Oktoberfest Events Expand Across U.S. and Abroad

Oktoberfest celebrations are taking place across the U.S. and abroad this month, spanning large public festivals, community fundraisers and pop-up events. Pittsburgh has kicked off a 10-day festival with a ceremonial keg tapping, beer garden and a returning 60-foot Ferris wheel on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, while San Diego’s La Mesa Oktoberfest continues its long-running tradition. Newer or revived events include Chattanooga’s free family-friendly Oktoberfest at First Horizon Pavilion, Miami’s multi-week Oktoberfest Miami (Oct. 10–12 and Oct. 17–19), and Oklahoma City’s revived OK!toberfest at OKC Fair Park (Oct. 9–11). Smaller community gatherings are also scheduled, such as Fremont’s Sauerkraut Oktoberfest with cabbage-themed contests, Bartlesville’s OKM Music Oktoberfest (Oct. 4), and local festivals in Bay County and Regina. International activity has expanded the scene: San Miguel Beer staged an 8,000-person kickoff at Okada Manila and plans follow-up events in Laguna (Oct. 18) and Cebu (Oct. 31) featuring craft-beer samplers, concerts and culinary pairings. Across these events, organizers are relying on live German and local music, traditional Bavarian food, craft and domestic beers, and classic competitions like stein-hoisting and Hammerschlagen to draw crowds.