The Best Oktoberfest Celebrations and Events in
New Jersey
Discover New Jersey's Top Oktoberfest Celebrations and Events
Oktoberfest is a German celebration of Bavarian traditions with huge amounts of beer, food, German music, singing, and traditional Bavarian costumes.
With increased worldwide popularity, New Jersey Oktoberfests have become a popular fall event and with Oktoberfest celebrations found throughout the state just a short driving distance of their home.
The original "Oktoberfest" occurred in Munich, Germany in 1810 to celebrate the October 12th marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to the Saxon-Hildburghausen Princess Therese. Today it continues in Munich to become the world's largest beer festival. Oktoberfest is an event that takes place during the 16 days before the first Sunday in October. However this event can stretch to 17 days when the 1st Sunday is October 2 and 18 days when it is October 1st.
Oktoberfest isn't just for Germans anymore. Oktoberfest has now become a very popular world wide festival. Today the largest Oktoberfests are held in Munich and Cincinnati.
Most of the New Jersey Oktoberfest celebrations are shortened, scaled down versions, and usually occur over a day or two during the traditional Oktoberfest , during the 16 days before the first Sunday in October, although some bar/tavern venues have made it a weekend event stretching to the end of October.
Authentic Oktoberfests are celebrated with performers wearing the traditional German costumes with the men dressed in Sennerhut, Lederhosen, and the girls in Dirndl. German attendees are often found wearing Bavarian hats (Tirolerhüte). In the past, the more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be. Though nowadays this is no longer the case as the tufts are synthetic and everybody can look as wealthy as they like.
Oktoberfest attendees can often be seen with a stein of German beer is in one hand and the other holding a wurst or sausage. Additional foods are served in large portions from oxen and whole split roasted chickens to a variety of sausages steamed and served with sauerkraut and onions.
Of course, the big draw is the German Beer. Oktoberfest is more than a celebration, it is also a style of bier. Authentic Oktoberfest bier is brewed very much like the reddish-amber Marzen beer that was served at the Crown Prince Ludwig's wedding in 1810. Today, however Oktoberfest biers in Germany tend to be lighter in color and body than the traditional Marzen style. However, American craft breweries have a slightly different style of brewing Oktoberfest biers that are often slightly higher in alcohol, richer in hops aroma and flavor, and redder in hue than the European fest biers
In The USA, the onset of fall, and especially the winter, will find the better quality, more flavorful beers will begin to replace the lighter, less flavorful beers typically found in the summer.
COVID-19 executive orders in effect apply to large outdoor public gatherings such as concerts, festivals, and fireworks, and are limited to 500 persons.
indoor performance venues, including concert venues can reopen. Face masks and social distancing will be required and capacity will be capped at the lesser of either 25% of the venue's capacity, or 150 people.. Indoor nightclubs that have dance floors have to remain closed. Restaurants and bars may resume indoor dining at 25% capacity and with social distancing between tables
With near term cancellations occurring at a rapid rate, and despite trying to remove them as soon as we learn of the cancellations or restrictions, we recommend viewers contact the event sponsors before heading out to a listed event to confirm their status.
Stay tuned --- we will be updating this list as the event sponsors confirm this year's events.
Northern New Jersey 2020 Oktoberfests
Germania Park OktoberfestSeptember 19, 20, 2020
Germania Park
56 Conger Street
Dover, New Jersey
(973) 328-9693
Website
This event featres a celebration of German heritage with live German music, beer, food, and the Steuben Parade.
Germania Park has been dedicated to preserving German culture since 1895.
Mountan Creek Oktoberfest
September 19, 20, 2020
Red Tail Lodge at Mountain Creek
200 Route 94
Vernon,NJ 07462
Website & Reservations
Like most things these days it will not look or feel like the Oktoberfests of past. This year Oktoberfest will have a more personal and limited feel, focused around sharing some good food, drink and entertainment together (in a socially distant way of course). Details on our Oktoberfest: Bavarian Feast offering will be coming shortly. Please check back later for more details.
