Prost! 15 Ways To Celebrate Oktoberfest In Tampa Bay

TAMPA BAY, FL — “Eins, zwei, drei, gsuffa!” or, for those who don't speak German, "One, two, three, drink!"

Tampa Bay takes beer drinking seriously, as evidenced by the myriad Oktoberfests taking place in the next few weeks, including what's described as Tampa Bay's largest Oktoberfest Oct. 7 to 9 at Curtis Hixon Watefront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has signed a proclamation declaring Oktoberfest Tampa Week to celebrate the Festival of Gemütlichkeit and the cultural diversity residents of German heritage bring to the city.

And, to mark the 12th annual Oktoberfest Tampa celebration, Green Bench Brewing has partnered with Oktoberfest Tampa to introduce three new traditional brews including a dunkel, a hefeweizen and a märzen.

“There is very little that excites us at Green Bench Brewing more than celebrating brewing traditions with friends, so when we had the opportunity to make and drink some of our favorite classic styles with some of our most dedicated friends, we could not pass it up," said Khris Johnson of Green Bench Brewing.

“We are always working hard to provide our fans with the best experience possible," said Nicol Winkler, director of the Oktoberfest Tampa event. "For us, this effort starts at the core of how fans have celebrated Oktoberfest for over 200 years, and that is with the brews. Inside every traditional Festhall at Oktoberfest in Munich you will find only a few main beers. A light, medium and dark brew, and one wheat. While we may not be in Munich, we want to strive to celebrate Oktoberfest with as much tradition as possible. Green Bench is helping us achieve just that for our guests."

The festival, which attracts thousands of celebrants each year, will also include German cheer, dancing and singing. The event will open Friday with the tapping of an inaugural keg following by three days of dancing, traditional Oktoberfest games and German foods.

The festival hours are Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The festival features a variety of Outrageous Bavarian Games as well as the Mr. & Mrs Oktoberfest and the Beard & Mustache competitions on Saturday.

Games include:

Stein Hoisting

Beer lovers will compete for the title of Stein Hoisting Champion by hold a 1-liter glass stein filled with beer at a 90-degree angle with elbows locked. The competitors who holds the stein the longest without spilling beer wins.

Barrel Roll

Three players will push a barrel through the course while racing against two others. The fastest time wins.

Grain Sack Toss

Competitors will see who can chuck a full grain sack the farthest.

Stein Race

Participants will see how fast they can run an obstacle course with both hands holding 1-liter Oktoberfest steins filled with beer.

Brat Toss

Teams must complete a toss to-and-fro and catch the brat in their bucket.

Carry the Wench

Team members race while carrying a "wench."

Liter Stein Bucket Race

Teams of six compete to see who can fill their bucket the fastest by transferring liquid from one glass to another down the line.

Tauziehen (Tug-O- War)

This test of strength features two teams of eight people pulling opposite sides of the rope.

Foods

Foods include classic chicken schnitzel, Jaegerschnitzel (with mushroom gravy) and spätzle, traditional bratwurst, Oktoberfest sausage, frankfurters and pretzels with sides of German potato salad, cucumber salad, German sauerkraut and, for dessert, German plum cake and German apple strudel.

Admission

General one-day admission is $10 and a weekend pass is $25. First responders and active or retired military members receive free admission.

A VIP pass is available as well and features free refills, no lines, the König’s Feast, a commemorative stein and a prime view of all the action on the stage including Schuplattler performances, the Outrageous Bavarian Game competitions and keg tappings.

Click here for tickets

German American Society Oktoberfest

The German American Friendship Society of Pinellas will present an authentic Oktoberfest at 8098 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 and 8 and Oct. 14 and 15 from 5 to 10 p.m.

There will be made-from-scratch German foods including wiener schnitzel, bratwurst, potato pancakes, sauerkraut and apfelstrudel along with imported Bavarian beers and coffee.

Enjoy dances and games, a keg tapping ceremony, a parade of flags, a bier stein-holding contest, traditional German music, vendors and raffle prizes.

Click here.

Oktoberfest At Talking Pint

The Talking Pint, 13418 Boyette Road, Riverview, will host Oktoberfest Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 and 8.

On Friday, there will be live music by Gianfranco Ferri from 8 p.m. to midnight.

On Saturday, there will be Oktoberfest games for youth from 1 to 5 p.m., grownup games from 5 to 9 p.m. and music by Robby Stewart from 6 to 10 p.m.

The Talking Pint will serving up German beers including Weihenstephan, Fest Beir and Yuengling Oktoberfest beer along with traditional German foods including schnitzel, wurst and pretzels.

Click here.

Oktoberfest At Dunedin Brewery

The 22nd annual Oktobeerfest at Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, is scheduled for Oct. 6 to 9 from 7 to 10 p.m.

