Toast the autumn season at an Oktobefest festival. A proud German tradition since 1810, Munich’s Oktoberfest is now one of the world’s largest fairs, gathering more than six million people over sixteen days. It’s held from late September to early October.
With nearly a million Coloradoans claiming German heritage, we have own fair share of Oktoberfests. Most events feature Bavarian food, dance, music and beer. The first festival kicks off this weekend in Morrison, while the last ones wrap up on October 11th.
2015 Oktoberfests: Prost!
T.E.V. Edelweiss Oktoberfest
Date: Sat-Sun, August 29-30
Address: 17832 Highway 8, Morrison
About: Second annual fest including dancers, live bands, traditional food and cold beer. There will be displays from the German American Heritage Museum, as well as kids games.
Beaver Creek Oktoberfest
Date: Sat-Sun, September 5-6
Address: Beaver Creek Plaza, Avon
About: Beaver Creek’s 16th annual Oktoberfest features complimentary live entertainment and Bavarian culinary demos. All guests can compete in the Bavarian Costume Contest on Saturday. On Sunday you can register for the Oktoberfest Shuffle, and children can perform at the Kids’ European Alpenhorn contest.
Breckenridge Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sun, September 11-13
Address: Main St, Breckenridge
About: Now in its 21st year, Breck’s Oktoberfest is one of the largest in the Rocky Mountains. There’ll be German cuisine (two dozen food vendors), dancers, costumes, Oompah & polka music, as well as Paulaner Bier. Activities include a 5k, keg tapping ceremony and games for the kids. Please leave dogs at home.
Longmont Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sat, September 11-12
Address: Roosevelt Park, Longmont
About: Presented by Left Hand Brewing featuring Longmont breweries, live music and German themed festivities. Contests include best dressed, stein holding and bratwurst eating.
Vail Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sun, September 11-13 & 18-20
Address: Lionshead Village and Vail Village, Vail
About: Celebration of Bavarian music, dancing, food, yodeling and alpenhorn blowing, held over two weekends in Vail’s Austrian inspired village. Compete in Klement’s Bratwurst Eating Contests, Keg Bowling, Stein Lifting, Oktoberfest Costume and the Oktoberfest Fun Run. Paulaner Bier is enjoyed.
Pueblo Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sat, September 18-19
Address: 132 West B Street, Pueblo
About: German fare, costume contest and stein hoisting contest.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad Oktoberfest
Date: September 12-October 11; 12:30pm departure
Address: 401 Water St, Cañon City
About: Lunch train through the Royal Gorge with Bavarian fare and special Oktoberfest bier. Ticket includes a Royal Gorge Route logo pint glass.
FORToberfest
Date: Sat, September 19
Address: Walnut St and Old Town Square, Fort Collins
About: Jubilee commemorating Fort Collins’ culture of bicycles, beers and bands. A range of music from funk to bluegrass and rock to indie will be heard. There’ll be bicycle manufacturers, retailers and enthusiast groups, as well as a number of local breweries with seasonal craft beers to enjoy. No pets are admitted.
OktoberWest
Date: Fri-Sat, September 18-19
Address: Lincoln Ave (Friday) and Gondola Square (Saturday), Steamboat Springs
About: 7th annual OktoberWest features a pub crawl on Friday in downtown and an after party at Schmiggity’s. On Saturday the party moves to the base of the ski area. Kids can play at the Coca-Cola Adventure Zone, while adults can enjoy the I Love Beef Cook Off and Beer Garden. Thirty Colorado brewers offer two beers each. Grammy nominated Shemekia Copeland takes the stage at 2pm.
Denver Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sun, September 18-20 & 25-27
Address: 20th Ave and Larimer St, Denver
About: Since 1969, Denver has been hosting its Oktoberfest, which now attracts over 350,000 fans. Maxim and USA Today claim it as the best Oktoberfest in the USA. Entertainment includes stein hoisting, keg bowling and brat eating contests, live music, as well as the 9th annual Long Dog Derby, which determines city’s fastest dachshunds.
Denver Oktoberfest Stein Holding Contest.
Loveland Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sat, September 18-19
Address: Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Loveland
About: Food trucks, craft vendors and family activities. Concert at Thunder Mountain Amphitheate.
