Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest like the Germans at these Charlotte-area breweries + beyond

With fall comes Oktoberfest, a German tradition celebrated in September and October in Munich. And you can join in on the festivities in Charlotte now — a packed calendar of events awaits.

Among the Oktoberfest party plans at area breweries are beer releases and opportunities to drink German Marzen, Festbier and other traditional styles, along with German food. You’ll also find live music, beer stein holding competitions and more.

Here’s how you can join in on the celebration in the Charlotte area:

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten

When:

• Weekend 1: Sept. 13-15, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. at LoSo location, 4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217;
• Weekend 2: Sept. 20-22, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. at LoSo Location, 4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217;
  
  
• Weekend 3: Oct. 4-6, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. at Ballantyne Location, 13510 Ballantyne Corporate Pl, Charlotte, NC 28277;
  
  
• Weekend 4: Oct. 11-13, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. at Ballantyne Location, 13510 Ballantyne Corporate Pl, Charlotte, NC 28277.

Mecktoberfest at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery will take place four weekends in September and October, Friday through Sunday. Expect traditional German fare such as pork schnitzel, sausages and pretzels, live music performances in the biergarten and stein holding contests.

Town Brewing Co.

Location: 800 Grandin Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208

When: Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m.

Town Brewing’s Blocktoberfest will include a mini market, a stein hoist competition and live music by The Steven Hall Duo from 4-7 p.m.

Lore Brewing Company

Location: 1218 Rosemont Dr Suite 100, Indian Land, SC 29707

When: Saturday, Sept. 14, noon

Lore Brewing’s will feature traditional Bavarian-style beer releases and German fare including brats and pretzels. While you’re eating and drinking, party with live music with Ryan Bailey from 2-5 p.m. and Rumor Mill from 6-9 p.m.

Lost Worlds Brewing

When:

Location: Saturday, Sept. 14, noon at Charlotte location; 1100 Metropolitan Ave Suite 165, Charlotte, NC 28204

Location: Saturday, Sept. 21, noon and Oct. 5 at Lake Norman location; 19700-D, One Norman Blvd, Cornelius, NC 28031

Lost Worlds Brewing is so excited about Oktoberfest that it’s celebrating twice. You can join the Charlotte brewery first and then the Lake Norman brewery the following weekend for dancing to an oompa band, craft beer and shopping with local vendors.

Triple C Brewing

Location: 2900 Griffith St., Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Saturday, Sept. 14

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Triple C with its Oktoberfest beer on draft and in cans. Izzy’s (home of Charlotte’s second-best burger!) is cooking up smashed brat burgers, fries and pretzels will available, as well as a large, one topping pizza + 10 wings for $26. College games will be streaming in the taproom and Eternally Grateful will play at 4 p.m. You can compete in the stein hoisting contests (at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.)

Gilde Brewery

Location: 3530 Dewitt Lane, Charlotte, NC 28217

When: Saturday, Sept. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 19

Gilde Brewery, home to the German brewer’s only U.S. location, is celebrating Oktoberfest on repeat. The brewery is hosting weekly stein holding competitions beginning Sept. 14. Oktoberfest celebrations will be held over three weekends, beginning Sept. 27. The brewery will also host the North Carolina Stein Holding Championships on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 6-7 p.m.

Wooden Robot

Location: 1440 S Tryon St #109, Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Thursday, Sept. 19, 5-10 p.m.

Wooden Robot is hosting an Oktoberfest: A Celebration of Ursprung Fest Malt event at its South End location. The brewery has invited local and regional breweries to band together for a beer fest, brewing beer using a traditional Fest Malt and other Bavairan-inspired malts.

Cabarrus Brewing Co.

Location: Gibson Mill, 329 McGill Ave NW, Concord, NC 28027

When: Friday, Sept. 20, 12-10 p.m..; and Saturday, Sept. 23, 12-10 p.m.

Cabarrus Brewing Co.’s annual Oktoberfest celebration will include a keg tapping ceremony on Friday, Oktoberfest food, brewery tours, live music and contests for costumes, stein holding and boot chugging. On Saturday, you’ll find a vendor market and more contests, including a brat eating contest. Live music will entertain guests in the beer garden in the evening.

NoDa Brewing

Location: North End Taproom, 150 W 32nd St., Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Friday, Sept. 20, 5-10 p.m.

NoDa Brewing’s Oktoberfest festivities will include a traditional German Festbier called Fest Fuel Festbier, NoDa’s take on the beer style commonly served at today’s German Oktoberfest. Bites will be served from JJs Red Hots. You can enter a stein holding contest with a $300 prize.

