Oktoberfest season is bringing beer gardens, brewery parties, dachshund races, and neighborhood festivals to Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and nearby Maryland, with these 15 celebrations offering plenty of ways to plan a fall outing.
Wunder Garten Opens Four Weekends of Bavarian Festivities
Wunder Garten’s 11th annual Oktoberfest runs from Sep 18, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 at 1101 First Street NE in NoMa. Expect live music, DJs, markets, steinholding contests, and a ceremonial keg tapping on opening night at 7 PM. DOGtoberfest on Sep 20, 2026 adds a rescue adoption event and costume contest, while PRIDEtoberfest follows on Oct 3, 2026. General admission is free; select classes and special experiences cost extra. Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Check the full Wunder Garten schedule before heading out!
Lulu’s Winegarden Gives Oktoberfest a Wine-Focused Twist
Lulu’s Winegarden brings back Winetoberfest from Sep 18, 2026 through Nov 8, 2026, filling 1940 11th Street NW with autumn foliage, harvest wines, and festbier served in glass cowboy boots. Its opening CRUSH tasting on Sep 20, 2026 offers tastes of more than 25 wines and unlimited breakfast tacos for $55 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Choose noon – 1:30 PM or 2 – 3:30 PM. The broader pop-up highlights Germany, Alsace, and Austria, making this a useful pick for groups with both wine and beer drinkers. Visit Lulu’s Winegarden for reservations and the seasonal menu.
Northside Social Puts Its Falls Church Airstream to Work!
Northside Social Falls Church celebrates on Sep 18, 2026 from 5 to 9 PM and Sep 19, 2026 beginning at 2 PM. The outdoor Airstream Bar will serve Oktoberfest beers and specialty cocktails, with food from chef Emer O’Rourke. Dishes include homemade pretzels with honey butter and mustard, bratwurst with potato salad and homemade kraut, and frankfurters on split-top buns. Head to 205 Park Avenue, Falls Church. Check Northside Social’s event details before visiting.
Bluejacket Brings Oktoberfest Games to Navy Yard
Bluejacket’s free Oktoberfest celebration starts at noon on Sep 19, 2026 at 300 Tingey Street SE, Washington, DC. The event begins with an alphorn performance and continues with activities including a pretzel toss and a yodel-off. Seasonal beers include Always Wonder Schankbier, Dreaming Smoked Doppelbock, and For the Company Helles Lager. It is a convenient choice for readers who want a brewery celebration within Navy Yard. Admission is free, with purchases separate. Check Bluejacket’s website for the latest event and taproom information.
Alexandria Bier Garden Spreads the Party Across Three Bars
Alexandria Bier Garden kicks off Oktoberfest at noon on Sep 18, 2026, with daytime DJs, live music at night, and service across the bier garden, rooftop, and Hofbräu Room. The main bar entrance is at 710 King Street, with the indoor bier garden entrance at 714 King Street, Alexandria. Check Alexandria Bier Garden’s Instagram for each day’s details and any reservation requirements.
Port City’s Wunderfest Pairs Live Music With Brewery Games
Port City Brewing Company hosts Wunderfest on Sep 19, 2026 from 11 AM to 10 PM at 3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria. Live music from Dogwood Hollow from 1 to 3 PM, another full-band performance from 4 to 7 PM, yard games, costume contests, stein hoists, and food specials from La Tingeria. Entry is free with no ticket or RSVP required. A limited-edition stein purchase comes with a first beer for $1; the stein price is separate. See Port City’s Wunderfest announcement for details.
Silver Branch Celebrates With Märzen and Brass Music
Silver Branch’s eighth annual Oktoberfest takes place on Sep 19, 2026 at its Silver Spring location, 8401 Colesville Road. Starting at 11:30 AM and going until 11 PM, its annual Oktoberfest Märzen will feature music from the Chesapeake Brass Authority, stein-hoisting competitions, and German-inspired food specials. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged. Grab token purchases before you go, but check out Silver Branch’s event listing before making plans.
