Bay Street Yard, downtown Fort Myers’ popular outdoor entertainment venue, is raising a stein to fall with its Oktoberfest celebration featuring beer, music and festivities on Saturday, Oct. 17.
From noon to 7 p.m., the street outside of the venue will serve as a lively biergarten where guests can sample a variety of seasonal, fall-inspired and Oktoberfest brews from nine local breweries and distributors. Guests can enjoy interactive games and prizes, including stein-hoisting competitions, competitions for best dressed, and a people's choice vote to name attendees' favorite seasonal brew.
Participating breweries and distributors include Anarchy Ale Works, Bone Hook Brewing Co., Cavalier Distributing, Coastal Dayz Brewery, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Point Ybel Brewing Company, Resurgence Brewing Company, Riptide Brewing Company and Swamp Cat Brewing Co.
For $35, guests will receive a specialty tasting ticket that will provide access to 22 samples of 4-ounce brews from the nine participating breweries, which includes several Oktoberfest-inspired selections such as Oktoberfest Märzen, Prost Fest Bier, Abendort Märzen and Frioptimator German Doppelbock. Guests can also sample additional styles ranging from traditional lagers and amber ales to IPAs and hard ciders. Guests may also purchase individual beer tickets to enjoy any 16-ounce draft or canned beer for $8.
Live music can be enjoyed along Bay Street from noon to 6 p.m., with performances by The Poelker Brothers from noon to 3 p.m. and Marcus Washington from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The festivities continue into the evening as Bay Street Yard opens its main stage for a live performance by Chasing Denver from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by DJ Anthony Styles from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Throughout the day, guests can also enjoy a special food menu, including jumbo pretzels with beer cheese, classic bratwursts with Guinness onions, chicken schnitzel sliders with braised cabbage and Dijonnaise, mini pork wings with house mustard and Dutch baby with berry compote.
Bay Street Yard is located at 2136 Bay St. in downtown Fort Myers. For more information, visit BayStreetYard.com/Specials-Events.