Toast the autumn season at an Oktobefest festival! A proud German tradition since 1810, Munich’s Oktoberfest is now one of the world’s largest fairs, gathering more than six million people over seventeen days. It’s held from late September to early October.
With nearly a million Coloradoans claiming German heritage, we have own fair share of Oktoberfests. Most events feature Bavarian food, dance, music and beer. The first festival kicks off in late August in Eagle County, while the last one wraps up on October 12th in the Roaring Fork Valley.
2019 Colorado Oktoberfests: Prost!
Beaver Creek Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat-Sun, August 30-September 1, 2019
- Address: Beaver Creek Plaza, Avon
- About: Beaver Creek’s 20th annual Oktoberfest features complimentary live entertainment and Bavarian culinary demos. All guests can compete in the Bavarian Costume Contest on Saturday. On Sunday you can register for the Oktoberfest Shuffle, and children can perform at the Kids’ European Alpenhorn contest.
Breckenridge Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sun, September 6-8, 2019
- Address: Main St, Breckenridge
- About: Now in its 25th year, Breck’s Oktoberfest is one of the largest in the Rocky Mountains. There’ll be German cuisine (two dozen food vendors), dancers, costumes, Oompah & polka music, as well as Paulaner Bier. Activities include a 5k, keg tapping ceremony and games for the kids. Please leave dogs at home.
Vail Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sun, September 6-8 & 13-15, 2019
- Address: Lionshead Village and Vail Village, Vail
- About: Celebration of Bavarian music, dancing, food, yodeling and alpenhorn blowing, held over two weekends in Vail’s Austrian inspired village. Compete in Klement’s Bratwurst Eating Contests, Keg Bowling, Stein Lifting, Oktoberfest Costume and the Oktoberfest Fun Run. Paulaner Bier is enjoyed.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad Oktoberfest
- Date: Daily, September 7-October 20, 2019; 12:30pm departure
- Address: 401 Water St, Cañon City
- About: Lunch train through the Royal Gorge with Bavarian fare and special Oktoberfest bier. Ticket includes a Royal Gorge Route logo pint glass.
Pueblo Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, September 13, 2019
- Address: 132 West B Street, Pueblo
- About: German fare, costume contest and stein hoisting contest.
OktoberWest
- Date: Fri-Sat, September 13-14, 2019
- Address: Lincoln Ave (Friday) and Gondola Square (Saturday), Steamboat Springs
- About: 11th annual OktoberWest features a pub crawl on Friday in downtown and an after party at Schmiggity’s. On Saturday the party moves to the base of the ski area. Kids can play at the Coca-Cola Adventure Zone, while adults can enjoy the I Love Beef Cook Off and Beer Garden. More than 45 Colorado brewers offer two beers each. Live music takes the stage at 2pm.
Loveland Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sat, September 13-14, 2019
- Address: Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Loveland
- About: Free admission, food trucks, craft vendors and family activities. Concert at Thunder Mountain Amphitheater.
Parker Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sun, September 13-15, 2019
- Address: 10795 S Victorian Dr, Parker
- About: 14th annual event with German music, dancers, biergarten with three Paulaner beers, Miss Oktoberfest contest, and an obstacle course, bungee tramp & a slide for kids.
Denver Kickers Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, September 14, 2019
- Address: 16676 W 50th, Golden
- About: Bavarian style festival with food, drinks and live music.
Longmont Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sat, September 20-21, 2019
- Address: Roosevelt Park, Longmont
- About: Presented by Left Hand Brewing featuring Longmont breweries, live music and German themed festivities. Contests include best dressed, stein holding and bratwurst eating.
Denver Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sun, September 20-22 & 27-29, 2019
- Address: 21st Ave and Larimer St, Denver
- About: Since 1969, Denver has been hosting its Oktoberfest, which now attracts over 350,000 fans. Maxim and USA Today claim it as the best Oktoberfest in the USA. Entertainment includes stein hoisting, keg bowling and brat eating contests, live music, as well as the 11th annual Long Dog Derby, which determines city’s fastest dachshunds.
Denver Oktoberfest Stein Holding Contest.
