This metro Phoenix beer festival was named one of the best Oktoberfests in the country

Bahar Anooshahr, Arizona Republic
·2 min read

This year the Valley's longest running Oktoberfest, sponsored by Four Peaks Brewing Co. in Tempe, was named one of the top 15 Oktoberfest celebrations in the country by TripstoDiscover.com. Other festivals that made the cut include Georgia's Helen Oktoberfest, the longest running in the country, and Michigan's Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, which was the first to receive Munich's Original Oktoberfest's approval.

The site also shouted out Four Peaks Brewing as Arizona's coolest brewery, based on its destination-worthy beers, cool tap rooms, service to the community and unusual outdoor space.

What is Oktoberfest?

Thousands of people packed Tempe Beach Park for Four Peaks Oktoberfest on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018 in Tempe.
Thousands of people packed Tempe Beach Park for Four Peaks Oktoberfest on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018 in Tempe.

Oktoberfest originally started on October 12, 1810, as a city-wide celebration of Bavarian Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen's wedding in Munich. According to "The Oxford Companion to Beer and Wine," the citizens of Munich enjoyed the beer-fueled celebration so much that they continued the tradition every year. Since it began, the festival has only been canceled due to war or epidemic.

The first Tempe Oktoberfest took place in 1972 and was organized by Tempe Sister Cities. The nonprofit organization works to encourage cross-cultural collaboration with Tempe's 11 sister cities across the world, and the festival was originally started as a way to honor their Bavarian Sister City of Regensburg, Germany.

What to expect at Tempe Oktoberfest 2022

Now in its 49th year, the 2022 Tempe Oktoberfest will be Oct. 7, 8 and 9 at Tempe Town Lake.

The three-day festival will open with horse-drawn carriage parade, crowning of the king and queen, four bratwurst service tents, German desserts, music, carnival rides, fun runs, dachshund races and, of course, plenty of local and German beers.

Tickets are $20 for those over 21 and free for kids on Friday and Saturday. Admission is free for all ages on Sunday. Early bird discounted tickets are available.

Details: Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake, Tempe. fourpeaksoktoberfest.com.

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Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Four Peaks Brewing Tempe Oktoberfest in AZ named one of best in US