The event will include German food, fest beers and live music performed by various artists including Tand, Displace, GoldenEra, Legacy Orchestra Collective, DeLeon Family Oktoberfest Band, Mike Garulli, Joe Marcinek, Kristopher James, Danielle Mohr, Joe Roma and Jessica Rose Powell.

Click here for information.

Octoberfest On The Beach

Enjoy live music, beer, international food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, keg throwing and stein-carrying contests, folk and rock music, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle at Octoberfest on the Beach Saturday, Oct. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. at Kolb Park in Indian Rocks Beach.

This beachy version of the German tradition has become a signature event for the IRB community and has helped to raise funds for Action 2000 (A2K) including several city streetscaping projects, pedestrian benches and shelters along Gulf Boulevard.

Admission is free. Click here.

Oktoberfest Arts And Crafts Fair

Oktoberfest hits the Riverwalk with a market with food, drinks, local art, handmade gifts and live music Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Water Works Park, 1710 N Highland Ave., Tampa. Admission is free. Food and drink are additional.

Click here.

Double Branch Brewing Oktoberfest

Listen to music by the Polkamanics at the release of two Oktoberfest brews in the taproom at Double Branch Brewing and Bites, 5956 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel, Saturday, Oct. 8, starting at 6 p.m. There will be special-edition bottles to go.

Click here.

Oktoberfest At Marker 48

Oktoberfest is back with wiener dog races, all-breed dog races, German beers on tap, food trucks, stein-holding competitions, German costume contests and German music by The Low Down Band on Oct. 15 from noon to 10 p.m. at Marker 48 Brewing, 12147 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill.

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BarrieHaus Oktoberfest

Dress in your German best and come out for an afternoon or evening of beer stein hoisting, brat tossing, musical chairs, beer puppets, trivia, live German music, a free marzen and a commemorative stein for $50 on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. or 6 to 9 p.m. at BarrieHaus Beer Co. Biergarten, 1403 E 5th Ave., Tampa.

On Sunday, Oct. 16, there will be an Art-Toberfest for the kids from noon to 3 p.m.

Click here.

Top Of The Bay Oktoberfest

Enter the Oktoberfest Big Top for an authentic German carnival with a midway, German food, drinks, music, dancing, contests, arts and crafts and a Doxie Derby (2 p.m. Oct. 23 only) at the Top of the Bay Oktoberfest hosted by the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce at Tampa Bay Downs, 11225 Race Track Road, Tampa. Dates are Oct. 21 from 5 to 11 p.m., Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Oct. 23 from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $5.

Click here.

Oktoberfest At Starkey Market

Bring the family for this celebration of everything German with two professional polka bands, dancing, a kielbasa bus, beer, an ice cream bar, keg tappings and competitions for keg throwing, stein holding and pumpkin passing Oct. 21 from 5 to 10 p.m., Oct. 22 from noon to 10 p.m. and Oct. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. at Starkey Market, 3460 Starkey Blvd., New Port Richey.

Admission is $10 or $25 for all three days. Kids age 8 and younger are admitted for free.

Click here.

Oktoberfest At VetterBrew

VetterBrew HomeBrew Supply Store, 2705 Cypress Drive, Clearwater, will host an Oktoberfest Oct. 22 from noon to 5 p.m., featuring the Suncoast Barley Mashers competition in which attendees can vote for their favorite home brew, German oom pah music and food.

There is no cover charge. Food and drinks are additional.

Click here.

Oktoberfest At Innisbrook

Sip beer from a variety of breweries at an Oktoberfest lawn party at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, 36750 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, Oct. 22 from 2 to 6 p.m.

It will include dancing to DJ music, contests, a kid's zone and German food. There is no cover charge. Food and drinks are additional.

Click here.

Temple Terrace Oktoberfest

Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 304 Druid Hills Road, Temple Terrace, will host a traditional German Oktoberfest Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a choice of bratwurst ($10) or hot dog ($8) dinners. Dinners include German potato salad, a beverage and a souvenir cup.

In addition, there will be children’s activities including an obstacle course, a rock-climbing wall, bounce houses, games, a cake walk and face painting.

There will also be more than 20 vendors and crafters including wood crafters, assorted jewelry makers, artists and more.

A German oom-pah band consisting of five USF music students plus retired pastor, Wally Meyer, on the accordion, will entertain.

There is no entry fee. To purchase dinner tickets, call 813-988-4025 or visit www.corlutheran.org.

Draught Haus Fall Fest

Draught Haus Fall Fest 2022 will take place Nov. 12 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Clear Sky Draught Haus, 680 Main St., Dunedin. The day will feature live music, craft beer from local breweries and the band Six Volt Rodeo performing from 4 and 8 p.m. Wristbands will be available the day of the event for $20.

Click here.