Join us for Oktoberfest 2015 in Alabama. Only 5% of residents of Alabama claim German ancestry. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a good Alabama Oktoberfest. We are currently aware of eight events. Take a look at these festivals near Decatur, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile for some good German beer and food.
Last Major Update:
2015
St. Florian Oktoberfest – Florence, AL – October 4-5, 2014
The small town of Saint Florian outside of Florence has been celebrating its German heritage at Oktoberfest for just over 10 years. There are children’s activities and an antique trailer and engine show in addition to the German food.
Location: Michael’s Church
Alexander City Oktoberfest – Alexander City, AL – October 4-5, 2014
Alexander City will be celebrating its 34th annual Oktoberfest in 2014. There is usually musical entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, and a custom car and truck show. Admission is free.
Location: Charles E. Bailey Sportsplex, 1842 Sportplex Blvd Alexander City, AL 35010
Porktoberque – Dothan, AL – September 26-27, 2014
Last Year’s Description: Enjoy barbecue, beer and live music at this Oktoberfest celebration in Dothan. Free samples of craft beer from Folklore Brewery and Meadery on Friday from 6-8 in the Man Cave. The People’s Choice Tasting competition is on Saturday from 11-1. The New South Cruisers Car Show will be on Saturday as well. Two stages of musical acts will see performances by Random-Ax, Los Locos, Thrice Pierced, Polka Dots, and Big Jimmy. Cornhole tournament on Saturday with free practice rounds on Friday. Inflatables for kids both days.
Location: Houston County Farm Center, 1701 E Cottonwood Rd., Dothan, AL
Fort Rucker Oktoberfest – Fort Rucker, AL – September 26, 2014
Fort Rucker will be celebrating its 12th Oktoberfest in 2014 on the Festival Fields. Bratwurst, schnitzel, German beer and other traditional food will be served. Sonnenschein Express will play live German music. Kid-friendly activities will include crafts, inflatables and a pumpkin patch. Admission is free.
Location: Fort Rucker, AL 36362
Cullman Oktoberfest – Cullman, AL – October 4-11, 2014
The week long celebration of Oktoberfest in Cullman, an annual event starting on the first Saturday of October since 1982, became famous initially for its absence of alcohol sales. In October 2011, after voters passed a referendum allowing alcohol sales in Cullman, this Alabama Oktoberfest opened its first biergarten. In 2013, the Alabama Craft Biergarten at the Cullman Oktoberfest will have German style craft beers made by Alabama brewers such as Straight to Ale Brewing and Blue Pants Brewery. There’s a car show on October 5th at Depot Park. The crowning of Miss Oktoberfest happens on the first weekend as well. The last day of the event brings the wiener dog races, bratwurst eating contest, 2nd annual charity bedrace, third annual BBQ Challenge with world class barbeque chicken, pork ribs, pork and beef brisket, and the Oktoberfest 10K, 5K and 1 Mile fun run. The event concludes with the Burgermeister Ball. Music includes selections from Wolfgang Mortz and Terry Cavangh and the Alpine Express, among TBA acts. Cost: Events at the Festhalle and the Cullman County Museum are usually free. Events sponsored by other organizations may have an admission fee.
Location: 211 2nd Ave NE, Cullman, Alabama 35055 (Events are held at various locations around Cullman)
Redstone Arsenal MWR Oktoberfest – Huntsville, Alabama – September 11-14, 2014
The annual three or four day Oktoberfest in the middle of September hosted by the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare & Recreation at Redstone Arsenal is open to the public. Enter through Gate 10 on Jordan Lane/Patton Road. Admission is $12-15 depending on day and includes parking, carnival rides and other entertainment. Hours are posted on their website. Last year: German music was played by Terry Cavanagh & the Alpine Express.
Location: Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL 35808
The Original Birmingham Oktoberfest – Birmingham, Alabama – September 11-13, 2014
The FDSK German Culture Club in Birmingham hosts an annual three day Oktoberfest at Das Haus. The FDSK (Freunde Deutscher Sprache und Kultur) was founded by German immigrants in 1965 and moved to its present location in 1970. Last year’s event: The 33rd annual event in 2013 will have its opening ceremony with keg tap on Friday at 5 PM with the Dachsund parade and Kinderfest (Children’s Festival) on Saturday. Live music will be played by Europa and Wolfgang Mortiz will play music Friday and Saturday evening with a cover price of $10.
Location: 2318 2nd Ave North, Birmingham, AL 35204
Plantation House and Gardens – Millbrook, AL – Friday nights in October
During the month of October, Renate’ Lindsey, a classically trained chef from Germany, will be serving a German buffet every Friday night at her restaurant. Traditional favorites such as pork schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut, red cabbage and apples, spaetzle, apple strudel and other delicious items will be featured.
Last Year’s Events
Fairhope Sunset Rotary Oktoberfest – Fairhope, AL – October 19, 2013
A charity Oktoberfest with beer stein holding competition, live music from the Europa band and Dr. Music, and a yodeling contest for children. Proceeds will benefit 5 area schools.
Location: De La Mare Avenue, Fairhope, AL
We hope you enjoy these German celebrations for Oktoberfest. Alabama residents: be sure to tell us which one you liked best!
Please confirm dates, locations and activities available at the Oktoberfest before going. That’s one reason that we provide a website address when we find one. We attempt to ensure that the information for each Oktoberfest is accurate but there are bound to be a few errors. If you let us know when you find one, we will fix it. In some cases, we may link to the 2014 event when information for 2015 is not available. Do not be fooled.
The festivals listed range in size. Some events may have hundreds of thousands of attendees. Others may have only a handful. We’re sorry that we don’t have more information about attendance numbers at the moment. We will do our best to add this information as time goes on.
Professionalism varies as well. Some Oktoberfests are professional operations with large budgets. Others are local operations run by volunteers. Do your due diligence before making plans to attend so that you know what to expect. We will happily publish information about your experience with any Oktoberfest so that our visitors will be better informed in the future.
Some Oktoberfests are more family friendly than others. If you have small children, look for an Oktoberfest that has activities for kids. Other events start out with family friendly activities and become more adult oriented as it becomes later in the evening.
Not all Oktoberfest celebrations will be authentic German festival experiences. Some may simply be an excuse to drink rather than celebrate German heritage. Some may call themselves Oktoberfest but provide local or seasonal beer rather than authentic German Oktoberfest beer. Be sure to consider the type of celebration that you are looking to attend when you pick your Oktoberfest.
Activities offered at each Oktoberfest varies. Some activities that you may find are parades, keg tapping ceremony, beer gardens, Miss Oktoberfest or costume contests, stein holding contests, bratwurst eating contest, chicken dance, wiener races, keg toss, live German bands and local entertainment, polka dancing and fairground games. Some Oktoberfest events will just have beer and brats.
Please don’t drink and drive. We want everyone to get home safe. Use a designated driver or take public transportation.
Do you run one of the Oktoberfests listed? Feel free to send us additional information and we will add it. We apologize for any errors: send us corrections when you find them!
Try my list of the largest festivals for Oktoberfest in the United States or check the list of nearby states for more parties: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
We’ve got some other resources that would help you prepare for Oktoberfest as well. 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 Alabama in October:
Alabama Festivals
Alabama Corn Mazes
Alabama Ghost Tours
Haunted Houses in Alabama
Alabama
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