Hackettstown Oktoberfest
September 25, 26, 27, 2020; 12pm-8pm
Czig Meister Platz
106 Valentine St,
Hackettstown, NJ
908-850-5004
Website
This annual event hosted by Bea McNally's, Czig Meister Brewing Co., Homebrew University and Man Skirt Brewing will celebrate Oktoberfest with activities, contests, music, drinks and food at their Platz through regular operating hours. This Oktoberfest is a family friendly event; there will also be a variety of non-alcohol related activities. Czig Meister will have a celebratory keg tapping on Saturday at 12:30PM, including a packed schedule of activities.
Signup for activities and contests will be available at each Platz (brewery) corresponding to location. Sign-up begins at 12PM.
PLATZ LOCATIONS: Czig Meister Brewing (106 Valentine St.) Man Skirt Brewing (144 Main St.) Homebrew University (156 Main St.) Bea McNally's (109 Grand Ave.)
Deutscher Club of Clark's Oktoberfest
October 3, 4, 2020: 12 PM - 10 PM
Deutscher Club of Clark
787 Featherbed Lane
Clark NJ
Website
Open to the Public - Tickets:$10, $5 for members/ Free for children under 12.
This event will feature live music byThe Alex Meixner Band and Doppelgänger, a Masskrugstemmen (stein holding contest), traditional German food and beer, a pig roast, and more!
The Craft Show @ Oktoberfest
Saturday October 10, 2020, 10am - 5pm
Demarest Nature Center
Duck Pond
38 Park St
Demarest, NJ
Website
This event features a high quality craft show with up to 75 crafts persons bringing their handmade crafts in many medias. It's a great place for holiday shopping, for gifts, or for items for your own use and enjoyment. There will be German music, German food, water and soft drinks; Korean delicacies; inflatable games. While at the fair visit the Demarest Nature Center and environmental information tables. All proceeds go to benefit The Demarest Nature Center.
Franklin Lakes Oktoberfest
Friday, October 16, 2020; 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
McBride Field
813 Franklin Lake Rd
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417�
Website
The 17th Annual Oktoberfest hosted by Tony & Phyllis Chernalis and The Market Basket. Join us underneath the big tent at McBride Field! Enjoy an authentic Oktoberfest celebration! Festivities include German food and beer, live music, a game tent, and a beer stein-hoisting competition!
Central New Jersey 2020 Oktoberfests
Annual German American Society of Trenton OktoberfestFriday, September 25, Saturday September 26, & Sunday, September 27, 2020
215 Uncles Pete's Road
Trenton, NJ 08691-3733
Website
609-585-5200
Tickets will be sold in advance. Friday or Sunday $10, Saturday $15, or the entire weekend for $25.
It will be different, but the music, food, and bier will still be awesome. We are adding a Friday night opener to accommodate our reduced fest guest allowance of 500. The Adlers Band will open up the festivities on Friday from 5-10 pm, with a perfect blend of Austrian,
Oktoberfest at Raceway Park
October 24, 2020; Session One 12-4pm, Session Two 5-9pm
Raceway Park
230 Pension Road
Englishtown NJ 07726
732-446-7800
Website/Tickets
Cost: $65, designated driver $15
This event features a sampling of selections from over 30 tri-state area breweries in a safe and fun outdoor setting. Lagers, IPAs, Stouts, Pilsners, wines, hard seltzers,. Attendees will be provided with your commemorative sampling glass. Other features include gourmet food vendors, live bands and a variety of games, including corn hole and hatchet tossing! What you get: Pay one fee to get in, and all drinks are on the house! You will receive a five ounce souvenir glass with a two ounce pour line sponsored by Ultimate Collision of Edison. You are welcome to sample any and all beers that our brewers have.
Southern New Jersey 2020 Oktoberfests
Awaiting confirmation of 2020 events --- Stay tuned
