Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest like the Germans do at these Charlotte-area breweries
With fall comes Oktoberfest, a German tradition celebrated in September and October in Munich. And you can join in on the festivities in Charlotte now — a packed calendar of events awaits.
Among the Oktoberfest party plans at area breweries are beer releases and opportunities to drink German Marzen, Festbier and other traditional styles, along with German food. You’ll also find live music, beer stein holding competitions and more.
Here’s how you can join in on the celebration in the Charlotte area:
Cabarrus Brewing Co.
Location: Gibson Mill, 329 McGill Ave NW, Concord, NC 28027
When: Friday, Sept. 22, 3-11 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 23, noon-11 p.m.
Cabarrus Brewing Co.’s annual Oktoberfest celebration will kick off with a Marzen keg tapping ceremony on Friday with Concord Mayor Bill Dusch and include Oktoberfest food, brewery tours, live music and contests for costumes, stein holding and boot chugging. On Saturday, you’ll find a vendor market and more contests, including a brat eating contest with a $10 entry fee. Live music will entertain guests in the beer garden in the evening.
Gilde Brewery
Location: 3530 Dewitt Lane, Charlotte, NC 28217
When: Friday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Oct. 8
Gilde Brewery, home to the German brewer’s only U.S. location, is celebrating Oktoberfest on repeat. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can expect a festival experience with live music and events such as stein holding competitions. Pair its Charlotte-brewed Oktoberfest German Marzen beer along with a Wurst Flight from its menu of traditional German foods for an authentic feel. There’s apple strudel, too.
The brewery will also host the North Carolina Stein Holding Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 3-6 p.m. Top competitors from around the state will gather to compete for $500 in prizes.
NoDa Brewing
Location: North End Taproom, 150 W 32nd St., Charlotte, NC 28206
When: Friday, Sept. 1, 3-10 p.m.
NoDa Brewing’s Oktoberfest festivities will include German-style beers like Oktoberfest Märzen and the release of Fest Fuel Festbier, plus Bavarian bites from Carlos Dogs. You’ll hear live music all afternoon and evening, and you can sign up for a 6:30 p.m. stein holding contest or the 7 p.m. pet costume contest.
Divine Barrel Brewing
Location: 3701 N Davidson St Suite #203, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: Saturday, Sept. 9
Divine Barrel Brewing is calling on you to “don your lederhosen and dirndl” while you celebrate German beer, food and fun. Imported German bier will be on on tap along with Divine Barrel’s Oktoberfest brew. You’ll also find music and food trucks, along with stein holding and pretzel eating contests.
Triple C Brewing
Location: 2900 Griffith St., Charlotte, NC 28203
When: Saturday, Sept. 9, noon
Celebrate Oktoberfest at Triple C with a variety of Oktoberfest brews, such as Marzen and Festbier while you snack on German soft pretzels and bratwurst corn dogs from Izzy’s food truck. Live music from Groove and Remnants of Bluegrass will last from 3-6 p.m., and you can compete in the stein hoisting contest and show off your Oktoberfest fit for a chance to win prizes.
Devil’s Logic Brewing
Location: 1426 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 3 p.m.
Join in on Devil’s Logic’s Oktoberfest, with a special edition of its Lagerhaus series and the release of its annual Lucifest festbier, plus traditional Oktoberfest food. Also on tap at the brewery are live music, games and contests.
Protagonist Beer
Location: 227 Southside Dr Unit A, Charlotte, NC 28217
When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 5 p.m.
Groove out to German Oktoberfest music from 5-8 p.m. and enjoy Franz Festbier stein specials and Oktoberfest-inspired pizza and pretzel specials at Protagonist Beer’s Lower South End location. Be read for beer games, including a stein holding contest, of course.
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten
Location: 4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
When: Friday, Sept. 15-17 and Friday, Sept. 22-24
Mecktoberfest at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery will take place two weekends in September, Friday through Sunday. Expect traditional German fare such as pork schnitzel, sausages and pretzels, live music performances in the biergarten and stein holding contests.
Sugar Creek Brewing Company
Location: 215 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
When: Friday, Sept. 15, 2 p.m.
Sugar Creek is working out details on its “Oktoberfest soirée,” which will include the release of its Marzen lager.
Lore Brewing Company
Location: 1218 Rosemont Dr Suite 100, Indian Land, SC 29707
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, noon
Lore Brewing’s Oktoberfest will feature traditional Bavarian-style beer releases and German fare including brats and pretzels. While you’re eating and drinking, party with live music with Rumor Mill.
Lost Worlds Brewing
Location: 19700-D, One Norman Blvd, Cornelius, NC 28031
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, noon
When: Saturday, Oct. 14, noon
Lost Worlds Brewing is so excited about Oktoberfest that it’s celebrating twice. You can join the Lake Norman brewery in September and October for dancing to an oompa band, contests and German food to pair with steins of Oktoberfest Marzen Lager, plus a special Kellerfest Cask.
Primal Brewery
Location: 52 Ervin St, Belmont, NC 28012
Location: 16432 Old Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, noon
Both locations of Primal Brewery will hold Oktoberfest celebrations with live music and themed food specials, including pretzel necklaces. You can sip from a limited-edition Oktoberfest Primal beer steins while you go on a scavenger hunt with a chance to win pretzel discount coupons and other prizes and show off your best traditional German attire in the Lederhosen competition.
King Canary Brewing Co.
Location: 562 Williamson Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, noon-11 p.m.
King Canary Brewing’s Oktoberfest will feature stein holding competitions for adults and kids, along with live music and new glassware. The Strudelteig food truck will be on hand from 12-8 p.m., selling Bavarian pretzels, sausages, house-made sauerkraut and deserts.
Open Tap
Location: 5010 Carmel Ctr Dr, Charlotte, NC 28226
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, all day
At Open Tap’s Oktoberfest celebration, you’ll find a traditional oompah band, German fare from Chop Chop Red Pot, games and stein holding contests, with brews from Hofbräu Müenchen, Spatenbraeu and Hacker-Pschorr.
Old Armor Beer Company
Location: 211 West Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081
When: Friday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Kantoberfest at Old Armor will include rides, games and music, along with food and beer. More details are in the works.
Seaboard Brewing Taproom & Wine Bar
Location: 213 N Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105
When: Saturday, Sept. 30, all day
Details are still in the works, but plans call for Seaboard Brewing’s Oktoberfest beer to be available, as well as others directly from Munich. Branded mugs will be on hand, and the brewery will hold its traditional bratwurst cookout.
The Dreamchasers Brewery
Location: 115 E North Main St, Waxhaw, NC 28173
When: Sunday, Oct. 1
Dreamchasers Brewery’s Oktoberfest celebration will include the release of its Waxtoberfest beer. While you try it out, you can enjoy live music and nosh on treats from the Strudeltieg and Taste of Chicago food trucks.
Ghostface Brewing
Location: 215 S Broad St, Mooresville, NC 28115
When: Sunday, Oct. 1 , 1 p.m. to close
Ghostface Brewing’s first Oktoberfest celebration will include a stein holding competition. The $20 entry fee comes along with a stein and a liter of Oktoberface Marzen. In addition to getting a $50 Ghostface gift card, the winner of the men’s and women’s competitions will automatically compete at the state finals in Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Gilde Brewery.
Did we miss an event? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