Calico Turns Its Shaw Backyard Into an Oktoberfest Hangout
Calico celebrates from Sep 20, 2026 through Oct 4, 2026 at 50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC. The opening Sunday party runs from 1 to 9 PM, with games beginning at 3 PM and a best-dressed competition. Food specials include $8 soft pretzels with beer-infused dips and a $16 bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard on a pretzel bun. Oktoberfest-themed trivia follows on Sep 22, 2026, with food and drink specials continuing throughout the run. Admission is free and purchases are à la carte. Find updates through Calico’s website.
ChurchKey Focuses on German-Style Beers and a Stein Contest
ChurchKey hosts its Oktoberfest on Sep 26, 2026 from noon to 5 PM at 1337 14th Street NW, Washington, DC. Enjoy 10 German-style festbiers, German-inspired food from chef Hamilton Johnson, and a stein-holding competition at 2 PM with prizes. We suggest this one for beer enthusiasts who want to compare several seasonal pours in one afternoon. Entry is free, and all beer and food are priced à la carte. Visit ChurchKey for the latest event information.
Lovettsville Marks Its 30th Oktoberfest With a New Setting
Lovettsville’s 30th Oktoberfest is scheduled for Sep 26, 2026 from 10 AM to 5 PM. The town has announced that this year’s celebration will move from the Town Green into its historic downtown, an important change for returning visitors. Make this a Loudoun County day trip, but use the town’s current Oktoberfest information for the exact festival footprint, parking, admission terms, and final program.
West Annapolis Takes Oktoberfest Onto Annapolis Street
West Annapolis Oktoberfest returns on Sep 27, 2026 from 11 AM to 4 PM on Annapolis Street. The community event is presented by the West Annapolis Business Association, and admission is free. Its neighborhood setting makes it a good starting point for a Sunday exploring local businesses beyond downtown’s waterfront. Budget separately for anything you buy, and check the West Annapolis event listing for the final program and arrival details before driving out from DC.
The Wharf Combines Dachshund Racing With Stein Hoisting
The Wharf celebrates on Oct 3, 2026 from 2 to 5 PM on District Pier, with the Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash, a best-dressed contest, and stein-hoisting finals. Spectators can attend the races free without tickets, while competing dachshunds need advance registration and a paid race entry supporting Rural Dog Rescue. Use 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC, as the waterfront destination address, then head to District Pier. The Wharf’s official Oktoberfest page has race registration and event details.
Vienna Oktoberfest Fills Historic Church Street With Music
Vienna Oktoberfest runs on Oct 3, 2026 from 11 AM to 7 PM around Church Street, Dominion Road, Mill Street, and the Town Green. Admission and children’s activities are free, with three stages, a beer and wine garden, food vendors, and shopping. Drink tickets are $8 each or four for $30, while food prices vary. Use 131 Church Street NE, Vienna, for navigation. Free shuttles run from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM, including service from Vienna Metro North and James Madison High School. Check out the Vienna Oktoberfest guide for routes and entertainment.
Germantown Adds a Parade, Beer Garden, and Free Carnival
Germantown October Fest takes place on Oct 10, 2026 from 11 AM to 5 PM in Germantown Town Center, with BlackRock Center for the Arts at 12901 Town Commons Drive serving as a central destination. The program includes an 11:30 AM parade, the MoCo Show Beer Garden, live music and a DJ, a free children’s carnival, a business expo, and food trucks. This is a good fit for families and groups who want activities alongside the beer garden. Budget separately for food and drinks, and check BlackRock’s Germantown October Fest page for updates.
Gaithersburg Closes the Roundup With a Kentlands Festival
Gaithersburg’s 33rd Oktoberfest takes place on Oct 11, 2026 from noon to 5 PM around the Arts Barn, Kentlands Mansion, Kentlands Village Green, Main Street, and Inspiration Lane. Admission and parking are free. A free wheelchair-accessible shuttle is announced from satellite parking at 101 Orchard Ridge Drive. This gives Montgomery County readers another October afternoon option after many September brewery parties have finished. Check the Gaithersburg Oktoberfest page for the program and use the published shuttle details to plan your arrival.
These celebrations span Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, with addresses and event dates listed above. We say review the linked organizer pages for admission terms, reservations, parking, and transit before choosing your outing. Follow The Washington Lobbyist for informed coverage of Washington DC travel, hotels, restaurants, and events.
Google Excerpt
SEO Keyword Phrases
Short URL