Brewers at 4001 Yancy

Location: 4001-A Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217

When: Saturday, Sept. 21, 12-10 p.m.

At the Brewers at 4001 Yancy’s BeerFest 2024 celebration, you get a day full of live German music, classic beer and yard games (such as giant beer pong + flip cup, cornhole and bocce), a stein holding competition and Oktoberfest-inspired food. Purchase a 20 oz. branded German Stein glass for $20 (includes your first beer).

Carolina Beer Temple

Location: 195 N Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105

When: Saturday, Sept. 21, 12-10 p.m.

Carolina Beer Temple’s Oktoberfest Celebration will feature both local and imported beers, live music and food from Sweets & Savories including pretzels, brats and Biertempletoberfesten sausage.

Open Tap

Location: 5010 Carmel Ctr Dr, Charlotte, NC 28226

When: Saturday, Sept. 21

At Open Tap’s Oktoberfest celebration, you’ll find a traditional oompah band, beer brats, pretzels and schnitzel, games and stein holding contests.

King Canary Brewing Co.

Location: 562 Williamson Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117

When: Sunday, Sept. 22, noon-11 p.m.

King Canary Brewing’s Oktoberfest will feature stein holding competitions for adults and kids, along with live music and new glassware to celebrate the event.

Sycamore

Location: 2151 Hawkins St, Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Friday, Sept. 27 - Sunday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.

Sycamore’s Syctoberfest will be a full celebration of German-inspired games, beer, food, music and more.

Old Armor Beer Company

Location: 211 West Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081

When: Friday, Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6

The 5th annual Kantoberfest will be held at Old Armor, including the businesses of downtown Kannapolis. The event spreading over two weekends will include rides, games and music, along with food and beer. You can compete in a beer stein or brat eating competition, shop at the vendor marketplace and more.

Model A Brewing

Location: 1175 Stonecrest Blvd, Fort Mill, SC 29708

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m.-11 p.m.

Model A Brewing’s Oktoberfest party will feature live music from Foothills Oompah Band, along with the release of its U.S. Open-winning Marzen, plus a new Vienna Lager and another surprise German beer. Authentic German food will be available along with limited-edition custom Oktoberfest steins for $15 (with your first beer free).

Primal Brewery

Location: 52 Ervin St, Belmont, NC 28012

Location: 16432 Old Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078

When: Saturday, Sept. 28

Both locations of Primal Brewery will hold annual Oktoberfest celebrations. Make sure to stop by and say hello to the area’s best brewery, according to CharlotteFive readers.

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Oktoberfest

Location: 1 Cannon Baller Wy, Kannapolis, NC 28081

When: Oct. 4-6, 6 p.m.

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers is hosting its annual Oktoberfest event at the ballpark.

The Bowl at Ballantyne

Location: 12141 Lower Ave, Charlotte, NC 28277 for ride share drop offs/pickups

When: Saturday, Oct. 5

• Mecktoberfest at OMB from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.: Live music, stein holding contests and delicious German cuisine.
• Block Party on Bowl Street from 2-5 p.m.: Live DJ, swag giveaways, kids activities and more. Activities include giant coloring pages, glitter face paint, bubbles, make-your-own sunglasses station, photo moments, a braid bar and more. Free.
• Concert at The Amp at 7 p.m.: Trampled by Turtles concert at The Amp, with opener Houndmouth. Tickets start at $54.

Mecklenburg Oktoberfest

Location: Truist Field; 324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Taste of Charlotte will host the annual Mecklenburg Oktoberfest at Truist Field. The event will feature entertainment, local craft beer, shopping, kids’ activities and food.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

Location: 301 Caldwell Ln, Davidson, NC 28036

When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 4-9 p.m.

The annual St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Oktoberfest will have hay rides, games, live music, and food and drink for purchase.

Old Town Cornelius 2nd Friday Street Festival

Location: 19725 Oak St suite 12, Cornelius, NC 28031

When: Friday, Oct. 11, 5-9 p.m.

The final 2nd Friday Street Festival of the year will also be an Oktoberfest event. Show up for live music from Union Groove, brews from local craft breweries and cideries, food trucks and sweet snacks, a children’s zone with inflatables, face-painting and games, a petting zoo and more.

Laketoberfest

Location: 11536 Bailey Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031

When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2-9 p.m.

The annual Lake Norman Laketoberfest event includes live music, local beer, food trucks, a kids’ zone with crafts and games and more.

Did we miss an Oktoberfest event? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.

This story was originally published September 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM.