Craft breweries in every corner Tampa Bay love celebrating Oktoberfest every fall, each hosting their own versions of the world’s largest beer festival. From märzens and kölsches to pilsners and lagers, these Bavarian-themed parties feature some of the best German-style beer around—whether its imported from the motherland or brewed right here in Florida.
For all the polka music-lovers and stein-hoisters out there— here are 25 Oktoberfest celebrations happening throughout Tampa Bay this fall. All events are free to attend unless an admission price is listed.
Did we miss your Oktoberfest party in our list? Send an email to [email protected] to be added.
Rapptoberfest 2023 There’s still two full weekends of boozy fun to be had at Rapp Brewing Company’s annual Oktoberfest bash. Boasting itself as “the original German brewery in the Tampa Bay area” this Seminole mainstay hosts a weekend-long party full of German food trucks and an incredible variety of award-winning German beers. Its unique stein contest happens on Saturday, Sept. 23. Every Friday-Sunday until Oct. 1. Various times. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. Rappbrewing.com
Yuengling’s Draft Haus & Kitchen The massive Yuengling taproom and restaurant opened a few months ago and hosts its debut Oktoberfest party each weekend until mid-October. From Friday-Sunday guests can enjoy Oktoberfest-themed food menu, drink specials, live music and interactive games. Every Friday-Sunday until Oct. 15. Various times. 11109 N. 30th St. Tampa. yuengling.com
Woodwright Brewing Company This Dunedin brewery hosts festivities during the same week as the official Oktoberfest over in Munich, so it must be the real deal. Expect Woodwright’s award-winning Märzen and other German-style beers on tap alongside a limited amount of exclusive steins. On Sept. 16, 23, and 30, live music and traditional games will take over its outdoor event space. Saturday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Oct. 1. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. woodwrightbrewing.com
The Wheel Haus This St. Pete hotspot—normally stylized as "The Wheel House"— isn’t hosting a one-off party, and instead plans on pouring specialty biers and dishing out German-inspired eats all week-long starting this Sunday. Sunday, Sept. 17-Saturday, Sept. 23. 7220 Central Ave, St. Petersburg. wheelhousestpete.com
Bayboro Brewing A variety of German-inspired food and drinks accompany live music and classic Oktoberfest games (where winners will be rewarded with prizes from the bar). Admission is free but RSVPing via Eventbrite is recommended. Saturday, Sept. 23. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com
Grand Central Brewhouse Live oom-pah music, traditional German-style beers and fare, boozy games and a spread of local artists and vendors round out this weekend-long Oktoberfest shindig. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 23-24. 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. grandcentralbrew.com
Bootleggers Brewing Company This brewery-hosted party offers a wide variety of beer (German and otherwise), costumes, games and freshly-baked pretzels that are the size of your head. Saturday, Sept. 23. 10256 Causeway Blvd., Tampa. bootleggerbrewingco.com
Plant City’s 2nd annual Oktoberfest One of the more kid-friendly events in this listicle, this massive Oktoberfest block party features a costume contest, games, live music and Bavarian dancers. Saturday, Sept. 23. 100 N Collins St., Plant City. plantcitymainstreet.org
Caledonia Brewing Indulge in freshly-tapped German and fall-inspired beers and an exclusive Oktoberfest menu from Caledonia Brewing’s Chef Debbie and John. Plus, live music and new merch releases. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. 587 Main St., Dunedin. caledoniabrewing.com
Common Dialect This Seminole Heights brewery’s first Oktoberfest gig includes two full days of “Bavarian-inspired” delights, live music, and a variety of German-style beer releases. While Common Dialect is perhaps the most family-friendly brewery in Tampa, guests must be 21 and up after 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. 5023 N Florida Ave., Tampa. commondialectbeer.com
German American Society of Pinellas County The German American Society of Pinellas County hosts a real-deal Oktoberfest at its Pinellas Park headquarters each fall. Folks attending this traditional celebration can expect polka music, cultural dances, a wide variety of beers, a spread of homemade German food (pretzels, bratwurst, potato pancakes, etc.), stein-hoisting competitions, local vendors and even a “Kinder Corner,” where kiddos can play and make crafts. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30 and Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7. 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. germantampa.com
Crooked Thumb Brewery This Safety Harbor gem releases five German-style beers at its annual party where there will be live polka music, a spread of traditional German cuisine, and of course, a stein hoisting contest. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. 555 10th Ave. S, Safety Harbor. crookedthumbbrew.com
TBBC (Westchase) TBCC’s annual party at its Westchase outpost offers all of the classic Oktoberfest festivities, plus costume contest and ax throwing. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. 13937 Monroes Business Park, Tampa. tbbc.beer
Bier Boutique You can attend this Oktoberfest party solo, or register you and three friends for its tournament full of boozy games. And if you’re there for the German grub instead, feel free to indulge in a variety of brats, sauerkraut, pretzels and beer cheese. Saturday, Sept. 30. 465 7th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. bierboutiquestpete.com
Gulfport Brewery + Eatery While there aren’t many details online about Gulfport’s annual celebration, this brewery and restaurant promises “festivities stretching all down Beach Blvd!” Saturday, Sept. 30. 3007 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport. gulfport-brewing.com
Cage Brewing Drink as many beers as your heart desires to the upbeat tunes of the Apple Strudel Oktoberfest band (which we can assume is booked and busy this fall).
