9 Places to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Dallas
Texans love an international celebration, especially one that centers on beer. Whether it’s dressing in green and knocking back similarly colored brews on St. Patrick’s Day or ordering up platters of tacos to enjoy with ice-cold Mexican lagers on Cinco de Mayo, we’re always on the hunt for a great party. And one of fall’s biggest celebrations takes inspiration from Munich, Germany’s annual Oktoberfest. All across Dallas for the rest of September and into October you can partake in delightful German beers and other cultural traditions with everything from outdoor celebrations in the park to special promotions at restaurants and bars. Read on for nine of our top recommendations in Dallas. Then dig out your lederhosen from the back of the closet, raise a stein, and yell, “Prost!” as loud as you can.
Bar Louie Oktober-feast
Sept. 1-Oct. 8
Bar Louie presents its Oktober-feast featuring $5 Sam Adams Oktoberfest Draft Beer during Happy Hour, every Monday- Friday from 4-7 p.m. Try one with the new garlic-parm or lemon-pepper wings (a great excuse to order more $5 beer).
Adolphus Biergarten
Sept. 15-Oct. 8
The iconic and historic Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas unveils a 21-and-over rooftop biergarten right on time for the cooler fall temperatures. Over the next four weekends, enjoy authentic music, dancing, beer, and traditional food—all with spectacular skyline views for a $20 entry fee per person.
Harwood Arms Oktoberfest
Sept. 29, 11 a.m.
Start the celebration at lunchtime and keep it going through late night with live music acts taking the stage at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Additionally, Harwood Arms hosts two stein-holding competitions, and rolls out a menu of German beers and food, including potato pancakes, chicken schnitzel sandwiches, and Bavarian sausages. Get a beer stein for $22 and enjoy $8 refills all day.
Malai Kitchen Seasonal Oktoberfest Beer & Bavarian Tap Takeover
Sept. 16-Oct. 3
Though it’s known for its Thai-Vietnamese food, Malai Kitchen also has a devoted following for its house-brewed beers. Starting September 16, diners can pop into any of the restaurant’s area locations for their in-house seasonal Oktoberfest beer, an amber-colored lager with a semi-sweet, crisp finish.
Oktoberfest at Revelers Hall
Sept. 22, 8 p.m.
The Oom-Pah Daddies provide the soundtrack for an evening of polka and other fun, high-energy tunes to get you clapping and dancing in commemoration of Oktoberfest. Entry is only $10.
Dallas Arboretum Oktoberfest
Sept. 23 & 24
As part of the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden’s Autumn at the Arboretum, two days are set aside specifically to commemorate Oktoberfest. As part of your regular entry ticket, you’ll be able to access a variety of German cultural traditions throughout the gardens overlooking White Rock Lake, as well as a nice selection of German foods and beer.
Oktoberfest Dallas
Sept. 30, 10 a.m.
Flagpole Hill, a park to the north of White Rock Lake, hosts the annual, all-day Oktoberfest Dallas celebration featuring multiple live music acts, local craft beers to enjoy in a classic biergarten, German-inspired food from bratwurst to pretzels, and activities for kids of all ages. Entry is $10 (children)-$25 (adults).
Oktoberfest at AJ Vagabonds
Oct. 1, 5 p.m.
Head to the lawn at clothing and gift store, AJ Vagabonds, in the Bishop Arts District for a free event featuring plenty of fun Oktoberfest challenges: a traditional stein-holding competition, an Alpine horn beer-chugging competition, and the traditional German game of hammerschlagen. Food includes brats, pretzels, and gherkins to help soak up lots and lots of beer.
Oaktoberfest
Oct. 3
Participate in a 1.128-mile fun run through Oak Cliff with beer samples along the route, then stick around for local beers from Oak Cliff Brewing Co. and Celestial Beerworks, a stein-holding competition, music by the Oom-Pah Daddies, and a biergarten for enjoying all of the above. Tickets are $25 (general admission)-$375 (all-day VIP table for 6 with plenty of perks). Entry to the Beer Run is $25.
