Oktoberfests, Beer Festivals Coming To Maryland This Month: 2026 Guide

Practice your polka, prepare to snarf down some brats and beer, and gear up for some stein-holding contests now that's Oktoberfest season in Maryland.

The original Oktoberfest, a celebration of German heritage, culture and beer, is typically held across two weeks, ending the first Sunday in October in Munich. This year, the 191st Oktoberfest runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 on the Theresienwiese.

Oktoberfest is the world's largest folk festival, but Marylanders can celebrate right here at home.

Below is a list of Oktoberfests and similar festivals being held across Maryland this month.

Frederick's Oktoberfest — Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick

When: Oct. 2 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes, particularly on Saturday

Frederick's Oktoberfest celebrates the county's German heritage with German food, beer and wine, live traditional music and dancing. The annual event also serves as a fundraiser for Frederick County charities and community causes. Organizers say the festival has raised more than $1.3 million for community organizations.

St. Matthew Oktoberfest And Multicultural Festival — 7271 Eden Brook Drive, Columbia

When: Oktoberfest is on Oct. 2 from 5 to 10 p.m. and the multicultural festival will be Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Oct. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

The three-day celebration at the Orthodox Church of St. Matthew begins with a traditional Friday night Oktoberfest featuring live polka music, German food, beer and desserts. Saturday and Sunday expand into a multicultural festival featuring homemade foods representing numerous cultures, free entertainment, vendors and a children's area. The entire event is held under tents and takes place rain or shine.

Mount Airy Main Street Oktoberfest — Downtown Mount Airy, 110 S. Main St., Mount Airy

When: Oct. 3 from noon to 6 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

Downtown Mount Airy turns into an Oktoberfest celebration with beer, food and multiple stages of live music, including a traditional polka band. The 2026 entertainment includes Mindy Miller from "The Voice," Six Daze and Incidental Brass, a polka band bringing a more traditional Oktoberfest sound to the celebration.

Oktoberfest At The German International School Washington D.C. — 8617 Chateau Drive, Potomac

When: Oct. 3 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

This international Oktoberfest features live German music, bratwurst, German beer, family activities and an international artisan and vendor market. Proceeds support the school's Global Learning Fund, which helps fund language and foreign exchange programs.

Oktoberfest At Wisp Resort — Wisp Resort, 296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry

When: Oct. 3 from noon to 6 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes.

Fall foliage provides the backdrop for this Garrett County Oktoberfest featuring more than 30 beer and cider selections, Bavarian food, live oompah music, local artisans and a children's zone with face painting. There's a costume contest, husband-calling competition, stein holding, wife carrying, keg throwing, alphorn performances and pumpkin chunking.

Hopkins Farm Brewery Oktoberfest — 3833 Rider Lane, Havre de Grace

When: Oct. 3 from noon to 9:30 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

Hopkins Farm Brewery's Oktoberfest brings together food trucks, two live bands, special beer and merchandise releases and Oktoberfest competitions. While families are welcome at the brewery, participants in the beer-related games must be 21 or older, which includes keg-toss competitions and stein-hoisting.

FARMTOBERFEST — 1812 Brewery, 13006 Mason Road NE, Cumberland

When: Oct. 3 from noon to 6 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

The first FARMTOBERFEST brings 1812 Brewery and Locust Post Brewery together for German-style beer, a live oompah band, games, a stein-holding competition and an authentic German menu. A special Märzen-style fest beer also is planned. Proceeds benefit the Children's Adaptive Sports League, which provides adaptive sports and social opportunities for children with disabilities.

Quad State Beer Fest: Clad In Plaid — Washington County Agricultural Education Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro

When: Oct. 3
Family-friendly: No — this is an adult-focused beer festival.

This large fall beer festival brings craft beverage fans together for unlimited beer sampling, live entertainment, vendors and games. Different ticket levels provide entry beginning at 1, 2 or 3:30 p.m., with early admission providing access to specialty beers.

Good Beer Festival — Pemberton Historical Park, 5561 Plantation Lane, Salisbury

When: Oct. 9 from 5 to 10 p.m. and Oct. 10 from noon to 5 p.m.
Family-friendly: No

The Good Beer Festival features unlimited craft beer tastings along with live music, games, food and vendors. Friday night's session is billed as the only nighttime beer festival on the Eastern Shore.

