Raise your stein to 5 Oktoberfest 2024 events across Florida

Immerse yourself in the spirit of gemütlichkeit at these Oktoberfest 2024 events happening throughout Florida this October.

Its origins span two centuries, tracing back to a festive 1810 ceremony honoring a royal marriage in Munich, Germany. These days, Oktoberfest is celebrated annually as an opportunity to recognize German heritage and enjoy beer, food, and Bavarian cordiality, or gemütlichkeit. In Munich, Oktoberfest is celebrated for two weeks each year — a frenzy of beer wagons, parades, folk dancing, and other amusements ending on the first Sunday in October — but never fear, you don’t need an international passport to enjoy all that Oktoberfest has to offer.

From South Florida north through the Panhandle, the Sunshine State’s Oktoberfest events promise delicious food and beer offerings, live entertainment, and cheerful community. Check out these Floridian Oktoberfest 2024 celebrations happening this fall:

1. Oktoberfest at the German American Society of Hollywood

Have you ever attended an event so joyous you wish you could turn back the clock to do it all over again? South Florida’s German American Society of Hollywood offers three separate Oktoberfest celebrations from 6-11 p.m. on September 21, October 5, and October 19, respectively, so visitors can return throughout the autumn season to get their fill of Bavarian treats and entertainment. Hosted at the German American Clubhouse, 6401 Washington St., this year’s Oktoberfest celebrations feature traditional Bavarian dancing from the Original Auerhahn Schuhplattlers of Miami and live music from Germany’s own Blaskapelle Lüchtringen wind band in addition to a full bar and a bevy of German food offerings.

Photo courtesy of Michael Haas.

2. Oktoberfest at the German American Society of Central Florida

Casselberry-area fans of beer and bratwurst will have two opportunities to indulge in all things Oktoberfest when the German American Society of Central Florida hosts a pair of celebrations in their biergarten and alpine clubhouse from 12-10 p.m. on October 5 and 26. Oktoberfest at the German American Society offers filling and authentic German meals from Oma’s, or Grandma’s, Kitchen each day from noon to 8 p.m., while dessert items and bratwursts are available through closing time. Other activities include live music and traditional dancing, a “kids’ korner,” and a flag parade saluting German-American heritage.

Photo Courtesy of the German American Society of Central Florida.

3. Oktoberfest Pinellas

The German American Friendship Society of Pinellas County hosts its annual Oktoberfest celebrations on September 27 and 28, as well as October 4 and 5, at the German-American Society, 8098 66th St. N., Pinellas Park. This year’s festivities promise a bounty of made-from-scratch, traditional German foods — schnitzel, anyone? — plus desserts, coffee, and beer. A bier stein-holding contest may produce fierce competition, while a kinder corner promises to keep your youngest occupied with games and activities. The Gulf Coast Enzianer Schuhplattler Verein will perform traditional dances, and each night ends with a raffle and live musical performances.

Photo courtesy of Linda Kremkau.

4. Beaches Oktoberfest

The 9th annual Beaches Oktoberfest, held October 11-12 at 75 1st St. N. in Jacksonville Beach, transforms the classic German festivities into a full-out music festival. Featuring a pair of stages housing live sets from Gym Class Heroes (whose hit songs “Cupid’s Chokehold” and “Stereo Hearts” were inescapable on rock radio during the early 2010s), The Hip Abduction, Tropidelic, Ballyhoo!, and more, Beaches Oktoberfest pairs the modern with the traditional. That doesn’t mean you won’t find plenty of customary Oktoberfest offerings: try your hand at the stein hoisting competition, indulge in some VIP treatment at the German Bierhalle experience (complete with live polka music), or stuff your face to win gold at the bratwurst eating competition.

5. Panama City Beach Oktoberfest

From October 18 to 20, Panama City Beach’s Aaron Bessant Park (located in Pier Park) transforms into an authentic German bierhalle. Step into the massive, 150-foot-by-50-foot tent modeled after Munich’s Hofbrauhaus, complete with German flags and old-fashioned chandeliers dripping from its rafters. Dance the night away to live music and DJ sets, or opt for activities like face painting, a stein-hoisting contest, a tug of war, a best-dressed competition, and an alp horn-blowing contest. Panama City Beach Oktoberfest’s authentic German cuisine offerings include bratwurst and meterwurst, a sausage made from minced pork smoked with garlic, as well as hot dogs topped with sauerkraut and giant pretzels paired with beer-infused cheese. This year’s featured beers are Erdinger Weissbrau, a century-old wheat beer brewed exclusively in Germany, and Samuel Adams’ Octoberfest.

Photo courtesy of Brad Strandberg.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.