Sunday, Oct. 1 2001 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Eventbrite.com
Piertoberfest The St. Pete Pier transforms into a German-inspired wonderland this fall, chock full of German music and dancers, tasty eats like brat and sauerkraut empanadas and spätzle, and a variety of both local and imported brews. While general admission is free, folks can opt for the $60 VIP experience for a more decked-out Oktoberfest experience. Sunday, Oct.1. 615 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. piertoberfest.com
World of Beer Test your knowledge of worldly beers at this Oktoberfest-themed trivia night—all while drinking plenty of it, of course. Monday, Oct. 2. 9524 West Linebaugh Ave.,Tampa. Worldofbeer.com
3 Daughters Brewing A slightly different type of festivity, this St. Pete brewery hosts its annual Oktoberfest-themed fun run each fall—with bonus points if you participate while wearing your lederhosen. Wednesday, Oct. 4. 222 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. 3dbrewing.com
Dunedin Brewery For the 23rd year in a row, “the oldest microbrewery in Florida” hosts its multi-day Oktoberfest, complete with traditional German eats, live performances from local heavy hitters like Kristopher James, HoneyWhat and The New Rulers, and new seasonal beers on tap. Some of Dunedin Brewery’s fest beers include its Oktoberfest lager, a Lemon Haze Hefeweizen and an exclusive Roggenbier.
Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 4-8. Various times. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. Dunedinbrewery.com
Woven Water Brewing This brewery’s beer party features all of the best aspects of an Oktoberfest celebration: festive music, a stein-hoisting competition and all of the German pilsner and wheat beers you could ever want. Plus, customized Woven Water steins to sip out of. Saturday, Oct. 7. Noon. 456 W Columbus Dr., Tampa. wovenwaterbrew.com
Oktoberfest Tampa The Bay area’s signature celebration, this massive Oktoberfest takes over downtown’s Curtis Hixon Park each fall, for a full weekend of boozy games (which attendees take very seriously), traditional German fare, and one-liter “Mass Beirs”.Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. $10-$20. 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. oktoberfesttampa.com
Barriehaus Beer Co. We’re not exactly sure what “sausage games” are, but Ybor City’s Barriehaus Beer Co. will surely teach us at its annual, weekend-long Oktoberfest party. Friday’s kick-off gig is free to attend, but it will cost $50 to get into Saturday’s festivities, which features live polka music, beer and sausage games (with a variety of prizes), a Barriehaus souvenir stein and access to beer pre-sales. Its weekend-long Oktoberfest party ends with a free, kid-friendly “Art-toberfest” celebration on Sunday. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. Various times. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com
Oktoberfest @ Albert Whitted Park While downtown Tampa hosts its annual festival, another party across the bridge helps St. Petians celebrate Oktoberfest in a big way, too. This event hosted by 3 Daughters Brewing features a massive polka band, a Volkswagen car show, and all of the expected German dishes and beer. Saturday, Oct. 14. $15. 480 Bayshore Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. 3-daughters-brewing.com
Upper Tampa Bay Oktoberfest One of the more family-friendly celebrations on our radar, this Chamber of Commerce-hosted event is full of arts and crafts, weiner dog races, live music and a stein-hoisting competition for the adults. Friday, Oct. 20-Sunday, Oct. 22. $5. 11225 Race Track Rd., Tampa. eventbrite.com
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For all the polka music-lovers and stein-hoisters out there— here are 25 Oktoberfest celebrations happening throughout Tampa Bay this fall. All events are free to attend unless an admission price is listed.
