You don’t need to travel to Germany to experience all the fun of Oktoberfest. Grab your friends and family and kick the season off right at one of the numerous celebrations going on in Northern Virginia. Prost!
Middleburg Oktoberfest
September 17, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Presented by Old Ox Brewery, Middleburg’s second Oktoberfest will feature two biergartens, all your favorite German foods, live music, and games. If you’re looking for something new to this year’s festivities, head over to the fair where artwork from local and regional artists will be for sale. And for those wanting to extend the German-filled day, stop by The Christmas Sleigh on Washington Street, a charming shop that sells authentic German Christmas gifts, decorations, and treats. South Madison St. & Federal St., Middleburg, free admission
4th Annual Oktoberfest at Settle Down Easy Brewing
September 17, noon-6 p.m.
Stop by Settle Down Easy Brewing for the first official day of Oktoberfest. The fourth annual celebration will satisfy all your fest needs with pretzels, brats, live music, and beer served in classic German mugs. Settle Down Easy Brewing: 2822 Fallfax Dr., Falls Church, free admission
Oktoberfest Kickoff at Shipgarten
September 17, 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Shipgarten will be kicking off its Oktoberfest with a ceremonial keg tap using a barrel flown in from Germany. Following the tap, guests can join in on several competitions such as stein hoisting and sausage eating, or listen to music while exploring over 50 beers from Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the U.S. This fest is family- and pet-friendly. Shipgarten: 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean; free admission
Oktoberfest at Dirt Farm
September 17, 18, 24 & 25, noon-4 p.m.
If you can’t celebrate the first weekend of Oktoberfest, fear not! Dirt Farm’s fest will be around for two full weekends. The brewery will have three seasonal beers on tap, including their Dunkelweizen, Heifer Weizen, and Pumpkin Ale, as well as German fare from The Kitchen Workshop. No fest would be complete without live music, but another fun addition coming to Dirt Farm Brewing is axe throwing. Make it a festival-filled day and stop by the annual Bluemont Fair also happening the 17th and 18th. Dirt Farm Brewing: 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, $18
The Bronson Bierhall Oktoberfest Party
September 24, 11 a.m.-midnight
What better way to celebrate Oktoberfest than at a bierhall? Bronson has all your fest needs covered, including beer tastings from Weihenstephaner, Port City, and Paulaner. Enjoy a giant Munich pretzel or schnitzel from their extensive menu as they tap a ceremonial wooden keg from the infamous Weihenstephaner brewery. The Bronson Bierhall: 4100 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, $16-$48
G34.3 Oktoberfest
September 24, noon-9 p.m.
For its celebration this year, G34.3 will be releasing their Lenticular Lager, a Marzen Oktoberfestbier. Other highlights include fare from German restaurant The Alpine Chef and music from Justin Paschalides and his oompah band. Stop by early to grab one of the limited, handmade G34.3 German steins, as only 46 will be available. G34.3 Brewing Company: 8532 Terminal Rd., Ste. L, Lorton, $29.99
Lovettsville Oktoberfest
September 23, 5 p.m.; September 24, 10 a.m.
The Lovettsville Oktoberfest is back after a two-year pandemic hiatus, and you won’t want to miss this award-winning festival. To kick off its 27th year, a ceremonial keg will be tapped on Friday at 7:30 p.m., followed by a Saturday filled with food, drinks, vendors, entertainment, and free activities. Stop by the Wiener Dog Races on your way to the biergarten or join in a stein hauling and hoisting. A Kinderfest will also play host to all of the kid-friendly activities for the weekend. Walker Pavilion: 11 Spring Farm Dr., Lovettsville, free admission
Feature image courtesy Dirt Farm Brewing
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