the festival on Sept. 24.
Date: Sept. 27
Cost: $35 for advance tickets or $40 at the door, with discounts available for active-duty military members and children
Address: Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County, 203 S. Front St., New Bern
6. Oktoberfest Half Marathon & 5K
For a more unique take on Oktoberfest, check out the Oktoberfest Half Marathon & 5K at Hi-Wire Brewing. Race through the mountains of North Carolina and treat yourself to craft beer at Hi-Wire Brewing afterward. If you’re not a serious runner, try the 5K, which includes costume awards and middle-of-the-pack awards.
Hi-Wire Brewing will have an authentic German food truck on-site on Friday, Sept. 26 for the marathon packet pickup and pre-festivities. On race day, the brewery will host an Oktoberfest party with food trucks, a local vendor market, contests, games, face painting for the kids, and a pumpkin patch.
Date: Sept. 27
Cost: 5K registration costs $66.18, and half-marathon registration is $103.63.
Address: Hi-Wire Brewing’s River Arts District Beer Garden, 284 Lyman St., Asheville
7. Charlotte Oktoberfest
The Charlotte Oktoberfest pub crawl will take participants to at least four different venues, where seasonal and discounted drinks will be offered. The Oktoberfest pub crawl will also feature live music and an official after party.
Date: Sept. 27
Cost: Early-bird tickets (purchased by September 12) start at $7.65.
Address: Check-in takes place at Slingshot Social Game Club (332 W. Bland St., Charlotte).
8. Oktoberfest in Andrews
Oktoberfest in Andrews will feature a beer and wine garden where guests can sip pours from local breweries and wineries, live music on two stages, food trucks, and a dedicated food court where bratwurst with German potato salad, Bavarian-style pretzels, and other authentic fare will be served.
There will also be a family fun zone, a street market with local arts and crafts vendors, and plenty of festival games and activities, such as a stein-holding competition, a Bavarian costume contest, axe throwing and cornhole, a photo booth, and giant Jenga.
Date: Sept. 27
Cost: Free
Address: Main St., Andrews
9. Pilot Brewing Oktoberfest
Pilot Brewing Oktoberfest will kick things off with a cask tapping of the brewery’s special Oktoberfest beer. The one-day celebration will also feature stein-holding contests, a rock, paper, scissors tournament, and food from CraftDCreationZ Charcuterie Cart.
Date: Sept. 27
Cost: Free
Address: Pilot Brewing, 1331 Central Ave., Ste. 104, Charlotte
10. Oktoberfest at Gizmo Brew Works
Get ready for a full day of beer, brats, and Bavarian-style fun at Oktoberfest at Gizmo Brew Works. Sip seasonal pours in specialty glassware, sample German-style eats from local food trucks, listen to live music, and test your skills by participating in various contests and yard games.
Date: Sept. 27
Cost: Free
Address: Gizmo Brew Works, 5907 Triangle Dr., Raleigh
11. Oktoberfest on the Beach
Experience Oktoberfest in a unique setting at Oktoberfest on the Beach, hosted by Carolina Beach Pier. This seaside celebration will feature an oompah band, a pumpkin patch, a stein-holding contest, and tons of German-inspired food and drinks.
Date: Sept. 28
Cost: Free
Address: 1800 Carolina Beach Ave. N., Carolina Beach
12. Triangle Oktoberfest
Triangle Oktoberfest will begin with a keg tapping during the opening ceremony, followed by a fun lineup of events, such as wiener dog races, stein-hoisting competitions, a Miss and Mr. Oktoberfest contest, and musical performances. The Kinder Platz will feature fun for the kids, including face painting, yard games, and inflatables. Traditional Bavarian food will be served, as well as plenty of beer, including local seasonal brews and German varieties.
Event proceeds will benefit the Triangle Oktoberfest Rotary Foundation.
Date: Oct. 3-4
Cost: Tickets start at $20 for attendees who are 16 years or older. Admission is free for kids 15 years or younger.
Address: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary
13. Asheville Oktoberfest
More than 20 Western North Carolina breweries and beverage producers will head to Asheville Oktoberfest, and each one will bring up to three beverages, meaning attendees have more than 60 options to sip and sample at the one-day event.
Food trucks will serve German eats to soak up all the brews, and there will also be live music and Oktoberfest games for entertainment.
Date: Oct. 4
Cost: Free
Address: Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville
14. Oktoberfest at Optimist Hall
Oktoberfest at Optimist Hall will pack tons of German-inspired fun into a single day. Those with a competitive spirit can challenge themselves in a stein-holding or keg-rolling contest, while patrons who prefer a more relaxing experience can listen to live polka music and snack on German-inspired menu items. There will also be crafts to keep the kids entertained.
Date: Oct. 4
Cost: Free
Address: 1115 Brevard St., Charlotte
15. Oktoberfest Weekend at Pluck Farm
Oktoberfest Weekend at Pluck Farm will have all the Oktoberfest essentials: live bands, stein-hoisting competitions, a Bavarian bouncy castle, lawn games, soft pretzels, brats, and of course, beer. Other food options include hot dogs, Raclette, cheese boards, and tinned fish boards. In addition to craft beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, including a non-alcoholic Oktoberfest beer, will also be served. Festive attire is encouraged, so come dressed in your dirndl or lederhosen.
Date: Oct. 4-5
Cost: Free
Address: Pluck Farm, 6901 NC-54 West, Mebane
16. Hickory’s Oktoberfest
Hickory’s Oktoberfest will offer three days of German-style food and fun, including performances by 10 bands on two stages, multiple food vendors, and crafts. The event will take place in Downtown Hickory, which is home to a wide variety of local shops and restaurants worth visiting after the festival.
Date: Oct. 10-12
Cost: Free
Address: Union Square NW, Hickory
17. McAdenville Oktoberfest
The inaugural McAdenville Oktoberfest, presented by The River Room and 115 Craft, is sure to be a prost-worthy event. Expect stein- and keg-holding challenges, competitive brat eating, a best-dressed competition, live performances, and mouth-watering food.
Date: Oct. 11
Cost: Free
Address: 115 Main St., McAdenville
18. Sugar Mountain Resort Oktoberfest
For a weekend of fall fun, head to Sugar Mountain Resort’s Oktoberfest event. The two-day party will feature fall foliage chairlift rides, an artisan market, a Bavarian costume contest, and a children’s fun center. Food and drink options will include bratwurst and knockwurst, made by Geier’s Sausage Kitchen, German potato salad, sauerkraut, strudel, soft pretzels, and plenty of beer.
Date: Oct. 11-12
Cost: Free
Address: Sugar Mountain Resort, 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr., Sugar Mountain
19. Smithfield Oktoberfest & Harvest Market
Eat, drink, and shop at the Smithfield Oktoberfest & Harvest Market. Enjoy craft beer and German food, a vendor market featuring local goods, traditional pub games, and a kids’ zone. There will also be a Children’s Entrepreneur Market, where creative, busy-savvy local kids can showcase and sell handmade goods and products.
Date: Oct. 11
Cost: Free
Address: 200 S. Front St., Smithfield
20. Apex Oktoberfest
Apex Oktoberfest will have all the Oktoberfest bases covered: musical performances, beer from local breweries, a kids’ zone with a bounce house and face painting, and food trucks serving brats, pierogi, and soft pretzels.
Date: Oct. 11
Cost: Free
Address: Apex Town Hall Campus, 73 Hunter St., Apex
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