Did we miss your Oktoberfest party in our list? Send an email to [email protected] to be added.
Rapptoberfest 2023 There’s still two full weekends of boozy fun to be had at Rapp Brewing Company’s annual Oktoberfest bash. Boasting itself as “the original German brewery in the Tampa Bay area” this Seminole mainstay hosts a weekend-long party full of German food trucks and an incredible variety of award-winning German beers. Its unique stein contest happens on Saturday, Sept. 23. Every Friday-Sunday until Oct. 1. Various times. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. Rappbrewing.com
Yuengling’s Draft Haus & Kitchen The massive Yuengling taproom and restaurant opened a few months ago and hosts its debut Oktoberfest party each weekend until mid-October. From Friday-Sunday guests can enjoy Oktoberfest-themed food menu, drink specials, live music and interactive games. Every Friday-Sunday until Oct. 15. Various times. 11109 N. 30th St. Tampa. yuengling.com
Woodwright Brewing Company This Dunedin brewery hosts festivities during the same week as the official Oktoberfest over in Munich, so it must be the real deal. Expect Woodwright’s award-winning Märzen and other German-style beers on tap alongside a limited amount of exclusive steins. On Sept. 16, 23, and 30, live music and traditional games will take over its outdoor event space. Saturday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Oct. 1. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. woodwrightbrewing.com
The Wheel Haus This St. Pete hotspot—normally stylized as "The Wheel House"— isn’t hosting a one-off party, and instead plans on pouring specialty biers and dishing out German-inspired eats all week-long starting this Sunday. Sunday, Sept. 17-Saturday, Sept. 23. 7220 Central Ave, St. Petersburg. wheelhousestpete.com
Bayboro Brewing A variety of German-inspired food and drinks accompany live music and classic Oktoberfest games (where winners will be rewarded with prizes from the bar). Admission is free but RSVPing via Eventbrite is recommended. Saturday, Sept. 23. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com
Grand Central Brewhouse Live oom-pah music, traditional German-style beers and fare, boozy games and a spread of local artists and vendors round out this weekend-long Oktoberfest shindig. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 23-24. 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. grandcentralbrew.com
Bootleggers Brewing Company This brewery-hosted party offers a wide variety of beer (German and otherwise), costumes, games and freshly-baked pretzels that are the size of your head. Saturday, Sept. 23. 10256 Causeway Blvd., Tampa. bootleggerbrewingco.com
Plant City’s 2nd annual Oktoberfest One of the more kid-friendly events in this listicle, this massive Oktoberfest block party features a costume contest, games, live music and Bavarian dancers. Saturday, Sept. 23. 100 N Collins St., Plant City. plantcitymainstreet.org
Caledonia Brewing Indulge in freshly-tapped German and fall-inspired beers and an exclusive Oktoberfest menu from Caledonia Brewing’s Chef Debbie and John. Plus, live music and new merch releases. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. 587 Main St., Dunedin. caledoniabrewing.com
Common Dialect This Seminole Heights brewery’s first Oktoberfest gig includes two full days of “Bavarian-inspired” delights, live music, and a variety of German-style beer releases. While Common Dialect is perhaps the most family-friendly brewery in Tampa, guests must be 21 and up after 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. 5023 N Florida Ave., Tampa. commondialectbeer.com
German American Society of Pinellas County The German American Society of Pinellas County hosts a real-deal Oktoberfest at its Pinellas Park headquarters each fall. Folks attending this traditional celebration can expect polka music, cultural dances, a wide variety of beers, a spread of homemade German food (pretzels, bratwurst, potato pancakes, etc.), stein-hoisting competitions, local vendors and even a “Kinder Corner,” where kiddos can play and make crafts. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30 and Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7. 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. germantampa.com
Crooked Thumb Brewery This Safety Harbor gem releases five German-style beers at its annual party where there will be live polka music, a spread of traditional German cuisine, and of course, a stein hoisting contest. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. 555 10th Ave. S, Safety Harbor. crookedthumbbrew.com
TBBC (Westchase) TBCC’s annual party at its Westchase outpost offers all of the classic Oktoberfest festivities, plus costume contest and ax throwing. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. 13937 Monroes Business Park, Tampa. tbbc.beer
Bier Boutique You can attend this Oktoberfest party solo, or register you and three friends for its tournament full of boozy games. And if you’re there for the German grub instead, feel free to indulge in a variety of brats, sauerkraut, pretzels and beer cheese. Saturday, Sept. 30. 465 7th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. bierboutiquestpete.com
Gulfport Brewery + Eatery While there aren’t many details online about Gulfport’s annual celebration, this brewery and restaurant promises “festivities stretching all down Beach Blvd!” Saturday, Sept. 30. 3007 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport. gulfport-brewing.com
Cage Brewing Drink as many beers as your heart desires to the upbeat tunes of the Apple Strudel Oktoberfest band (which we can assume is booked and busy this fall).
