Oktoberfest kicks off Sept. 21 in Munich, but you don’t have to leave the Chicago area to get in on the fun. There are big festivals throughout the city and suburbs with plenty of German beer, food and music along with stein-holding contests where participants show off their strength and endurance. Local breweries whip up their own versions of Oktoberfest beer to enjoy as the weather begins to cool, bars add brats and pretzels to their menu, and even dogs can celebrate at Barktoberfest parties with plenty of treats. Get ready to raise a glass and dance to some polka music at one of these 28 Oktoberfest events.
The Loop and Near North Side
Chicago Burger Company at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk
Bring your pup to a Barktoberfest party featuring pet vendors, activities and treats plus food and drinks for sale. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21. 301 E. North Water St., 312-464-1000, marriott.com
Hard Rock Cafe Chicago
A special menu offered Sept. 18 through Oct. 6 includes a $19 schnitzel sandwich, $15 jumbo soft pretzel, $18 bratwurst and $8.50 Sam Adams Octoberfest. Compete in a stein-hoisting contest from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 17. 63 W. Ontario St., 312-943-2252, cafe.hardrock.com/chicago
Laurel
The restaurant at The Talbott Hotel transforms its patio into a beer garden throughout October, serving seasonal brews including $10 Old Irving Brewery Oktoberfest and $14 Around the Bend Octoberfiesta. Visit from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesdays for beer samples and giveaways from local breweries. 20 E. Delaware Place, 312-944-4970, laurelchicago.com
The Lodge Tavern and She-Nannigans
Drink Oktoberfest beers from Shiner, Goose Island, Spiteful and Founders at the annual Oktoberfest on Division Street bash, which features German musical chairs, a stein-holding competition and live music from Die Kellerknaben Polka Band. 6-11 p.m. Sept. 25. 16-21 W. Division St., 312-642-2344, she-nannigans.com
North Side and Northwest Side
Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery
The breweries’ annual Oktoberfestiversary street festival features food trucks, live music, kids activities and the chance to try more than 50 beers. Donations benefit The Friendship Center. $5 suggested donation. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 12 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 13. 1800 W. Cuyler Ave., oktoberfestiversary.com
Bitter Pops
Order a liter stein of Paulaner or Hacker-Pschorr through Sept. 15 in the taproom’s new biergarten and you’ll get to keep the glass. Celebrate the official start of Munich Oktoberfest at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 with a ceremonial tapping of two kegs of Paulaner Oktoberfest, which you can get poured in a half-liter souvenir stein for $15. Test your strength in Bitter Pops’ third-annual stein-hoisting competition at 8 p.m. Sept. 21. 3357 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-857-7677, bitterpops.com
Burning Bush Brewery
Bring your pup to the annual Bark-toberfest party, when 15% of all sales will be donated to the Horner Park Dog Park. Tickets are $20 and include a custom glass. 6-9 p.m. Sept. 19. 4014 N. Rockwell St., 773-681-0215, burningbushbrewery.com
Cody’s Public House
The dog-friendly bar offers $5 Revolution Oktoberfest and hosts a stein-hoisting contest awarding a Revolution Brewery tour. 7 p.m. Sept. 12. 1658 W. Barry Ave., 773-799-8217, codyschicago.com
Dog Haus Biergarten
A special menu offered through the end of October includes bratwurst served with caramelized onions and grilled sauerkraut, an Oktoberwurst burrito made with beer cheese sausage and eggs, Paulaner Oktoberfest and Jägermeister shots. The restaurant donates $1 from each brat and burrito sold to No Kid Hungry. 2464 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-935-3647, doghaus.com
The Graystone Tavern
Watch German soccer team Borussia Dortmund’s games throughout the bar and beer garden at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and 27 and 10:30 a.m. Sept. 22 while enjoying Oktoberfest specials including $6 bratwurst and $12 baked pretzel bites with spicy brown mustard and cheese. 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-666-5450, graystonetavernchicago.com
Lincoln Park Zoo
The zoo opens to adults only from 6:30-10 p.m. Sept. 21 for a bash featuring a performance by a polka band, lawn games and vendors selling pretzels and bratwurst. Tickets are $45 and include seven 8-ounce pours of German-style beers from local breweries. If you want the fun without the booze, visit from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 20 for Oksoberfest. The $25 tickets provide samples of nonalcoholic beer, wine and cocktails. 2001 N. Clark St., 312-742-2000, lpzoo.org
Lottie’s Pub
Compete in a stein-hoisting competition at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 for a chance to win a Revolution Brewery tour. Enjoy a Revolution, Sam Adams or Spaten Oktoberfest beer and an oven-baked jumbo pretzel with cheese for $10 Sept. 21 to Oct. 6. 1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com
Off Color Brewing and Pipeworks Brewing
The two breweries team up for a bash on their typically private patio featuring beer and cider, food from Funeral Potatoes and Hermosa, music, and vintage vendors. Admission is free with RSVP, but you’ll need to buy a glass if you want a drink. 6-9 p.m. Sept. 14. 3925 W. Dickens Ave., eventbrite.com
Park & Field
