Oktoberfest in Hartford County (Fall 2026): Where to Prost This Season
From brewery steins to downtown bar crawls, Hartford County has plenty of ways to celebrate Oktoberfest this fall. Below is a roundup of events to put on your calendar—each with a quick description, a link for details/tickets, and an image (when available).
Oktoberfest at Backeast Brewing
Friday, September 18 | 12–10 PM
We’re breaking out the steins and going full Oktoberfest this Friday! Festbier, Churro Oktoberfest, boot & stein deals, pitcher specials, German-inspired food, games, festive cocktails + plenty more Oktoberfest nonsense.
Plus, Top Cheddar takes the stage from 6–9 PM to keep the party going.
Lederhosen encouraged. Thirst highly recommended.
Oktoberfest 2026 @ Connecticut Valley Brewing Company (Farnham)
Saturday, September 19 • 12 PM - 10 PM
A brewery-hosted Oktoberfest is always a safe bet: you get the seasonal pours, a lively crowd, and an easygoing “stay as long as you like” vibe. Connecticut Valley Brewing Company’s all-day celebration is a great pick if you want Oktoberfest energy without the formality.
PROST! It's the Connecticut Valley's biggest day of the brew year... don't miss this!
Break out your lederhosen, alpine hat, and dirndl for a whole day of great beer, live music, contests, German food and more!
Music from The Savage Brothers
The famous Alpenland Tänzer performs
The return of our OKTOBERFEST Märzen-style Lager
Authentic Bavarian and German-food and desserts!
Join us for a day full of events including lederhosen costume contests, our annual stein hoist competition, and more.
NO TICKETS NECESSARY! FREE TO ATTEND EVENT!
Oktoberfest at East Side
September 17–20, 2026 (all weekend long)
Four days. Plenty of German beer. Authentic food. Live music. Competitions. And all the Oktoberfest energy you can handle. One of East Side Restaurant’s biggest weekends of the year!
Thursday: Beer & Food Pairing
Friday: Oktoberfest Weekend Kickoff
Saturday: Polish Day + Saturday Night Oktoberfest
Sunday: Oktoberfest Finale in the Beer Garden
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 |OKTOBERFEST BIER & FOOD PAIRING
12 German Food & Drink Pairings • $49.95 Per Person - Doors 4:30 PM | Event 5:00–8:00 PM
Kick off Oktoberfest weekend with our biggest pairing experience yet! Make your way through East Side for an interactive walk-around tasting featuring 12 German food & drink pairings. Enjoy 10 Bier & Food Pairings, 1 specialty beverage pairing and 1 Jägermeister pairing, featuring favorites like:
Paulaner Lager + Pretzel • Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier + Chicken Schnitzel • Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest + Knockwurst & Sauerkraut • Paulaner Oktoberfest + German Meatballs & Spätzle • Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen + Rouladen • Jägermeister Orange + Apple Crisp
Plus enjoy German brewery representatives, live accordion music, live Spätzle pressing, a Stein-Holding Competition, German Garb Contest, brewery raffles & giveaways.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 | OKTOBERFEST WEEKEND KICKOFF
Open 11:30 AM–2:00 PM & 4:30-8:30PM | $30 OKTOBERFEST PRIX FIXE
Friday lunch is back for the first time in over six years! Join us throughout the day as Oktoberfest weekend gets underway with German food, seasonal Oktoberfest beers, live accordion music, competitions, and Oktoberfest festivities.
Enjoy our regular menu or try our optional $30 Oktoberfest Prix Fixe, featuring:
Seasonal German Beer Flight – 4 Beers
Oktoberfest Platter – Jäger Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, Knockwurst, Bratwurst, Spätzle, Red Cabbage & Sauerkraut
LIVE ACCORDION MUSIC
OKTOBERFEST COMPETITIONS • 6:00 PM
Stein Holding Competition
German Garb Contest
Pretzel Eating Competitions for Kids & Adults
Come for lunch, raise a liter, enjoy the music, or join us Friday night for a full evening of Oktoberfest fun.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 | POLISH DAY IN THE BEER GARDEN
1:00–4:00 PM | Celebrate Polish Day at East Side with an afternoon of live Polish music, German & Polish food, cold bier, and Oktoberfest fun! $44.95 PER PERSON | Includes $10 event admission + $34.95 German & Polish buffet
Live Music by Vademecum Polish Band
German & Polish Buffet featuring Pierogies, Stuffed Cabbage, Potato Pancakes, German Wurst, Jäger Schnitzel,
Chicken Cordon Bleu, German Meatballs & Spätzle, Apple Strudel + more
Stein-Holding Competition
After Polish Day, the celebration continues in our Main Dining Room with a traditional German Oktoberfest night. Enjoy authentic German food, Oktoberfest beer specials, and live German accordion music by Walter in our lively beer hall atmosphere.
Stein Holding Competition
German Garb Contest
Oktoberfest beer specials
Authentic German food
Live German accordion music
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 |Oktoberfest Finale in the Beer Garden
1:00–5:00 PM
Finish Oktoberfest weekend with one final afternoon in our Beer Garden featuring live German/Polish music by The Maestro’s Men, a traditional German buffet, seasonal Oktoberfest beers, competitions, and plenty of Oktoberfest fun.
Raise a stein, enjoy the music, and help us close out four days of Oktoberfest at East Side!
Oktoberfest at parkville market
Saturday, October 17, 2026 1:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Grab your steins and lederhosen… because Oktoberfest is back at Parkville Market this October 17! Our market will be transformed into the ultimate biergarten where Ayesheh Mae of Filthy Comedy will be hosting competitions like stein hoisting, keg hoisting, German spelling bee, yodeling, pretzel eating contest, and best dressed!
If you’re coming for the grub, then you’re in luck. Food vendor specials coming soon…
And of course, an Oktoberfest would never be complete without BEER! Beer list coming soon…
This event is free to the public! Come take part in the festivities there will be swag giveaways, contests & prizes, music, and BEER.
Oktoberfest 2026 (Tunxis Country Club)
Sunday, October 4 • 8 AM - 3 PM
Looking to mix golf with your Oktoberfest? This event at Tunxis Country Club leans into a hosted experience—ideal if you’re planning a group outing, client entertainment, or you simply want Oktoberfest with a game.
F ormat: 4-Person Team Scramble
Cost: Public: $138 per person ($552 per team) | FlexPass Members: $118 per person ($472 per team) includes 18 holes golf with cart, range balls prior to play, prizes, player gift, on-course food & beverages and Bavarian buffet following play!
2026 Festival Beverage Station Lineup: NINE FEATURED BREWS!
Warsteiner, Ayinger, Weihenstepher, Hacker Pschorr, Hofbrau, Oberdorfer, Bavarian Fest, Schnitzengiggle, of course Sam Adams Oktoberfest.
Look Good, Play Good: Lederhosen welcome (but not required!)
Max Chef to Farm: Hoptober Barrel & Brew Fest-Simsbury
Sunday, October 18th at 12:30 pm
October 18, 2026 12:30 PM • Rosedale Farms & Vineyards - Simsbury, CT
Celebrate Max’s Annual Hoptoberfest on Sunday, October 18th! Local beer is the best beer! Enjoy live music (TBD), and an Oktoberfest-inspired spread by Max Catering & Events. We've been pickling all summer in anticipation of this Festival!
Must be over 21 to attend. Ticket price includes 1 tasting glass, 2 oz. pours of some of the best beers in the world, a tasting guide, and all the bites you can eat.
Designated Driver Tickets include event access, food, just no drinks.