2022 Oktoberfest guide: 6 of the best festivities to attend in the Charlotte area
The days are getting shorter and the season is becoming spooky, which means only one thing: fall is coming. Celebrate the upcoming season at an Oktoberfest celebration at one of the Charlotte area’s breweries.
If you’re not familiar with Oktoberfest, it is a German festival that happens from September to October and includes games, German food and beers and costume contests. If you want to join in on the fun, here are some places in Charlotte you can go.
Editor’s note: This is an evolving list and we will update it as more events are announced.
Gilde Brewery
Address: 3530 Dewitt Ln, Charlotte, NC 28217
Location: York Road
Gilde Brewery is hosting weekend Oktoberfest celebrations beginning Friday, Sept. 23 through the weekend of Oct. 7.
Some of the activities include:
Live music
Stein holding competitions
Archery
Photo booth
Kid-friendly entertainment including pretzel necklace making and coloring pages.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, arrived dressed for the lederhosen contest — best dressed winner gets a prize pack!
Sip on the Oktoberfest Märzen beer, brewed at the Charlotte brewery and also available in stores. The beer is similar to the beer brewed annually in Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest.
Cost: free entry
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Address: 4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: York Road
Mecktoberfest, Charlotte’s largest fall bier fest, will host the year’s second Mecktoberfest weekend Sept. 23-25. The event will feature Mecktoberfest Maerzen Lager and traditional German food and music.
Cost: free entry
Wooden Robot
Address: 1440 S Tryon St. #110, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Breweries from all over the region that have made an Oktoberfest beer using a traditional fest malt will join Wooden Robot for a celebration Friday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. The fest malt ingredient is grown in Bavaria and is malted locally by Epiphany Craft Malt in Durham. The traditional Oktoberfest celebration will include music, food and more.
Cost: free entry
Model A Brewing Co.
Address: 1175 Stonecrest Blvd, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Neighborhood: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Model A Brewing Co. is going big this year with its Oktoberfest on Oct. 1 starting at noon. The event will feature the nationally touring Polka band “OOPS” from noon to 2:30 p.m., German food — Schnitzel Kebabs, Grilled Beer Brats and German Potato Salad — and a limited edition beer, the Oktoberfest Marzen.
Kids will be able to get Kona Ice starting at noon, special Oktoberfest merch will be sold while supplies last and local live music will play from 3-6 p.m.
Cost: free entry
Lost Worlds Brewing
Address: 19700-D, One Norman Blvd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Neighborhood: Cornelius
Lost Worlds Brewing will be hosting its second 2022 Oktoberfest on Oct. 15. The event will feature German music and a 2022 Lost Worlds Oktoberfest Stein.
The brewery offers IPAs, ales and American beer. In 2020, the brewery won gold in the Light American Hybrid category of the North American Brewers Cup.
Cost: free entry
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Das Best Oktoberfest
Address: 11611 N Community House Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
The inaugural Das Best Oktoberfest will be on Oct. 15 from noon-5 p.m. in Ballantyne’s Backyard. There will be over 150 international, domestic and local North Carolina beers to taste. While drinking your beer of choice, try your hand at one of the many games featured at the festival, including cornhole, masskrugstemmen (beer stein holding competition) and fingerhakeln (finger wrestling competition).
Cost: $75 for VIP admission and $39 for general admission
Old Town Oktoberfest
Address: East Main Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Neighborhood: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill will be holding its Old Town Oktoberfest Festival on Oct. 15 from noon to 9 p.m. The festival will include German beer, ax throwing, a scavenger hunt and a cornhole tournament hosted by the American Cornhole League. The little ones can enjoy one of the many food trucks, a balloon guy and a face painter.
Cost: free entry
This story was originally published August 30, 2022 at 6:05 AM.
