Enjoy the fun at a 2014 Oktoberfest in Virginia. Recruit your friends to attend one of these Oktoberfest celebrations. If you do, you’ll probably find that there are more than one million people claiming to be German in September and October. You may be dispersed, but 16 Oktoberfests in Virginia is a pretty healthy amount. Look one up and head on over:
2014 Events
St. Benedict Oktoberfest – Richmond, VA – September 19-21, 2014
This Richmond Oktoberfest was started in 2005 by Saint Benedict Parish. Free admission to German music, dancing, food and beverages. Double arm stein holding contest. Shop in the Christkindlmarkt. Activities available for all ages. Kid’s area has many activities including a moon bounce. They will have commemorative steins for purchase on site at the festival for $15 and includes a free drink ticket, larger pour and $1 off each beer for the entire weekend. Beer sample glasses with logo holding two ounces for $5. Beer samples are 1 ticket ($1). On street parking is permitted with limited parking available at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts parking deck for $5. Please leave your pets at home. Location: 300 N. Sheppard St., Richmond, VA 23221
Lovettsville Oktoberfest – Lovettsville, VA – September 26-28, 2014
Live music, beer, food vendors and games. Friday is their kickoff German dinner at the Community Center and Rock-toberfest under the main tent with a Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-along. Keg tapping ceremony on Saturday at Noon jumpstarts the full Oktoberfest experience. Contests include stein hoisting, stein hauling and the wiener dog races. Sunday is a little bit quieter, with a pancake breakfast, church service, musical instruction and no more street vendors. Main tent features home-cooked German food from Washington Saengerbund and an assortment of local and German beers. Street vendors on Saturday provide pretzels, crepes, pastries, pulled pork, crab fries, Thai food and more! Local restaurants also have special food and drink menus during the festival. Much of the event is free, including parking, admission, shuttles, music, dancing and kinderfest. Location: E Broad Way and S Loudoun St, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Frontier Culture Museum Oktoberfest – Staunton, VA – October 4, 2014
German food, beer garden, games and music at the Cochran Pavilion. Location: Frontier Culture Museum, 1290 Richmond Ave Staunton, VA 24401
Martinsville Oktoberfest Arts and Crafts Festival – Martinsville, VA – October 4, 2014
The 35th anniversary of this family friendly street festival. Beer garden with craft beer and German food. There will also be entertainment and on site food vendors. Children’s activities include petting zoo, carnival rides and inflatable bounce houses. Vendors sell arts and crafts, fine art, jewelry, home accents, holiday items and more. Free admission. Location: Church Street and Main Street in Uptown Martinsville
Vienna Oktoberfest – Vienna, VA – October 4, 2014
Oktoberfest drinks, food, entertainment and family friendly games. Hosted by the Vienna Business Association. Location: Church Street, Vienna VA
Haymarket Oktoberfest – Haymarket, VA – October 18, 2014
German food, beer, biergarten and live music. German costume contests and Halloween costume contest. Kids activity area has pumpkin painting and other children’s fun.
Oktoberfest Reston – Reston, VA – October 11-12, 2014
The Reston Oktoberfest ran by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce includes live music, Great Pumpkin 5K, chili cookoff, food from local restaurants and seasonal beers on tap.
Location: Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St Reston, VA 20190
Devils Backbone Brewing Company – Roseland – Sept 25, 2014
Special menu and craft beer from 11:30 AM to 10 PM.
Downtown Clarksville – October 3, 2014
Beer garden with live music, food and fall craft beer from 7-10 PM.
Richmond Oktoberfest – Mechanicsville, VA – October 17-18, 2014
This 46th Richmond Virginia Oktoberfest will be held at the Old Dominion Building at the Richmond International Raceway for the first time. German food, Bavarian Bier Garten with Warsteiner and Sam Adams Octoberfest, German dance music and folk dancers. Supervised kids games will take place in Kinder Korner. It runs nightly from 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Music by the Original Elbe Musikanten and the ACCA Sauerkraut Band. The feature band is the Washington Continentals. Also see the Hirschjaeger Bavarian folk dancers.
Location: 600 E Laburnum Ave Richmond, Virginia 23222
Capital Ale House Oktoberfest – Fredericksburg, VA – October 4, 2014.
Capital Ale House will celebrate Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg with Virginia beers, German food, live music, German dancers and Kinderplatz with kids activities. $2 cover charge benefits a local charity. Families are welcome but parent/guardian must accompany those under 21.
Location: 917 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA.
Capital Ale House Oktoberfest – Richmond, VA – September 27, 2014
Capital Ale House will celebrate Oktoberfest in Richmond with Virginia beers, German food, live music, German dancers and Kinderplatz with kids activities. $2 cover charge benefits a local charity. Families are welcome but parent/guardian must accompany those under 21.
Location: 623 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
Virginia Beach Craft Beer Festival – Virginia Beach, VA – October 18-19, 2014
50 breweries will offer samples of craft beer. Live music also.
Location: 24th Street Park, Virginia Beach, VA
Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest – Fort Belvoir, VA – October 2-5, 2014
This 18th annual Oktoberfest is a four day festival of German food, beer, music and dancing. Includes 10K walk and 5K challenge, carnival, kinder korner kids activity area, 21+ beer tent, Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest contest and more.
Location: Fremont Field, Constitution Rd and Goethals Rd, Fort Belvoir, VA, 22309, Fort Belvoir, VA
Mountain Lake Oktoberfest – Pembroke, VA – October 17-18, 2014
A Bavarian Bash and Harvest Festival with German food and beer, live music and family friendly entertainment. Reservations required. $10 cover charge.
Location: Mountain Lake Lodge, 115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke, VA 24136
Capitol City Oktoberfest – Shirlington, VA – October 4, 2014
This 15th annual Northern Virginia Oktoberfest will take place at The Village at Shirlington with 65+ breweries, authentic German band and food. Free to attend but $30 to sample beer (includes wristband, tasting glass and 10 tickets).
Location: 4001 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206
Strasburg Oktoberfest – Strasburg, VA – October 4, 2014
Bier Garden – Portsmouth, VA – October 4, 2014
Past Events
Wintergreen Performing Arts Oktoberfest – Wintergreen Resort, VA – September 14, 2013
Family event with German food, oompah music and local microbrewery beers in a beer garden. Admission is $20 per person, which includes unlimited tastings and 3 full glasses of beer. Non-drinker admission is $5 which includes two soft drinks. Food is purchased separate.
Location: Wintergreen Resort • Route 664, Wintergreen, VA 22958
AmRhein’s Oktoberfest – Bent Mountain, VA – October 5, 2013
Wine tasting, dancing, barrel rolling and riding competitions. Advance tickets (through October 4) are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 21.
Location: 9243 Patterson Drive, Bent Mountain, Virginia 24059
Some of these Oktoberfest parties might be on the smaller side. Try my list of the largest German festivals for Oktoberfest in the United States for the most popular and attended celebrations of German heritage. You should also check the lists of nearby states that also celebrate Oktoberfest: Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia.
Whether you have found a festival to enjoy or you will be celebrating from home, Funtober has some other resources that will help you prepare for Oktoberfest. Read about the history of Oktoberfest. Learn about Oktoberfest beer. Find the words to Oktoberfest music. Plan your Oktoberfest outfit. And try cooking some of these Oktoberfest recipes.
Find other fun things to do in Virginia in October:
Virginia Festivals
Virginia Corn Mazes
Virginia Ghost Tours
Haunted Houses in Virginia
Virginia Pumpkin Patches
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