Denver Kickers Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, September 19
Address: 16676 W 50th, Golden
About: Bavarian style festival with food, drinks and music.
Parker Oktoberfest
Date: Sat-Sun, September 19-20
Address: 10795 S Victorian Dr, Parker
About: 10th annual event with German music, dancers, biergarten with three Paulaner beers, and an obstacle course, bungee tramp & a slide for kids.
Rocky Mountain OktoberfestPlus
Date: Sat-Sun, September 19-20
Address: Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E Midland Ave, Woodland Park
About: 18th annual event with German brats, beer & wine, live entertainment, as well as a climbing wall, obstacle course and face painting for children. Ceremonial keg tapping on Saturday at 11am. No pets permitted.
Brush Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sat, September 25-26
Address: Clayton St, Brush
About: 33rd annual fest with a car/motorcycle show, dog contest, beer garden, craft booths, kids games and live polka band. Cruise In on Friday night.
Autumn Gold Festival
Date: Sat-Sun, September 26-27
Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
About: It’s not an Oktoberfest, but it’s still a fun fall festival with bands, brats and beer! Now in its 23rd year, complimentary family activities include face painting, soap bubbles, corn bag toss, bouncing room and rides in a fire engine & antique cars. There’s also a raffle to win $5,000.
Colorado Springs Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sun, September 25-27
Address: Security Service Field, 4385 Tutt Blvd, Colorado Springs
About: Keg tapping ceremony on Friday evening and 8k Fun Run on Saturday morning. Enjoy authentic food, Paulaner beer, Primetime Band, German Chalet Dancers, MayPole ribbon dance, Dachshund Dash and costume contest. No dogs, except competing dachshunds.
OktoBREWfest
Date: Fri-Sat, October 2-3
Address: Lincoln Park, 8th St & 9th Ave, Greeley
About: Two days of live music, games, crafts, brats and beer. Compete in volleyball, pie eating, stein lifting and life-size beer pong. Face painting, obstacle course, bubble tower, arcade games and inflatable slide for children.
Rocky Mountain Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sun, October 2-4
Address: Pepsi Center, Denver
About: Combines Colorado and Munich vibe with German Oom-pah bands. Featuring largest cornhole tournament in the Rockies, winner gets $10,000, second gets $5,000.
Berthoud Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: Fickel Park, Berthoud
About: 5th annual event with authentic food, music and dancing, as well as children’s activities, arts & crafts, vendor booths and local microbrewers.
Montrose Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: Centennial Plaza, Montrose
About: 10th annual event in downtown with twenty microbreweries and traditional fare. Admission includes an Oktoberfest cup, beer tasting and live music.
Castle Rock Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: Festival Park, Castle Rock
About: Live music, beer, food and children’s games.
La Veta Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: La Veta
About: 28th annual event featuring a bier garden, veteran’s tribute, Twin Peak Rodder’s Car Show, German band, dancing, and over sixty arts, crafts & food vendors.
Lamar Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: Santa Fe Train Depot, Lamar
About: Beer garden, car & motorcycle show, kids’ games, charity 5K Relay Race, horse shoe tournament and live bands.
Ouray Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: Ouray Community Center, Ouray
About: German fare, polka, fireworks and the 51st Annual Jeep Raffle.
Niwot Oktoberfest
Date: Sat, October 3
Address: Cottonwood Square, Niwot
About: 7th annual event with live music, face & pumpkin painting, balloon sculptures, bouncy castle, dancing, food, beer & wine.
Celtic Fest & Oktoberfest
Date: Fri-Sat, October 9-10
Address: 4th St Plaza, Carbondale
About: Enjoy Irish dancing, music and a “Best Legs in a Kilt Contest” on Friday. Sláinte! Saturday features a full day of Oktoberfest celebrations including brats, bands, beer, brat eating contest, liter holding contest and the chicken dance.
Durango Oktoberfest
Date: Sat-Sun, October 10-11
Address: Buckley Park, 13th St and Main Ave, Durango
About: Fine food and beverages from local vendors and breweries. Oompah bands, Stein Holsting Competition and Brewers Brat Eating Contest.
Please share any other fun fall festivals below.