I am sure Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese never imagined the many unique and funny names that US cities choose as Oktoberfest names. The Royal marriage occurred on October 12, 1810. Now 200 years later the October celebration begins in Munich in September. So ok a September festival named Oktoberfest seems a little funny. Well German weather in October can be a little rough. So why not move it to the better climate in September.
Top Oktoberfest Names That Will Make You Laugh
Here in the US we have Oktoberfest celebrations beginning in August and running well into November. Here are some of the 25 funniest names organizers have chosen for their special events.
Porktoberque – Dothan, AL – September 26-27, 2014
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.
Rocktoberfest - Jacksonville, AR – October 4, 2014
Experience Oktoberfest with live music, an art festival, a car show, beer garden, food booths, golf and more. Event is held at the Little Rock Air Force Base.
Sactoberfest – October 10-12, 2014
Second annual event on the West Sacramento Riverfront. They have extended it to three days this year and will bring in a giant, Munich-style beer hall tent. Craft beer, local food, carnival rides, stein-holding and other German festivities.
Stocktoberfest – Stockton, CA – October 4, 2014
Beers and brats on the waterfront from 2-9 PM (1 PM for VIPs). 21+ only. Craft beers, home brews, sausage, chicken dance-off, keg lifting and beer stein holding competitions. Live classic rock and accordion music. General admission ticket prices are $15 on their website. Save $2 off beer when dressed in costume! Food vendor Delroy Grill is back with their featured hit grilled oysters. They have 10 featured beers including Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest. Located: Outdoor Amphitheatre, 445 West Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA.
FORToberfest – Fort Collins, CO – September 19-20, 2014
A celebration of Fort Collins with live music, seasonal beer from 6+ Fort Collins breweries and bicycle booths. Music lineup ranges from funk to bluegrass to rock and indie. Friday night headliner is 12 Cents for Marvin (from Fort Collins) and Saturday headliners The Railbenders (Alt Country music) and P-Nuckle (reggae). Costumes are encouraged. Free admission. Thousands are expected to participate. The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant is expected to be back with the remote Rio Patio and their famous Margaritas on Saturday. Location: Downtown Fort Collins (Walnut St. and Old Town Square.
Steamboat OktoberWest – Steamboat Springs, CO – September 19-21, 2014
The 6th Annual Oktoberfest with a western twist. Rocky Mountain beer and local food and festivities instead of German beer. Cruiser bike parade Suds & Grub on Friday. OktoberWest is Saturday with live music, beer garden with over 20 Colorado brewers and the I Love Beef Cook Off. Yampa Street Live on Sunday has more beer, western music and line dancing. Festival admission is free but there is a cost to enter the cook off tasting and beer garden. Location: 2305 Mt Werner Cir, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
OktoBREWfest – Greeley, CO – September 26-27, 2014
Location: Lincoln Park (8th Street & 9th Avenue), Greeley CO
The Greeley Oktoberfest changed its name in 2013 to reflect the focus on specialty brews, VIP tasting tent and expanded musical entertainment. But the same German traditions will still take place. Event kicks off Friday evening with brats, beer, games and a free concert. Huge children’s area on Saturday along with more music, food and specialty beer. Stein lifting, pie eating, volleyball and life size beer pong contests.
Volgafest – Windsor, CO – September 27, 2014
Pretty sure this used to be called an Oktoberfest, but it is up on their website in 2014 as Volgafest, celebrating Windsor’s Volga German heritage. Location: Community Recreation Center, 250 N. 11th Street, Windsor CO
Jaxtoberfest – Jacksonville, FL – October 10-11, 2014
Crosstoberfest – Sun Valley, ID – October 17-18, 2014
This annual event in October combines a cyclocross race with a beerfest. The beerfest features around 100 beers from over 20 breweries. Beer festival garden is for 21+ only, but there are plenty of other acitivities for kids and families. An all access pass for Friday evening and Saturday is $25. Riders get discounted tickets to the festival with race registration. 2014 is the 11th annual event.
Location: Old Cutters Park, Hailey, ID
Blocktoberfest at St. Leonard School – Berwyn, IL – September 27th, 2014
Live Music, food and beer at this family event with kids activities. Free Admission. Rain Date is Sunday. Location: 3318 Clarence Ave, Berwyn, IL
Fort Wayne OktoBEERfest – September 13, 2014
A beer festival organized by Mad Anthony that has been happening for more than ten years. Try more than 100 Indiana beers from 20 regional craft brewers. Price of ticket includes souvenir glass and unlimited tastings. Golf outing happens the day before, Sept. 12th at Bridgewater at 1 PM. Location: Headwater’s Park West, Fort Wayne, IN
OAKtoberfest – Syracuse, IN – October 11, 2014
Join the Oakwood Resort, Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and Chautauqua-Wawasee for the second annual “Oak”toberfest. This German festival will include children’s activities, German food, live music, beer tent, chicken dance and more! Location: Oakwood Resort
Augustoberfest – Hagerstown, MD – August 23-24, 2014
This annual Oktoberfest pays tribute to the area’s rich German heritage and supports exchange students from its sister city in Wiesel, Germany. Tickets are $5. The event kicks off Saturday at 8 am with a 5Km and 10Km Fit Walk. Activities last all day until 10 pm. The children’s area opens at noon with a Punch and Judy show, a magic show, arts, crafts, and storytelling. For adult the hospitality tent opens at 11 am. Music is provided by the Heidi and Heimat Echo, and Die Schlauberger bands. On Sunday the huge German Car Show starts at 10:30 am. Also don’t miss the German Brunch from 11 am until 2 pm.
