15 Oktoberfests and Fall Beer Festivals in the US Worth Traveling For in 2025

From the high-altitude streets of Breckenridge, Colorado, to the Bavarian façades of Leavenworth, Washington, fall is when America’s beer culture takes center stage. Large-scale city gatherings and intimate brewer-led events alike define the season with malty Oktoberfest beers and hop-forward harvest ales.

Fall’s beer festival season draws from centuries-old brewing and harvest traditions. Historically, autumn marked the hop and barley harvest in Europe, when brewers made beers designed to last through the cold months. That was taken to the next level in Germany with its beer purity laws, and nothing says fall beer festival like the original Oktoberfest. Today, classic Oktoberfest celebrations blend with America’s craft beer culture. Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest Zinzinnati features keg tappings, a bratwurst-eating contest, and one of the largest chicken dances outside Germany. At the same time, other events showcase the country’s creative brewing streak. The Fresh Hop Ale Festival in Yakima, Washington, offers beers brewed with hops harvested just days before, while brewers at DC’s Snallygaster pour experimental small-batch creations alongside rare imports, street food, and a lineup of indie bands.

For travelers, these gatherings go beyond great beer to showcase the regional flavor in a place. In Austin, for example,German-style lagers pair perfectly with smoky brisket. And, of course with this being autumn, scenic backdrops abound: mountain towns drenched in gold and crimson foliage, historic districts strung with beer garden lights.

There are plenty of smaller, local festivals. Colorado alone has a festival list that would keep any beer lover busy the entire season. But for those looking for a true destination beer festival, these are the best fall beer festivals worth traveling for in 2025 in the United States.

Dates and event details verified as of August 2025; check individual festival websites for updates.

Great American Beer Festival

Location: DenverDates: October 9–11, 2025Years Running: Since 1982 (43rd year)Brewer Participation: Over 500 breweries; 2,000-plus beersTicket Info: $85–$220; available at greatamericanbeerfestival.com

The undisputed heavyweight of American beer festivals, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) turns the Colorado Convention Center into a massive tasting room. Each October, brewers from across the country converge to pour more than 2,000 different beers, many brewed exclusively for the event and the heralded GABF awards. It can’t be contained to just the convention center. Denver’s booming craft beer scene spills into the streets, with satellite events in taprooms and beer bars all over town.

Leavenworth Oktoberfest

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Location: Leavenworth, WashingtonDates: October 3–4, 10–11, and 17–18, 2025Years Running: 25-plus yearsBrewer Participation: Dozens of German and regional craft breweriesTicket Info: $15–$40; purchase at leavenworth.org

This Bavarian-influenced mountain town entirely transforms for Oktoberfest. For three consecutive weekends in October, Leavenworth’s alpine façades, cobblestone-style streets, and flower boxes brim with beer drinkers in dirndls and lederhosen. Local and regional brewers pour märzens, festbiers, and other autumnal styles in multiple beer gardens to the sound of brass bands pumping oompah tunes. By day, the surrounding Cascade Mountains offer crisp, leaf-draped hikes — the perfect prelude to an evening of beer hall revelry. Visitors often stay in cozy alpine lodges or vacation rentals within walking distance, making it easy to immerse in the festival without worrying about getting back to their accommodations.

Southwest Fresh Fest

Location: Montrose, ColoradoDates: September 20, 2025Years Running: 5-plus yearsBrewer Participation: 20-plus regional breweries with an emphasis on fresh hop beersTicket Info: $30; available via allevents.in

Set on a working hop farm, Southwest Fresh Fest celebrates beer at its freshest and most aromatic. The festival is hosted at Billy Goat Hop Farm on Colorado’s Western Slope, and spotlights hop-forward beers brewed within days of the hop harvest for a fleeting freshness that is best experienced on-site. Brewer tents are scattered between hop rows, so guests sip surrounded by the land where the cherished ingredient grows. Live bluegrass bands, food trucks with farm-to-table menus, and guided hop yard tours create an immersive beer experience. It’s easy to make a weekend of the event, pairing the fest with visits to nearby orchards and wineries.

