Beer, brats and bands: A guide to Oktoberfest in the East Bay

Plus, Nosh’s stein-holding expert offers her tips for success in the competition of strength and endurance.

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond is celebrating its 17th year. Credit: Oaktoberfest in the Dimond

In the East Bay, Autumn is more of a shift in mindset than a seasonal change in weather, but pull on your coziest sweater anyway (at least for a couple of minutes), because it’s time to celebrate Oktoberfest season. This years’ events are bound to be full of overflowing steins, salty pretzels, and sizzling brats.

If you haven’t already made it to an Oktoberfest (or one of the more culturally ambiguous fall beer festivals), or you want another chance to pull those lederhosen out of the closet, then get yourself to one, two, or maybe all of these Munich-inspired events Nosh has compiled organized by date, earliest to latest. Prost!

Competitors in the 2023 Temescal Brewing Oktoberfest masskrugstemmen event strain to hold up their steins. Credit: Tovin Lapan

Oktoberfest at Temescal Brewing

Saturday, September 21st, 12-10 pm; 4115 Telegraph Ave., Oakland; Tickets starting at $33.85 (0.5LTemescal Fest Mug + 2 Standard Drink Tokens included)

Don’t miss this weekend’s Oktoberfest at Temescal Brewing, complete with their very own Fest Beer, limited edition mugs, and Squabisch pretzels and Diggy Dogs brats. Limber up or grab a good seat for the stein-holding competition at 4 p.m. You’re automatically entered if you purchase a 1L stein, but participating or observing are both highly entertaining.   

Walnut Creeks’ Oktoberfest includes a range of music and activities, including special areas for kids and dogs. Credit: Walnut Creek Oktoberfest

Walnut Creek Oktoberfest

Friday, Sept. 27,  4-10 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 28 12- 9 p.m.; Civic Park East, 1375 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek; Free entry

Walnut Creek’s Oktoberfest is fit for the whole family, including your dog. There will be live music by groups like the Las Lomas Jazz Band and the Northgate Bella Voce Singers, polka lessons, a magic show by the Amazing Cervantes, a “Kinder Platz” kids zone which includes a giant slide and train rides, dozens of vendors, and a Dogtober section where leashed dogs can join in on the festivities.

Epidemic Ale’s Oktoberfest

Saturday, Sept. 28, 12-10 pm; 150 Mason Circle J, Concord; Free entry

Concord’s Epidemic Ale’s Oktoberfest has all the normal activities: collectible steins, German-style ales, pretzels, brats … but they also have a couple of more unique additions: “GIANT” turkey legs, pinball on the patio, and live bagpipers at 2 p.m. If you stay late enough you’ll be able to finish the night by belting out some karaoke.

Headlands Brewing’s Oktoberfest

Friday Oct. 4, 11 a.m. through Sunday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.; 1280 Gilman St., Berkeley and 3420 Mount Diablo Blvd. Suite A, Lafayette; Free entry

Head to either Headlands Brewing location in Berkeley or Lafayette the first weekend of October for a three day Oktoberfest celebration. They’ll be pouring their newest festbier “Bierstiefel”, have steins, pretzels with house-made beer cheese and IPA mustard, and live music. Lederhosen or dirndl dress is highly encouraged. 

Richmond Backyard: Harvest Festival

Saturday Oct. 5 and Sunday Oct. 6 from 12-8 p.m.; 205 Cutting Blvd., Richmond; Free entry

It’s time for the 2nd annual Harvest Festival at Richmond Backyard: a two-day event celebrating the change of season. There will be local brewers such as Berryessa Brewing Co, Farwest Cider, and Original Pattern, a pumpkin patch, live music from R&B band “Sap Sounds and the Bay Area All Stars” and DJ Califia, yard games, and good burgers and brats from Backyard.

The Piedmont Oktoberfest

Saturday, Oct. 5 from 4-9 p.m.; Piedmont Community Center, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont; Tickets start at $75 per person (includes five beer or wine tastings, one sausage, and one pretzel)

Benefiting the Piedmont Boosters Club, this Oktoberfest will have drinks from local spots such as Trumer Pils, Alameda Island Brewing, Sincere Cider, Wente Vineyards and Line 51 Brewing all housed under the redwoods in the Wente Wine Grotto or in the plaza Biergarten. The festivities also include an indoor Bavarian food hall and an official Oompah band. 

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond includes five stages of live music and entertainment. Credit: Oaktoberfest in the Dimond

Oaktoberfest

Saturday Oct. 5, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 6, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Dimond District Oakland, Intersection of Fruitvale Ave and MacArthur Blvd.; Free entry

For the 17th time, you can dance, eat, and drink your way around the hundreds of vendors and five stages of live music with artists such as Grateful Brass, DJ JuanLove (Tumbao), DJ BlackWoman, Cardboard People, and Polkalicious in Oakland’s Dimond district. While the festival is free, you can purchase optional drink packages to sample beverages from the more than 50 breweries including Bay Area favorites such as Fieldwork, Dokkaebier, Hella Coastal, Cellarmaker and Original Pattern. Stop by the Root Biergarten with Loard’s Ice Cream and Devil’s Canyon root beer — sure to be a hit with the kids when they need a quick break from the petting zoos and youth bands.

The Clayton Oktoberfest strives for authenticity, even importing wooden benches from Munich. Credit: CBCA Clayton Oktoberfest

CBCA Clayton Oktoberfest

Friday Oct. 4, 5-10 pm (Carnival Only), Saturday, Oct. 5 12-10 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6 12-6 p.m.; Downtown Clayton; Free entry 

The Clayton Oktoberfest calls itself the most authentic Oktoberfest celebration in Northern California. The Biergarten, complete with wooden benches and tables imported directly from Munich, is the center of the festivities where you’ll find live music from the band, “The Internationals.” Adding to the entertainment is a full size carnival with rides, game booths, and a giant ferris wheel.