Headed to Hermann for Oktoberfest? Here's what to do, where to eat

Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune
·4 min read

Each year, Columbia residents drive the 70 or so miles up to Hermann to celebrate Oktoberfest and all things fall. The community of just over 2,000 residents offers beautiful river vistas, German heritage and a number of not-so-hidden culinary and cultural gems.

The town celebrates Oktoberfest every weekend this month, and Hermann's tourism and visitor website — VisitHermann.com — has collected a deep and wide list of happenings. Here is just a brief look at events they've tallied and a few tips they offer.

Mugs of beer at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
Mugs of beer at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

Throughout the month of October

Some options are ongoing through October. Here are just a few of the recurring possibilities:

  • Tours of the Deutschheim State Historic Site, which offers a glimpse into the life of those who settled the area in the mid-19th century; the Historic Hermann Museum, housed in an 1871 German School building; the Stone Hill Winery cellars; the historic and wide-ranging Hermann Farm and more take place weekly. Check each venue or the Visit Hermann site for times and other details.

  • Live music resounds each week and through the weekend at a number of Hermann venues. Among these options, the Loehnig German Band plays Saturday afternoons at Historic Festhalle at the Inn at Hermannhof, according to the Visit Hermann site. In existence for the better part of 50 years, the band "specialize(s) in German folk music, like waltzes, polkas, schottisches, vocals, and yodeling" as well as Slovenian and Czech tunes.

  • Each Saturday night around 8, the Annual Stein Hoisting Contest returns to the Jaycees Biergarten. "Each year, beer aficionados gather to see who can hold a stein full of brew the longest. It sounds easier than it is!" an event description promises.

Here are a few other promising options, broken down by week:

The first week of October (through Oct. 8)

  • The community will host its First Friday Art Walk from 3 to 7 p.m.

  • An October Polka Dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at St. George Church.

The second week of October (Oct. 9-15)

  • For Showboat Movie Night, the 2017 Pixar film "Coco" will screen at 7 p.m. Friday.

  • Wine Country Wagon will offer carriage rides from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday; tickets are $15-$25.

  • In its 71st year, the Hermann Arts and Crafts Festival (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) shows off the creativity of around 70 vendors working in fine art, functional arts and crafts, antiques and more.

The third week of October (Oct. 16-22)

  • Wine Country Wagon will offer carriage rides at the same day, time and price.

  • The Hermann Masonic Temple Brat Stand will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The fourth full week of October (Oct. 23-29)

Special events ramp up as the monthlong celebration draws to a close, and as Halloween nears:

  • Gage the Magician's Spooky Magic Show at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Showboat Theatre; tickets are $20.

  • An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe at Hermann Farm from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

  • And a Halloween Costume Party from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Bank Bar and Bistro.

Want German fare? Here's where and what to eat

Visit Hermann offers food lovers a serious guide to restaurants and meals around the community. The site specifically mentioned four for their approach to traditional German fare.

Concert Hall and Barrel Tavern (206 E. First St.) foregrounds a number of more American dishes, but also several bratwurst and schnitzel offerings. See the menu at https://www.concerthallandbarrel.com/.

The Hermann Wurst Haus (234 E. First St.) offers breakfast and deli menus, as well as quality meat products that can be ordered in-store or online. Among some of the more intriguing options to eat in-house: a wide variety of bratwursts (including bacon potato cheddar and caramelized pear and gorgonzola brats) and sides like red cabbage and several kinds of potato salad. Learn more at https://www.hermannwursthaus.com/.

Tin Mill Restaurant (315 E. First St.) walks you through a German dining experience, from starters like reibekuchen (potato pancakes) and frikadellen (minced meatballs) to entrees like pork schnitzel and seafood spätzle with cheese. Chase your meal with a pint from Tin Mill's brewery, which features German beers like pilsners, hefeweizens and dopplebocks. See the full menu at https://www.tinmillsteakhouse.com/.

The Vintage Restaurant at Stone Hill Winery (1110 Stone Hill Highway) serves up several German dishes, including its German trio, featuring schweineschnitzel, marinated and slow-cooked beef sauerbraten and wurst. View the menu online at https://stonehillwinery.com/dinner-menu/.

Learn much more about spending some of your October in Hermann at https://visithermann.com/.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Headed to Hermann Oktoberfest 2023? Here's what to know