Oktoberfest is just as much about the events as the beer itself. It’s probably even more about the events than it is about the beer. Cincinnati does it right, too. We have events of every size, every vibe, and all over the Greater Cincinnati area for you to attend, but with a busy calendar, I know it’s hard to plan it all out every year.

I put this list together to remind you of the best festivals you need to get to around town. Be warned, though – you might not be able to get to them all!

  • Grainworks Oktoberfest – 8/5 – Read More Here
    • Grainworks kicks off its Oktoberfest season with games (stein-holding and stein-sliding), music, food… and their Oktoberfest beer. They are releasing a special commemorative collectible stein this year that comes filled. Sounds like a good plan to me!
  • Seven Mile Oktoberfest – 8/18 – 8/19 – Read More Here
    • Seven Mile’s Oktoberfest prides itself on being fun for the whole family. They feature German foods, poker, beer and live entertainment both nights.
  • Germania Oktoberfest – 8/25 – 8/27 – Read More Here
    • One of my favorite festivals in the city, Germania’s Oktoberfest takes full advantage of its park-like atmosphere with a wide open meadow and a shaded tree-filled beer garden in addition to their clubhouse, tents, and pavilion. It’s a MUST visit if you love this time of year!
  • Braxton’s Oktoberfest Biergarten – 8/26
    • The Braxton taproom transforms into a Bavarian wonderland each year as they celebrate the tapping of their Oktober Fuel. It’s worth a trip down to snag a few pints of the beer each year to kick off the season, but when you add lots of celebrating great food and a fantastic atmosphere? It’s a no-brainer.
  • Liberty Home Association – 9/1 – 9/3 – Read More Here
    • This festival is in its 57th year, and definitely worth a visit. The organization is one of the if not the oldest German club in the area, and they do a great job of mixing the old with the new during their festival!
  • Brink’s Steinholding State Qualifier – 9/2
    • Talk about a fun excuse to get out to Brink Brewing Company to drink a few of their tasty Brinktoberfest – they’re hosting the US Steinholding Association for a State Qualifier round in the taproom!
  • Springboro Oktoberfest – 9/8 – 9/9 – Read More Here
    • It’s a little outside of the bubble that I typically write about, but it’s too good of a festival not to mention it. Sponsored by Warped Wing, this festival has been going on for more than 10 years.
  • Covington Oktoberfest – 9/8 – 9/10 – Read More Here
    • Mainstrausse is center stage as Goebel Park is transformed into the Bavarian countryside for Covington’s festival. Since 1979, Covington has been celebrating Oktoberfest with food, beer, and art.
  • Wandering Monsters Oktoberfest – 9/8 – 9/9
    • Wandering Monsters is taking no time to let Cincinnati know they mean business. They just opened their doors and are already informing us that they know exactly what it means to be a beer drinker in Cincinnati this time of year! I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us!
  • Silverton’s Village Oktoberfest – 9/9
    • Highgrain knows traditional beer styles, and it shouldn’t be a surprise then that they do a Village Oktoberfest right! Games, music, beer specials, and plenty of family-friendly fun!
  • Cartridge & Friends Oktoberfest – 9/9
    • Cartridge is taking a definite nod to the folks at Sonder with how they’re celebrating Oktoberfest this year. They invited their neighbors over to tap a few beers and have a whole day of German-inspired fun. Everything from Steinholding to great German-style beer will be there.
  • MadTree’s Zieglerfest – 9/9
    • With live German bands, a stein hoisting competition, kids crafts, a photo booth, and plenty more – this year’s Zieglerfest at MadTree will be more than just a celebration of their OktoberfestQuest 2022 winning Ziegler beer… though, there will be plenty of that on tap, too.
  • Oktoberfest Zinzinnati – 9/14 – 9/17 – Read More Here
    • Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is making its way back up to 5th Street this year and is being celebrated even earlier in the week to ensure you have plenty of time for your reveling. If you don’t know about this celebration, are you even an Oktoberfest fan?
  • Loveland Oktoberfest – 9/22 – 9/23 – Read More Here
    • Loveland uses stein hoisting, relay races, a best-dressed contest, and live music to make sure that their festival is one that you’ll want to swing by during your celebrating each season.
  • Oktoberfest Newport – 9/22 – 9/24 – Read More Here
    • Newport’s Oktoberfest is sponsored this year by Christian Moerlein – so you know you’ll find some great German-style beer, and some great food and music to pair alongside it.
  • Sonder and Friends – 9/23 – Read More Here
    • Bringing tradition, community, and beer all together, Sonder has cracked the code with how to celebrate Oktoberfest as a craft brewery, and they’ve created a celebration that has easily become one of my favorites in the city!
  • Donauschwaben Oktoberfest – 9/29 – 10/1 – Read More Here
    • The 31st annual Donauschwaben Oktoberfest doesn’t try to be the biggest in town, but they pride themselves on the authenticity of the festival. It’s a can’t miss if you are making your rounds!
  • Hamilton’s German Village Oktoberfest – 10/7
    • This is a cool one. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the organization that protects and preserves the Historic German Village in Hamilton, Ohio, they’re throwing an Oktoberfest. This one leans heavily into historical themes with a Volksmarch to explore the neighborhood and plenty of displays and talks about the area. Of course… there will be plenty of food, music and beer, also!
  • OktoberWest – 10/14
    • Cheviot’s OktoberWest is making its debut this year at Harvest Home Park. They’ve got plenty planned for this family-friendly event that should make it pretty awesome!

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