If you’re looking for an excuse to break out the lederhosen, grab a giant pretzel and raise a stein, Oktoberfest is coming to the Washington, D.C., area this September.
The DMV is getting an early start with everything from sprawling outdoor festivals and German-style beer gardens to brewery parties featuring live music, traditional food and plenty of competitions.
Many of the celebrations are concentrated around September 19th and September 26th, making it easy to turn Oktoberfest into a weekend outing.
We’ve rounded up 10 fun Oktoberfest destinations around the DMV area that are worth checking out!
Whether you’re looking for a traditional German meal, a lively beer garden or something a little more unusual, there’s an Oktoberfest celebration worth the trip.
Wunder Garten
Wunder Garten is going big for its 11th annual Oktoberfest, celebrating for four weekends from September 18th through October 11th.
The NoMa beer garden’s lineup includes ceremonial keg tappings, steinholding competitions, live music, DJs, markets and themed events.
Opening weekend features Bavarian happy hour, the National Cherry Blossom Brass Band, stein-holding contests and a lederhosen and dirndl contest.
General admission is free, although some special experiences require tickets.
Dacha Beer Garden
Dacha’s Navy Yard location is kicking off Oktoberfest with an evening packed with live music, games, and Bavarian-themed activities.
The September 18th celebration includes a ceremonial DC Brau keg tapping, with guests arriving early able to help tap the ceremonial first keg to receive a free pint.
Competitions include a yodel-off, Bavarian musical chairs, an Oktoberfest spelling bee, stein-holding, and a pretzel-eating contest.
There will also be live screen printing so guests can create their own 2026 Oktoberfest T-shirt.
Café Berlin
Capitol Hill’s Café Berlin is celebrating Oktoberfest for more than a month, transforming its covered biergarten into a destination for German beer and traditional food.
Festbier and Märzen will be available by the Maß, alongside German and Austrian wines.
The food lineup includes roast pork knuckle, Wiener Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, wurst, and warm pretzels with Obatzda.
There’s no cover charge, although reservations are recommended on weekends.
The restaurant’s Oktoberfest runs from September 19th through October 25th.
Alexandria Oktoberfest
Just across the Potomac, Alexandria Oktoberfest is bringing a full day of German-themed entertainment to John Carlyle Square.
The September 19th festival features German music, traditional dancing, a beer garden, German food and local vendors.
There are also competitions, including a beer stein-holding contest and a Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest contest for anyone ready to embrace the costumes.
Admission is free, and the event is family-friendly and pet-friendly, making it an easy option for a group with a mix of ages.
Middleburg Oktoberfest
Middleburg’s Oktoberfest combines traditional German festivities with an attraction you probably won’t find at most beer festivals: corgi races.
The September 19th celebration features a biergarten, German food, local beer, wine and cider, live music, dancing and festival games.
The 32 competing corgis will race at 1:30 pm and 3 pm. There’s also a stein-holding contest and fashion show, along with German-themed musical performances.
The event’s small-town setting and mix of food, drinks and entertainment make it an especially fun day trip from D.C.
Silver Branch Lagerhaus & Biergarten
Silver Branch Lagerhaus & Biergarten is hosting its 8th annual Oktoberfest on September 19th with an all-day brewery celebration.
The event includes the release of its annual Oktoberfest Märzen, live music from Chesapeake Brass Authority, traditional food and stein-hoisting competitions and games.
Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged, although they’re not required.
Silver Branch calls Oktoberfest its biggest event of the year, with tickets and drink tokens available in advance. The celebration runs from late morning through the evening.
Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.
Falls Church’s Settle Down Easy Brewing is celebrating its 8th annual Oktoberfest on September 19th.
The afternoon event runs from noon to 5 pm and pairs the brewery’s beers with Oktoberfest festivities. The brewery is also advertising pre-order specials for the celebration.
It’s one of the more convenient Northern Virginia options for D.C. residents looking to make a quick Oktoberfest outing without going far from the city.
The brewery’s September calendar also includes OysterFEST on September 26th, giving visitors another reason to keep an eye on its fall events.
G34.3 Brewing Company
G34.3 Brewing Company in Lorton is hosting a nine-hour Oktoberfest celebration on September 26th.
The brewery will serve its Lenticular Lager 1553 Märzen-style beer, along with bratwursts, pretzels and other German-inspired food from The Alpine Chef.
A live oompah band will provide the soundtrack, while general admission is free.
For an upgraded experience, a $34.99 VIP ticket includes a full Bavarian meal, with a $9.99 döner kebab add-on also available for evening food.
Rocktobierfest in Rockville
Rockville Town Center is getting its own Oktoberfest-style celebration with Rocktobierfest on September 26th.
The free festival features two stages of live music, local beer, German food, artisan vendors and kids’ activities.
The event grew out of Rockville’s sister-city relationship with Pinneberg, Germany, and has become one of the area’s larger Oktoberfest celebrations.
The city says the festival attracts more than 8,000 people each year, making this a good choice if you’re looking for something bigger than a typical brewery Oktoberfest.
ChurchKey
ChurchKey is bringing Oktoberfest to 14th Street on September 26th, transforming its bar and parlor into a Bavarian beer hall for the afternoon.
The celebration will feature 10 German-style festbiers, along with German-inspired food from Chef Hamilton Johnson.
Beer fans can also take part in a stein-holding competition at 2 pm, with special prizes for the winners.
The event is free to attend, with food and beer available à la carte. Lederhosen are encouraged, making it an easy choice if you want an Oktoberfest experience without leaving D.C.