Detroit Fall Beer Festival

Location: DetroitDates: October 25, 2025Years Running: 16-plus yearsBrewer Participation: 100-plus Michigan breweries, 800-plus beersTicket Info: $70; mibeer.com

Taking place at Detroit’s Eastern Market, the Detroit Fall Beer Festival brings over a hundred Michigan breweries to showcase seasonal and specialty releases, from pumpkin-spiced ales to barrel-aged stouts. The Eastern Market’s brick facades and mural-covered walls give the event a true-to-place charm, while food trucks and market vendors add layers of flavor beyond the beer. Book lodging downtown and take a rideshare — parking can be a challenge. Expect crisp fall air, the scent of smoked meats drifting between beer tents, and plenty of Detroit pride in every pour.

Oktoberfest USA

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Location: La Crosse, WisconsinDates: September 25-28, 2025Years Running: Since 1961 (64th year)Brewer Participation: Multiple local and regional breweries, plus German importsTicket Info: $29.95 (free on the 28); oktoberfestusa.com

German immigrants in the mid-1800s established La Crosse’s brewing tradition, introducing lager techniques and founding landmark breweries like G. Heileman Brewing Company. In fact, German was a primary language until WWI. Their influence endures in the city’s beer culture, from historic brewing sites to the annual Oktoberfest USA. This small Mississippi River city channels its German heritage through parades, keg-tapping ceremonies, and festival grounds filled with beer halls, music stages, and brat stands. The event draws thousands who come for the camaraderie as much as the beer, with locals donning traditional attire and visitors welcomed like old friends. Between sessions, stroll the riverfront or explore the city’s historic downtown. The grand parade, with its marching bands and vintage cars, is as much a draw for some as the märzen in your stein.

Frankenmuth Oktoberfest

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Location: Frankenmuth, MichiganDates: September 18–21, 2025Years Running: Since 1990 (35th year)Brewer Participation: Hofbräu München and regional craft breweriesTicket Info: $10; frankenmuthfestivals.com

Known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth is one of the few Oktoberfests outside Germany officially sanctioned by the city of Munich. The festival takes across the town with Bavarian music, folk dancing, and Hofbräu beer flowing from massive steins. Families and beer lovers mingle under the fest tent while polka bands entertain those on the dance floor. The town’s covered bridge and Bavarian-style shops create a picture-perfect setting, and nearby riverfront hotels make it easy to stay in the heart of the action. Arrive hungry — Frankenmuth’s famous chicken dinners pair perfectly with a crisp, malty märzen.

Breckenridge Oktoberfest

Location: Breckenridge, ColoradoDates: September 12–14, 2025Years Running: 25-plus yearsBrewer Participation: Paulaner, plus Colorado craft breweriesTicket Info: Free entrygobreck.com

Breckenridge’s Main Street transforms into a mountainside beer garden each September, framed by the dramatic peaks of the Tenmile Range. Long communal tables spill onto the street as beer flows from both German and local taps. The crisp alpine air and golden aspens make it a scenic stunner, and traditional fare like bratwurst and pretzels fuel the afternoons. And there’s no entry cost to soak in the family friendly environment. Arrive early to beat the midday crowds. The view is best with a clear sightline to the mountains.

Fredericksburg Oktoberfest

Location: Fredericksburg, TexasDates: October 3–5, 2025Years Running: 40-plus yearsBrewer Participation: German imports and Texas craft breweriesTicket Info: $15–$25; oktoberfestinfbg.com

German roots run deep in Texas Hill Country, and Fredericksburg’s Oktoberfest is a vibrant testament to that heritage. Three days of beer, sausage, and music spill out into Marktplatz, the town’s central square. Here, Texas craft beers mingle with traditional Bavarian lagers, while local artisans and food vendors line the streets. The festival’s gemütlichkeit (coziness) extends beyond the beer — think long tables, friendly toasts, and small town hospitality. Lodging books up quickly, so plan early if you want to stay in one of the historic B&Bs or boutique inns.

Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Festival

Photo: Elysian

Location: Seattle, WashingtonDates: October 3–4, 2025Years Running: 20-plus yearsBrewer Participation: 60-plus pumpkin and seasonal beers from across the U.S.Ticket Info: $40–$100; elysianbrewing.com

Few festivals embrace a theme as wholeheartedly as the Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Festival. The highlight is the tapping of the Great Pumpkin itself — a massive, hollowed gourd filled with beer and served until the last drop. Brewers from across the country contribute pumpkin and pumpkin-spiced creations, from imperial stouts to tart sours. Held in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, the fest blends costume-friendly whimsy with serious brewing chops. And if you’re hesitant about the whole idea of pumpkin beers, prepare to be surprised in the best way: not all pumpkin beers are sweet and heavily spiced to the point that they’re not obviously beers at all. Elysian makes some of the best true pumpkin (as in made with pumpkin) beers in the country.

Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival

Location: Yakima, WashingtonDates: October 4, 2025Years Running: 20-plus yearsBrewer Participation: 60-plus breweries specializing in fresh hop beers, wineries, and cideriesTicket Info: $65; freshhopalefestival.com

In the heart of Washington’s hop country, Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival captures the fleeting magic of beer brewed with newly harvested hops. It couldn’t take place in a better location: The Yakima Valley is home to about 75 percent of the total US hop acreage, and accounts for over 77 percent of the country’s hop crop. Breweries from across the Pacific Northwest bring kegs of ultra-fresh creations, each brimming with grassy, resinous aromatics. The festival is held at State Fair Park, but the vibe sprawls through downtown Yakima with hop-focused talks and the unmistakable scent of the season’s harvest in the air.

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest

Location: Big Bear Lake, CaliforniaDates: Weekends, September 6 – November 8, 2025Years Running: 55 yearsBrewer Participation: German and local craft breweriesTicket Info: Price varies; https://bigbearevents.com/oktoberfest/

Big Bear Lake’s Oktoberfest differs from other festivals in that it offers two months of alpine revelry. Weekends are filled with stein-holding contests, live bands flown in from Germany, and hearty plates of schnitzel and sausages. The high-altitude setting adds a crispness to the air — and the beer — that keeps visitors coming back year after year.

Snallygaster

Location: Washington, D.C.Dates: October 11, 2025Years Running: 10-plus yearsBrewer Participation: 175-plus breweries from around the worldTicket Info: $75; snallygasterdc.com

Snallygaster is a sprawling, day-long block party with one of the most ambitious beer lists in the nation. Rare imports, limited releases, and experimental one-offs line the taps, making it a pilgrimage for serious beer collectors and casual fans alike. Named after a mythical beast said to roam the Mid-Atlantic, the festival embraces a sense of fun with eclectic music acts, gourmet food vendors, and a high-energy crowd in the heart of DC.

Nashville Oktoberfest

@nashvilleoktoberfest Nashville Oktoberfest 2024 was one for the books! From delicious brews, mouthwatering food, and live music, to the adorable Dachshund Derby and Pup Parade, plus all the fun contests and amazing vendors—every moment was packed with excitement! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made it such a special weekend. Prost to an incredible time—see ya next year! #NashvilleOktoberfest #Prost2024 ♬ Bavarian Beer Barrel Polka – Aleksei Chebeliuk

Location: NashvilleDates: October 2-5Years Running: Since 1980 (45th year)Brewer Participation: German imports, Tennessee craft breweriesTicket Info: Free entry, VIP tickets from $199; thenashvilleoktoberfest.com

Nashville’s Oktoberfest sprawls across the historic Germantown neighborhood, filling the streets with beer gardens, live music, and the scent of sizzling sausages. The event combines Southern hospitality with Old World tradition, drawing over 100,000 attendees annually. Expect everything from Bavarian folk bands to local bluegrass acts, along with a 5K Bier Run for those who like to earn their pints. The proximity to downtown means you can easily add a honky-tonk nightcap after a day of beer and brats.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Location: Cincinnati, OhioDates: September 18–21, 2025Years Running: Since 1976 (49th year)Brewer Participation: Major German breweries and regional craft beerTicket Info: Free entry; oktoberfestzinzinnati.com

The largest Oktoberfest in the US, Zinzinnati is a joyful mashup of Bavarian tradition and Midwest charm. Spanning several downtown blocks, it features the world’s largest chicken dance, the whimsical Running of the Wieners dachshund race, and seemingly endless tents of beer and bratwurst. Live German music keeps the streets hopping well into the night, and local favorites like goetta sliders give the food scene a regional twist.

Redstone Arsenal Oktoberfest

Location: Huntsville, AlabamaDates: September 19–21, 2025Years Running: 28 yearsTicket Info: $15–$25; redstone.armymwr.com

This military-community Oktoberfest welcomes the public for a weekend of German beer, food, and fun at Redstone Arsenal. Highlights include carnival rides, a Ferris wheel overlooking the festival grounds, and a dedicated biergarten featuring regional breweries. The mix of family-friendly entertainment and serious beer appreciation makes it unique in the South’s festival lineup. Visitors often pair the event with a stop at Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center — a fitting reminder that Oktoberfest can be enjoyed with a side of rocket science.

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