FORToberfest
- Date: Sat, September 21, 2019
- Address: Walnut St and Old Town Square, Fort Collins
- About: Jubilee commemorating Fort Collins’ culture of bicycles, beers and bands. A range of free live music from funk to bluegrass and rock to indie will be heard. There’ll be bicycle manufacturers, retailers and enthusiast groups, as well as a number of local breweries with seasonal craft beers to enjoy. No pets are admitted.
Montrose Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, September 21, 2019
- Address: Centennial Plaza, Montrose
- About: 14th annual event in downtown with twenty microbreweries and traditional fare. Admission includes an Oktoberfest cup, beer tasting and live music.
Autumn Gold Festival
- Date: Sat-Sun, September 21-22, 2019
- Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
- About: It’s not an Oktoberfest, but it’s still a fun fall festival with bands, brats and beer! Now in its 25th year, complimentary family activities include face painting, soap bubbles, corn bag toss, bouncing room and rides in a fire engine & antique cars. There’s also a raffle to win $5,000.
Rocky Mountain OktoberfestPlus
- Date: Sat-Sun, September 21-22, 2019
- Address: Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E Midland Ave, Woodland Park
- About: 22nd annual event with German brats, beer & wine, live entertainment, as well as a climbing wall, obstacle course and face painting for children. Ceremonial keg tapping on Saturday at 11am. No pets permitted.
Brush Oktoberfest & Car/Motorcycle Show
- Date: Fri-Sun, September 27-29, 2019
- Address: Clayton St, Brush
- About: 37th annual fest with a car/motorcycle show, dog contest, beer garden, craft booths, kids games and live polka band. Cruise In on Friday night.
Colorado Springs Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sun, September 27-29, 2019
- Address: Security Service Field, 4385 Tutt Blvd, Colorado Springs
- About: Keg tapping ceremony on Friday evening and 8k Fun Run on Saturday morning. Enjoy authentic food, Paulaner beer, Primetime Band, German Chalet Dancers, MayPole ribbon dance, Dachshund Dash and costume contest. No dogs, except competing dachshunds, free admission.
OktoBREWfest
- Date: Fri-Sat, September 27-28, 2019
- Address: Lincoln Park, 8th St & 9th Ave, Greeley
- About: Two days of live music, games, crafts, brats and beer. Compete in volleyball, pie eating, stein lifting and life-size beer pong. Face painting, obstacle course, bubble tower, arcade games and inflatable slide for children.
Castle Rock Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, September 28, 2019
- Address: Wilcox Square and surrounding streets, Castle Rock
- About: Free Oktoberfest, street fair, live music, food vendors, bounce houses and demonstrations.
Lamar Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, October 5, 2019
- Address: Santa Fe Train Depot, Lamar
- About: Beer garden, car & motorcycle show, kids’ games, charity 5K Relay Race, horse shoe tournament and live bands.
Berthoud Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, October 5, 2019
- Address: Fickel Park, Berthoud
- About: 9th annual event with authentic food, music and dancing, as well as children’s activities, arts & crafts, vendor booths and local microbrewers.
La Veta Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, October 5, 2019
- Address: La Veta
- About: 33rd annual event happening first Saturday in October. It features a bier garden, veteran’s tribute, Twin Peak Rodder’s Car Show, German band, dancing, and over sixty arts, crafts & food vendors.
Ouray Oktoberfest
- Date: Sat, October 5, 2019
- Address: Ouray Community Center, Ouray
- About: German fare, polka, fireworks and the 55th Annual Jeep Raffle.
Durango Oktoberfest
- Date: CANCELLED – see you in 2020!
- Address: Purgatory Resort, Durango
- About: Fine food and beverages from local vendors and breweries. Oompah bands, Stein Holsting Competition and Brewers Brat Eating Contest.
Celtic Fest & Oktoberfest
- Date: Fri-Sat, October 11-12, 2019
- Address: 4th St Plaza, Carbondale
- About: Enjoy Irish dancing, music and a “Best Legs in a Kilt Contest” on Friday. Sláinte! Saturday features a full day of Oktoberfest celebrations including brats, bands, beer, brat eating contest, liter holding contest and the chicken dance.
Please share any other fun fall festivals below.