Crabtoberfest – Cambridge, MD – September 27, 2014
German beer, food, music and dancing from 5 to 10 PM on Saturday. Serving Paulaner beer, Sam Adams Octoberfest and Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale. Musical entertainment will include Enzian Vokstanzgruppe, Liab’ und Schneid, and Echte Freunde (from Germany!). General admission is $5. Rain location is Minette-Dick Hall in Cambridge. Location: 200 Byrn St Cambridge, MD 21613
Frostoberfest – Frostburg, MD – September 27, 2014.
The little community of Frostburg seems to go all out for events. Their theme for the city is “Frostburg – It’s Just Cooler Here!” They will hold their 2nd annual event celebrating German heritage. This street festival feature German culture, food, music, and bier gardens. They have a kid zone, local crafts, and more. It runs from 1:00 pm to 2:00 am.
Parktoberfest – Parkville, MO – October 4, 2014
6th annual day at the park with live music, beer garden and fun for kids including the Little King & Queen Parktoberfest contests. The morning starts off with a 5K run followed by a family run. Admission is free but a suggested $10 park donation helps the Friends of Parkville Parks complete restoration projects. Location: English Landing Park, Parkville, MO 64152
Okto Beerfest – Lincoln – October 9, 2014
Celebrate their 21st year on October 9, 2014 with over 200 different beers from around the world, food from 20 to 30 top area restaurants and caterers, live auction and music featuring bag pipers and the Wilber Alumni Czech band.
Location: Lancaster Event Center
Schnitzelfest – Hillsborough, NH – Sept 27, 2014
The Greater Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce presents our 12th annual Schnitzelfest at Butler Park in the heart of the downtown in Hillsborough, New Hampshire on Saturday, September 27, 2014. They say it is the best German food outside of Germany, right in downtown Hillsborough, NH! Authentically prepared schnitzel, sauerkraut, potato salad, breads and incredible cakes and pastries served under the tent. Beer and wine bar, souvenirs, and craft vendors. Entertainment, including the Zauer Kraut Bavarian band. Enjoy tasty German cuisine, oom-pah music, and shopping in beautiful historic Hillsborough. Buy your tickets early and avoid the lines.
Xfinity Live Xtoberfest – Philadelphia, PA – September 27, 2014
3rd Annual event with beer garden tent and music from multiple DJs in seven different event areas. Sample 150+ beers from participating breweries in your custom beer stein and enjoy Oktoberfest-style foods. Purchase the X-treme VIP to get in one hour early and taste special vip-only German beers all day long. Contests will include the crowning of Mr. and Mrs. X-Toberfest, eating contests (hot dogs, pretzels, etc), stein holding contest. They are going to have a selection of pumpkin beers as well as exclusive beer launches from Victory Brewing Company. Dance on the tables in Victory Beer Hall, ride the mechanical bull or take part in the complimentary body painting. Silent auction of sports memorabilia with proceeds going to charity. They sold out in advance last year, so don’t rely on being able to purchase tickets at the door. Early Bird tickets are $15 for designated driver, $30 for general admission and $40 for VIP. Tickets include Free Parking in Lots S & T. For those not familiar with the venue, XFINITY Live! is the sports entertainment venue located next to the Wells Fargo Center and across the street from Citizens Bank Park. Location: 1100 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148
Bloktoberfest – Philadelphia, PA – October 11, 2014
Four blocks of South Street from Broad to 18th Street in Philly will be closed to traffic for this non profit event with live music, craft beer and food. I have been to this event. Now celebrating its 6th year it runs from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Admission to enter is free. This is a big city festivals with well over 100,000 attendees.
Location: South Street and Broad, Philadelphia, PA
AustOberfest – Austin – Sept 27, 2014
Celebrate your German heritage in Central Texas with German beer, sausages, live music and bowling. Austin Saengerrunde will host the 2nd annual event at Saengerrunde Hall and Scholz Bier Garten (1607 San Jacinto Blvd). Nine beer options from Paulaner and Hacker Pschorr. Unlivinted German-style sausages, mustards and sides. Sausage tasting is from 1-5 PM. Rooftop beer garden and live music from Czech polka band Czech Melody Masters and honky tonk band The Derailers. All inclusive tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door.
Butte-toberfest – Butte, MT – September 20, 2014
6th Annual Oktoberfest featuring 15 Montana Breweries, food, stein races, and kids fall festival. This event has been taking place since 2009. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit the Silver Bow Developmental Disabilities Council. Their hope to build a teaching kitchen to help individuals with disabilities pursue health and wellness called the Nutrition Education Station. Location: Park and Dakota, Butte, MT.
I debated about putting some of the Wurstfest events into this Oktoberfest list. New Braunfels, Texas has a wonderful event that rivals any Oktoberfest. However technically it is not an Oktoberfest. There are also some great beer festivals with funny names that once were Oktoberfest events that have simply eliminated the German heritage in order to attract a broader audience.
I also left off some funny city names that used the Oktoberfest for their city celebration.
Here at Funtober we continue to look for things to do this fall as we close in on Halloween. We love Oktoberfest, fall festivals, haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards. Hope you like our blog series and event pages. We have both Oktoberfest Munich and Oktoberfest USA information.
You might also like our:
Top 10 Oktoberfest Celebrations in the U.S.
Don’t Miss The Top 10 Up-and-Coming Oktoberfests in 2014!
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