Posted on
September 30, 2025
in
Trip Ideas
Ever since the first Oktoberfest was
held in 1810, Germans and German emigrants the world over have kicked off the
largest festival in the world every year in late September. Back then, the
event celebrated the wedding of a Bavarian prince and princess, but today it
celebrates the wedding of everyone in attendance with beer. If you can’t make it over to Deutschland,
take IgoUgo's recommendations for American cities with a brat-filled taste of the real thing.
Cincinnati,
OH and Columbus, OH
Dubbed “Zinzinnati” due to its high
German population, the Forest City began holding its own Oktoberfests in 1976.
Over thirty years later, it’s the largest in North America, with an annual
attendance of around 500,000 people and performances by Weird Al, Davy Jones,
and the largest kazoo band in history. Downstate, Ohio capital Columbus builds
an entire German village within a 100,000-foot pavilion as their way of marking
the occasion.
Das
Hofbrauhaus in Las Vegas, NV
Stein-holding contests and raucous sets
from MC Johann are just two of the events that mark this wild weekend in Sin
City. The beer hall itself is a replica of the famous Hofbrauhaus in Munich,
which started brewing beer in 1589.
Vail,
CO
In keeping with the extravagance of a
top-notch ski resort, the Town of Vail celebrates Oktoberfest over the course of two
weekends. Attendees can gorge themselves in the Bratwurst-Eating Contest or blow
off some steam with Keg Bowling.
Tulsa, OK
This city on the plains takes advantage
of its wide-open fields with expansive tents and a Spaten-sponsored wiener dog
race. If you’re feeling more American than German, you can even play a few
games of beer pong with the festival’s mascot.
IgoUgo journals about other great festivals
Greek Food Festival Journals
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Journals
National Cherry Blossom Festival Journals
Posted by tdbeckwith (Thomas Beckwith)