A Dogtoberfest on the patio at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 features beer specials and doggy giveaways. Tickets are $10 and benefit Canine Therapy Corps. The celebration continues at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 19 with an Oktoberfest Party featuring $10 souvenir beer steins, food specials and live German music. Tickets are $5. 3509 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-360-7373, parkandfieldchicago.com
St. Alphonsus
The 23rd annual celebration inside and outside the Lakeview church features craft beer tastings, brats, soft pretzels, a ceremonial keg tapping, a stein-hoisting competition, kids activities and live music from Sixteen Candles and Dancing Queen. $10 suggested donation. 5-10 p.m. Sept. 27, noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 28 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 29. 1429 W. Wellington Ave., stalsoktoberfest.org
West Side and Near West Side
Cruz Blanca
The brewpub’s executive chef Brian Enyart teams up with Mark Steuer of Funkenhausen and Common Decency and Rob Levitt of Publican Quality Meats to combine Mexican and German flavors with specials offered on Saturdays from Sept. 28 through Oct. 19. Listen to live polka music while snacking on crispy cheese curds, tacos and sandwiches paired with a Das Bueno Oktoberfest beer. 904 W. Randolph St., 312-733-1975, cruzblanca.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
Specials offered Sept. 21 through Oct. 6 include soft pretzel twists with cheddar cheese sauce and spicy mustard ($7), wood-grilled smoked bacon cheddar brats topped with German mustard ($13) and 3 Floyds Brewing Munsterfest drafts ($8). 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
Time Out Market
Gutenberg chef Jorge Kauam kicks off the festivities with a keg tapping at 11 a.m. Sept. 21 and serves brats and pretzels on the patio from 1-5 p.m. Get a half-liter stein of Sam Adams beer, enter a stein-hoisting competition and catch music from Frank K Music from 2-4 p.m. 916 W. Fulton Market, timeoutmarket.com
South Side & Near South Side
The Duck Inn
A Pigs in Lederhosen party in the restaurant’s backyard garden combines Hawaiian and German fare with a pig roast and tropical cocktails. $49. 5 p.m. Sept. 26. 2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811, theduckinnchicago.com
Suburban and multiple locations
Brookfield Zoo
A party on the zoo’s East Mall features live polka music with Leinenkugel’s beer, bratwurst, sausages and pretzels with beer cheese available for purchase. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28. 8400 31st St., Brookfield, brookfieldzoo.org/Oktoberfest
Buffalo Creek Brewing
The brewery’s annual Oktoberfest brings out more than 5,000 people for festivities in the taproom and tented biergarten including traditional food and beer, oompah music, bags, stein-holding games, and a contest to name the best legs in lederhosen. Oct. 4-6. 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, 847-821-6140, buffalocreekbrewing.com
Double Clutch Brewing Company
Catch live music from Mary Macaroni, Polkaholics and Keith Stras & Polka Confetti at a bash including pretzel eating, stein hoisting, beer poured in limited-edition liter mugs, face painting and balloon animals. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 21. 2121 Ashland Ave., Evanston, 224-999-6850, doubleclutchbrewing.com/oktoberfest2024
Hannah’s Bretzel
The chain celebrates its German roots with a trio of Oktoberfest bratwurst specials. Try the sausage on a pretzel baguette with sauerkraut, caramelized onions and whole grain honey mustard; in a bowl with chopped kale and sauerkraut; or in a soup with kale, white beans and diced carrots. Multiple locations, hannahsbretzel.com
The Lot
Highland Park’s third annual Oktoberfest celebration features food, beer and wine from more than a dozen vendors including Cafe Dacha, Ravinia Brewing Company and Judy’s Pizza plus stein-holding contests, pretzel necklace-making, a performance from polka band Bratwurst Brothers and ax throwing. Noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 28. 525 Central Ave., 847-432-6000, enjoyhighlandpark.com/oktoberfest
Memorial Park
Sample fall beer, cider and seltzer and listen to music from 7th Heaven and Karla & the Phat Cats at a Hoptober Fest celebration raising money for the DuPage County Historical Museum. $20-$50. 1-5 p.m. Sept. 28. 225 W. Karlskoga Ave., Wheaton, 630-510-4961, wheatonparkdistrict.com
Naper Settlement
Enjoy German food from local restaurants and food trucks plus a wide variety of Oktoberfest beers served in a giant heated tent. The celebration also features live music, lawn games, a stein-holding contest and pumpkin carving demonstrations. $20, $15 for kids ages 4-12. 5-10 p.m. Oct. 4 and 3-10 p.m. Oct. 5. 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, 630-420-6010, napersettlement.org
Rotary Club of Palatine Oktoberfest
The annual bash features live German music, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr beer served in collectible mugs, food from local restaurants including Tap House Grill and Tre Amici Pizza, family activities and a raffle. 5 p.m. to midnight Sept. 20, noon to midnight Sept. 21 and noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 22. 170 W. Slade St., Palatine, palatinerotary.com
Tinley Park Oktoberfest
Enjoy German food and beer, a ceremonial keg tapping, a vendor fair, live music and a carnival. 5-11 p.m. Sept. 20, 1-11 p.m. Sept. 21 and 1-6 p.m. Sept. 22. 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park, 708-532-5700, tinleychamber.org
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
