Get out the Lederhosen and Drindl, it’s officially Oktoberfest season in New York State! Whether you’re here for the vibrant foliage, crisp fall brews, jumbo pretzels and brats, lively oompah bands, or all of the above, you’re in the right place. Soar through the mountains on a scenic skyride, raise a stein to the season, and revel in Bavarian-style fun at festivals in all corners of the state, from Long Island to Niagara Falls. Read on for your guide to celebrating Oktoberfest in New York. Prost! Photo credit: @littlethingsolga on Instagram
Where: Queensbury, NY
When: Select dates now through September 21
Cost: $39/person
Oktoberfest at Six Flags Great Escape is a one-of-a-kind festival experience! Where else can you celebrate the spirit of Bavaria alongside rip-roaring coasters? Take a spin on signature attractions like Greezed Lightnin’, the Sasquatch, or Comet, then sip back and relax with a refreshing German-style ale or crisp lager, best paired with authentic cuisine like a potato and cheddar pierogi or warm pretzel. Stick around for live music from Fritz Polka Band, a classic German Bench dance, stein holding contests, family-friendly Oktoberfest games, and more.
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Where: Manhattan, NY
When: Now through October 26
Cost: Free admission, but advanced ticket registration is recommended
Each year, Watermark Bar holds a month and a half long Oktoberfest celebration at New York City’s Pier 15! With the Brooklyn skyline as your backdrop, you can expect live music and dancing, fun games and activities, draft German beer and souvenir steins, and tasty bites like Schnitzel, Kölsch beer mac and cheese, and iconic jumbo soft pretzels.
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Where: New Paltz, NY
When: September 19-21
Cost: Admission and activities are included in overnight rate or $145/person for Oktoberfest day pass.
Raise a stein at Mohonk Mountain House for a weekend celebrating German culture in the mountains! All kinds of events are being held throughout the weekend including a Home Brewing 101 discussion, Polka dancing classes, stein games, live performances from the Bratwurst Boys, tastings from local Hudson Valley breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries, plus Mohonk’s regular lineup of fun activities. Dinner specials like veal and pork dumplings and Beef Rouladen with Potato Pancakes are included in your overnight rate as well as a tasty Sunday brunch of Pork Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, and Spätzle.
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Where: Binghamton, NY
When: September 20
Cost: $8/adult, $4/child (6-12)
Put on your Lederhosen and Dirndl and join the Binghamton German Club for a day of Oktoberfest fun! Enjoy an assortment of wursts (including vegan options), classic German side dishes, and delicious desserts, plus a variety of German beers, wine, and soft drinks. Don’t miss the traditional Bier Stein hoisting contest.
Where: Franklin Square, NY
When: Various dates from September 21-October 12
Cost: Admission varies by event and day
A home for German culture, cuisine, and events on Long Island since 1901, welcome fall at the Plattduetche with a variety of Oktoberfest events! The season kicks off with Oompahfest on September 21, featuring traditional Oompah music, German food, beer, dancing, demonstrations, and more. October brings even more excitement with Oktoberfest celebrations taking place across eight days (October 2-5, 10-12), each featuring live music and dancing from local German groups, a special Bavarian menu, and selection of German brews. Plus, there’s an Oktoberfest buffet (October 2) and a Senior Oktoberfest (October 10).
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Where: Cape Vincent, NY
When: September 27
Cost: Advanced admission: $25/person. Day-of admission: $30/person. Volksmarch: $5/family
Make your way to Cape Vincent for the 17th annual Oktoberfest on the Village Green! Kick off the day with a two-mile Volksmarch, a German term that means “people’s march,” where you’ll take part in a non-competitive, self-paced walk through the village. After, get ready to celebrate with local German cuisine, live music by Gridlock and DJ Vito, a kids activity zone, and Lederhosen and Dirndl and German Dance contests. Plus, you’ll get a commemorative mug to use in the beer and wine garden offering a selection of local brews, German beers, and regional wines.
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Where: Lockport, NY
When: September 27
Cost: Free
Celebrate the Erie Canal Bicentennial and Oktoberfest at Locktoberfest in Lockport. Take a stroll through the farmers market featuring 55+ local vendors selling local products, handmade treasures, and other goodies, and check out the Family Fun Zone with free games, prizes, and activities for all ages. Make a stop at the Locktoberfest Beer Garden for local brews, food, and live music and don’t miss out on the last demonstration of the historic Erie Canal Flight of Five Locks of the season!
Where: Niagara Falls, NY
When: September 27
Cost: Free
Celebrate Oktoberfest just steps from Niagara Falls at Old Falls Street USA. Get into the festive spirit with a stroll through the iconic three-block cobblestone street, decked out with German cuisine, beer and wine, live music, dancing from the German American Musicians Association, and kids activities. Extend your trip and make a stop at Niagara Falls surrounded by fall foliage!
