You may have put the real Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany on your bucket list – but there are a ton of great celebrations around our state that might just make it feel like the real thing – without the credit card hang-over. (I can’t speak to the other kind of hang over). Prost!
Breckenridge
The biggest and the best of the Oktoberfest parties I’ve been to are in Breckenridge. It will celebrate September 7-9, 2018. The party is the largest street party in the Rocky Mountains. It boasts traditional costumes, German food, Oompah and polka music, Bavarian dancers, children’s activities, a keg-tapping ceremony, 5k run and plenty of beer served in commemorative steins manufactured in and shipped from Munich, Germany. There are great lodging deals as well at GoBreck.com.
Carbondale
Carbondale was not happy just celebrating German heritage with Oktoberfest and Celtic celebration. But they also added Celtic celebration to their fun festivities plan. The party is October 12-13, 2018 Bagpipes, Keg Tapping, beer tent, Austrian food, traditional games and great entertainment!
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
One of the most picturesque getaways in Colorado, just outside of Winter Park in Tabernash sits Devil’s Thumb Ranch. The ranch has a wide array of things to do but they have totally switched up the idea of an Oktoberfest with Bikes, Boys, Beers and Brats. It is a one day mountain biking day with beer tasting accompanied with Devil’s Thumb Ranch Wagyu brats. Just $125/ticket. Reservations recommended.
Estes Park
Estes Park celebrates the Autumn Gold Festival of Bands, Brats n’ Beer, September 22-23, 2018 at Bond Park.Have some beers and brats while listening to local bands. Right at the beginning of Rocky Mountain National Park this is a great location to see lots of fall colors.
Steamboat Springs
Steamboat will host the 10th annual OktoberWEST celebration September 15, 2018. Rocky Mountain beer, food and festivities – all Western Style (not German). The weekend starts with the Beer Stroll through downtown Steamboat on Friday night (Sept. 14). Popular highlights are the I Love Beef Cook-off and of course the beer garden. (It’s no wonder that living in Steamboat as a youngin’ my parents thought of Trick or Drinking on Halloween – maybe they were thinking of the beer stroll?)
Vail
Vail actually has two different Oktoberfest celebrations. The celebration at Lionshead Village is September 7-9, 2018 and the one at Vail Village is September 14-16, 2018. It is free! Emulating the more than 200-year-old celebration known by millions around the world, Vail’s Oktoberfest will delight guests with Bavarian music and dancing, traditional fare (brats, schnitzel, spaetzli, pretzels and more) plus you can yodel to your heart’s content as you drink some of the Oktoberfest beer! Plus, see Vail’s own Helmut Fricker playing traditional (and not so traditional) tunes on the accordian and alpenhorn in full traditional German attire! A crowd favorite for years and not to be missed.
There are also several Oktoberfest and fall celebrations in the Denver Metro area (just in case you don’t want to or can’t add travel:
- Castle Rock – September 29, 2018
- LoDo – September 21-22 & 28-29, 2018
- Highlands Ranch – September 22, 2018
- Parker – September 14-16, 2018
- South Pearl Street – September 29, 2018.
Any way you drink it, it means a fall/September full of beer and fun! PROST!
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