Sunday, Oct. 1 2001 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Eventbrite.com
Piertoberfest The St. Pete Pier transforms into a German-inspired wonderland this fall, chock full of German music and dancers, tasty eats like brat and sauerkraut empanadas and spätzle, and a variety of both local and imported brews. While general admission is free, folks can opt for the $60 VIP experience for a more decked-out Oktoberfest experience. Sunday, Oct.1. 615 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. piertoberfest.com
World of Beer Test your knowledge of worldly beers at this Oktoberfest-themed trivia night—all while drinking plenty of it, of course. Monday, Oct. 2. 9524 West Linebaugh Ave.,Tampa. Worldofbeer.com
3 Daughters Brewing A slightly different type of festivity, this St. Pete brewery hosts its annual Oktoberfest-themed fun run each fall—with bonus points if you participate while wearing your lederhosen. Wednesday, Oct. 4. 222 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. 3dbrewing.com
Dunedin Brewery For the 23rd year in a row, “the oldest microbrewery in Florida” hosts its multi-day Oktoberfest, complete with traditional German eats, live performances from local heavy hitters like Kristopher James, HoneyWhat and The New Rulers, and new seasonal beers on tap. Some of Dunedin Brewery’s fest beers include its Oktoberfest lager, a Lemon Haze Hefeweizen and an exclusive Roggenbier.
Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 4-8. Various times. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. Dunedinbrewery.com
Woven Water Brewing This brewery’s beer party features all of the best aspects of an Oktoberfest celebration: festive music, a stein-hoisting competition and all of the German pilsner and wheat beers you could ever want. Plus, customized Woven Water steins to sip out of. Saturday, Oct. 7. Noon. 456 W Columbus Dr., Tampa. wovenwaterbrew.com
Oktoberfest Tampa The Bay area’s signature celebration, this massive Oktoberfest takes over downtown’s Curtis Hixon Park each fall, for a full weekend of boozy games (which attendees take very seriously), traditional German fare, and one-liter “Mass Beirs”.Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. $10-$20. 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. oktoberfesttampa.com
Barriehaus Beer Co. We’re not exactly sure what “sausage games” are, but Ybor City’s Barriehaus Beer Co. will surely teach us at its annual, weekend-long Oktoberfest party. Friday’s kick-off gig is free to attend, but it will cost $50 to get into Saturday’s festivities, which features live polka music, beer and sausage games (with a variety of prizes), a Barriehaus souvenir stein and access to beer pre-sales. Its weekend-long Oktoberfest party ends with a free, kid-friendly “Art-toberfest” celebration on Sunday. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. Various times. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com
Oktoberfest @ Albert Whitted Park While downtown Tampa hosts its annual festival, another party across the bridge helps St. Petians celebrate Oktoberfest in a big way, too. This event hosted by 3 Daughters Brewing features a massive polka band, a Volkswagen car show, and all of the expected German dishes and beer. Saturday, Oct. 14. $15. 480 Bayshore Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. 3-daughters-brewing.com
Upper Tampa Bay Oktoberfest One of the more family-friendly celebrations on our radar, this Chamber of Commerce-hosted event is full of arts and crafts, weiner dog races, live music and a stein-hoisting competition for the adults. Friday, Oct. 20-Sunday, Oct. 22. $5. 11225 Race Track Rd., Tampa. eventbrite.com
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