Where: Albany, NY
When: September 27
Cost: 5K registration: $38/person in advance, $45/day of. Oktoberfest admission: $20/person in advance, $30/person at door.
Wolff’s Biergarten is the place to be if you’re looking for the ultimate Bavarian celebration in the Capital-Saratoga region. Start the day off with the Albany Oktoberfest 5K at 10am, where runners will receive a commemorative stein and complimentary admission to the after-party at Wolff’s with registration. Then, join in on the Oktoberfest fun at Wolff’s with live music from Fritz’s Polka Band, traditional German folk music, tasty bites like schnitzel, bratwurst, and soft pretzels, a selection of German beer and wine, games like stein holding and keg bowling, and a best dressed contest. Don’t miss out on the cutest event of the day: the dachshund races, where dachshunds take center stage in a sprint to the finish line!
Where: Kerhonkson, NY
When: September 27
Cost: Free
Not much beats spending Oktoberfest surrounded by small-town charm, big flavor, and the fall colors of the Shawangunk Ridge at Rough Cut Brewing in Kerhonkson! Expect German food, live music, stein holding contests, raffles, and fall brews for a day filled with Bavarian fun. Say “prost” with the purchase of a limited edition Rough Cut Brewing stein or boot which also includes one free beer pour at the festival.
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Where: Wilmington, NY
When: September 27-28
Cost: $20/person online. $25/person at gate.
Enjoy a family-friendly weekend of Bavarian-style fun surrounded by Adirondack foliage at Whiteface Mountain! Rated one the five must-visit Oktoberfests in North America by SKI Magazine, this festival features live music by headliners die Schlauberger, The Adlers, the 3 Alphorns, dancing from the Alpenland Taenzer dancers, German beer, and delicious food. Soak up the scenic fall beauty of the Adirondack Mountains on a Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride, offered throughout the weekend. Plus, there’s tons of activities for the kids like pumpkin painting, bounce houses, and more!
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Where: Hunter, NY
When: September 27-28, October 4-5, and October 11-12
Cost: Free
Grab your lederhosen and get ready for three weekends of Oktoberfest fun in the Catskills! With the vibrant fall colors of Hunter Mountain as your backdrop, listen to live performances from Joe Adee and the Lugnuts, Alana Wyld Blu, and Die Schlauberger Band, stein holding and keg rolling competitions, a beer tent, food trucks, kids games, and a Doxie Derby! Don’t miss out on a chance to experience sweeping autumn views from above in a scenic skyride or take a stroll through local craft vendors.
Where: Auburn, NY
When: October 5
Cost: Free
Gather in Auburn for Prison City Brewing’s annual Oktoberfest! Just 40 minutes outside of Syracuse, you can expect live music and dancing from the Syracuse German Band and Dancers, a stein holding contest, food trucks, 20+ German and Oktoberfest beers and wine, and a bounce house for the kids.
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Where: Lake George, NY
When: October 10-12
Cost: Free
Head to Lake George this fall for vibrant foliage and an Oktoberfest that’s fun for all! The village’s main street will be transformed into a Bavarian-style street fair with nonstop German and Polka music, traditional dancing, local artisan vendors, carnival rides, stein hoisting, keg tossing, and a beer garden with tasty cuisine and German-inspired ales and lagers from Adirondack Pub & Brewery. Can’t make it to Lake George Village Oktoberfest? Glens Falls is hosting an Oktoberfest on September 27 and Adirondack Brewery is holding Oktoberfest on October 18 with even more Bavarian fun!
Oktoberfest Cruises (Various regions)
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Where: Manhattan, NY and Fairport, NY
When: Various dates from October 11-November 9
Cost: Varies by cruise
Witness the shades of autumn and get into the festive fall spirit with an Oktoberfest cruise! Circle Line (October 11-November 9) and Seastreak (October 11-12) in New York City both offer Oktoberfest cruises that venture up into the Hudson Valley, featuring beautiful foliage views along the Hudson River, German bites and brews, live music, and more. The Colonial Belle in Fairport offers a three-hour Oktoberfest Cruise (October 11) on the historic Erie Canal, where you’ll get to indulge in classic Bavarian fun and pass through a canal lock.
Where: Chautauqua, NY
When: October 25
Cost: $56/person for dinner only and $257/two people for overnight rate
Whether it’s their famous summer assembly or Oktoberfest, there’s always something happening at the Chautauqua Institution! Join the Athenaeum Hotel for a night filled with Oktoberfest splendor. Choose from a menu featuring delicious German dishes like Sauerbraten (Marinated beef with sweet-sour gravy), Kartoffelsuppe (Creamy potato soup with sliced sausage and vegetables), and Apfelstrudel for dessert. While you dine, you’ll be serenaded by the Bergholz German Band, playing German folk music. Make it a weekend getaway with the Oktoberfest Overnight Hotel Package, which includes lodging for two people, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast.
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