Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Minnesota
Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Minnesota
By Erica Wacker
Oktoberfest has grown far beyond its centuries-old origins in Munich, with multiple celebrations held right here in Minnesota. Here's where you can grab a stein, pull on some lederhosen, and say "Prost!" the German way throughout the state.
Get festive at New Ulm Oktoberfest
New Ulm
The biggest Oktoberfest in the state is in New Ulm, which was settled by German immigrants in 1854. Though this heritage is honored year-round at local businesses like the beloved restaurant Kaiserhoff, the celebration is at its peak during two weekends in October.
Polka and other bands keep the atmosphere lively, and kegs of locally brewed Schell's beer are kept flowing every night. Other entertainment includes horse-drawn trolley rides, specialty shops and food vendors downtown, and tours and other activities at Morgan Creek Vineyard and Schell's Brewery.
Don't leave town before visiting the 45-foot-tall musical glockenspiel or the Hermann the German monument.
A couple raises their steins at Co-optoberfest / Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Minneapolis-St. Paul
The tented biergarten at Waldmann Brewery will be serving its traditional, German-style tipples — they specialize in the good stuff in St. Paul. Utepils is also known for brewing clean and crisp European-style beer all year round. Its sprawling beer garden is hosting live music, stein-holding contests, and food from Gerhard's Brats and Northeast Pretzel. Pushing things a little further on the flavor profile front is Fair State, which celebrates its annual Co-optoberfest in Northeast Minneapolis. Forgotten Star Brewing is hosting Oktoberfest in Fridley with live music, stein-holding contests, magicians, and llamas.
Giesenbräu Bier Co
Further Afield
In Deerwood, Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge draws thousands of people to its annual event. Sitting pretty over in New Prague is Giesenbrau Bier Co., a brewery with family ties to the small German town of Waxweiler. Its Oktoberfest revolves around live polka music, Bavarian pretzels from Edelweiss Bakery, pork and dumplings from Prchal's, and tall 1-liter fills of Fiestbier.
Other standout fests throughout the state feature local makers, church-slung brat and kraut combos,side-pulled pilsners and single origin wet hop IPAs at Portage Brewing Company in Walker, solo accordion sets, flammkuchen, and a bean bag tournament at Goat Ridge Brewing Co. in New London, and heated competitions involving stein holding, brat eating, and axe throwing at Bold North Cellars.
Erica Wacker is a Midwesterner through and through, growing up in Illinois, going to college in Wisconsin, and settling down in Minnesota. She loves to run, travel with her family, and go to concerts to relive her youth.