Germantown October Fest — Germantown Town Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown

When: Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

This community-wide fall celebration combines an Oktoberfest-style beer garden with a multicultural festival. More than 70 artisans, restaurants, businesses and community organizations are expected to participate. There will be live music, a dedicated children's stage and multicultural activities.

Das Best Oktoberfest — Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium

When: Oct. 10 from noon to 5 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

Maryland's long-running craft beer Oktoberfest offers more than 120 international, domestic and Maryland beers along with wine, cider and schnapps. This year's event adds an adjacent Pumpkinfest, carnival rides, oompah bands and two massive pumpkin drops, including a 600-pound pumpkin dropped from 100 feet. The Oktoberfest competitions include stein holding, tug-of-war, wife carrying and a Mr. and Ms. Oktoberfest contest.

Havre de Grace Oktoberfest — Concord Point Park, 700 Concord St., Havre de Grace

When: Oct. 10 from 12:30 to 7 p.m. with a rain date of Oct. 11.
Family-friendly: Yes

This waterfront Oktoberfest unfolds where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The celebration features German beer and food, live Bavarian-style music and dancing, vendors and children's activities. The kids' area will include pumpkin painting, a petting zoo and an inflatable corn maze.

Oktoberfest At The Kentlands — Kentlands Village Green and Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg

When: Oct. 11 from noon to 5 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

Gaithersburg's 33rd annual Oktoberfest spreads throughout the Kentlands, including the Arts Barn, Kentlands Mansion, Village Green, Main Street and Inspiration Lane. The large community celebration combines Oktoberfest traditions with entertainment and activities throughout the neighborhood.

OktoBEARfest — Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Place, Baltimore

When: Oct. 16-17
Family-friendly: Friday night's OktoBEAR-Eve is a 21-and-older event. Saturday combines the beer festival with a day at the zoo.

This isn't your typical Oktoberfest. The Maryland Zoo combines seasonal beer tasting with animal encounters. Friday's adults-only event offers unlimited sampling, while Saturday features more than 80 seasonal brews and other beverages, live music, local vendors and zoo admission.

Berlin Oktoberfest & Fall Sidewalk Sale — Downtown Berlin, 14 S. Main St., Berlin

When: Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

Historic downtown Berlin pairs its Oktoberfest with the town's annual fall sidewalk sale. Visitors can find German food, local craft beverages, live music and children's activities while browsing downtown shops.

Oktoberfest At Schifferstadt — Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick

When: Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 18 from noon to 5 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

The festival takes place at the historic Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, an 18th-century German colonial house. The weekend features German food and drink, German music, historic demonstrations, museum tours and handmade items from arts and crafts vendors.

7 Locks Brewing Fall Fest — 7 Locks Brewing, 12227 Wilkins Ave., Rockville

When: Oct. 24 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

The Rockville brewery combines Oktoberfest with pumpkin and Halloween traditions. Traditional German food will be served alongside craft beer, while activities include games such as stein-hoisting, mini pumpkin painting, pretzel necklace making, live music and fall crafts.

Wanderland Maryland Craft Beverage Festival — Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, 10431 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia

When: Oct. 24 from noon to 5 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

This statewide craft beverage festival brings Maryland beer, wine, spirits, cider and mead producers together in Symphony Woods. The festival is organized around Maryland's five regions, allowing guests to sample drinks, food and other products while learning about destinations around the state. A dedicated children's area makes the event accessible to families. Adult ticketholders have unlimited access to tastings.

Shore Craft Beer OCtoberfest — Waterfront behind the Cambria Hotel, 13 St. Louis Ave., Ocean City

When: Oct. 24; VIP admission 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.; general admission 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Family-friendly: Yes

The 12th annual OCtoberfest returns to the Ocean City waterfront during Sunfest weekend. More than 30 beverage choices are planned, including local craft beer, cider, hard tea, ready-to-drink cocktails and nonalcoholic beer. Lower Case Blues will provide live music, with food trucks and vendors rounding out the festival.