Celebrate Oktoberfest in Colorado like a Bavarian

Toast the autumn season at an Oktoberfest 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 our 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.

2021 Colorado Oktoberfests: Prost!

Beaver Creek Oktoberfest

Date: Sat-Sun, September 3-5, 2021
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.

Keystone Oktoberfest

Date: Sat, September 4, 2021
Address: River Run Village, Keystone
About: Keystone’s 9th annual Oktoberfest with beer and brats. Activities include free face painting, a bounce house, and the Edelweiss Polka Dancers.

Royal Gorge Route Railroad Oktoberfest

Date: Daily | September 5-October 31, 2021
Address: 401 Water St, Cañon City
About: Lunch train through the Royal Gorge with Bavarian fare and special Oktoberfest beer. The ticket includes a Royal Gorge Route logo pint glass.

Vail Oktoberfest

Date: Fri-Sun, September 10-12 & 17-19, 2021
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.

Loveland Oktoberfest

Date: Fri-Sat, September 17-18, 2021
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 17-19, 2021
Address: O’Brien Park, 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 Oktoberfest

Date: Fri-Sun, September 17-19 & 24-26, 2021
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 the city’s fastest dachshunds.

Steamboat OktoberWest

Dates: Sat, September 18, 2021
Address: Steamboat Springs
About: Over 40 brewers come to Steamboat’s mountain village for this annual Octoberfest. Enjoy craft beer, live music, and a beef cook-off.

Castle Rock Oktoberfest

Date: Sat, September 18, 2021
Address: Wilcox Square and surrounding streets, Castle Rock
About: Free Oktoberfest, street fair, live music, food vendors, bounce houses, and demonstrations.

Rocky Mountain OktoberfestPlus

Date: Sat-Sun, September 18-19, 2021
Address: Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E Midland Ave, Woodland Park
About: Annual event with German brats, beer & wine, live entertainment, as well as a climbing wall, obstacle course, and face painting for children. No pets are permitted.

Breckenridge Oktoberfest

Date: Fri-Sun, September 24-26, 2021
Address: Main St, Breckenridge
About: NBreck’s Oktoberfest is one of the largest in the Rocky Mountains boasting 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.

Colorado Springs Oktoberfest

Date: Fri-Sun, September 24-26, 2021
Address: 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 24-28, 2021
Address: Lincoln Park, 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.

Longmont Oktoberfest

Date: Sat, September 25, 2021
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.

Autumn Gold Festival

Date: Sat-Sun, September 25-26, 2021
Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
About: It’s not an Oktoberfest, but it’s still a fun fall festival with bands, brats, and beer! 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.

Lamar Oktoberfest

Date: Sat, October 1-2, 2021
Address: Santa Fe Train Depot, Lamar
About: Beer garden, car & motorcycle show, kids’ games, charity 5K Relay Race, horseshoe tournament and live bands.

Berthoud Oktoberfest

Date: Sat, October 2, 2021
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 2, 2021
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.

Montrose Oktoberfest

Date: Sat, October 9, 2021
Address: Cerise Park, Montrose
About: 14th annual event downtown with twenty microbreweries and traditional fare. Admission includes an Oktoberfest cup, beer tasting, and live music.

Durango Oktoberfest

Date: TBD 2021
Address: Purgatory Resort, Durango
About: Fine food and beverages from local vendors and breweries. Oompah bands, Stein Hosting Competition, and Brewers Brat Eating Contest.

Ouray Oktoberfest

Date: TBD 2021
Address: Ouray Community Center, Ouray
About: German fare, polka, fireworks, and the 55th Annual Jeep Raffle.

Pueblo Oktoberfest

Date: TBD 2021 (possibly canceled)
Address: 132 West B Street, Pueblo
About: German fare, costume contest, and stein-hoisting contest.

Denver Kickers Oktoberfest

Date: TBD 2021 (possibly canceled)
Address: 16676 W 50th, Golden
About: Bavarian-style festival with food, drinks, and live music.

FORToberfest

Date: TBD 2021 (possibly canceled)
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.

Brush Oktoberfest & Car/Motorcycle Show

Date: TBD 2021 (possibly canceled)
Address: Clayton St, Brush
About: 37th annual fest with a car/motorcycle show, dog contest, beer garden, craft booths, kids games, and a live polka band.

Celtic Fest & Oktoberfest

Date: TBD 2021 (possibly canceled)
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.