Time to Learn Some Old German Drinking Songs
Written by: Kassandra Stewart Oktoberfest Los Angeles
Button up your lederhosen and dust off your dad’s steins, Los Angeles has plenty of Oktoberfest celebrations scattered throughout this month to ensure you can get your fill, and then some, of beers, mass amounts of food, games and dancing. Fall is officially here, and for those of us who would rather down a pumpkin ale (or four) than a latte, there’s no better way to kick off the season than in the middle of a crowd, Märzenbier in hand, attempting not to spill during the chicken dance. Whether you are in it for the beer or the experience, there’s an event for everybody!
Oktoberfest Los Angeles
Prost!
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When: Sept. 7-Oct. 27
The oldest and largest Oktoberfest in Southern California, Alpine Village flies in Oom-pah-pah bands directly from Germany for one of the best Bavarian filled fests Los Angeles has to offer. Fill your steins with German beers and your stomachs with all the apple strudel you can get your hands on. Tickets start at $15 and on Sundays are family days, making it a friendly option for families.
Native Knowledge: Costumes are definitely encouraged, in fact, can you imagine a better way to eat pork schnitzel, than dressed up in a Dirndl?
833 W Torrance Blvd
Torrance, CA 90502
310.327.4384
Oktoberfest Los Angeles
Cheers to You
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Dates: Oct. 20-21
Local beer fans will love this not-so-traditional Oktoberfest celebration, which will be supplying plenty of California brews like Lagunitas, Brewyard and Angel City to wash down all of the different foods available. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of authentic German beer too, as they will be featuring Paulaner, a lager hailing from Munich. Admission is $5, and there will be an array of live music to enjoy, so bring your buds or your kids and make sure to check out their tasting packages!
Native Knowledge: Sink your teeth into the many classic German sausages, kraut and pretzels, or not; you can also find food like Thai-Mexican fusion and other good eats.
Pershing Square
532 S Olive Street
Los Angeles CA 90013
310.404.3094
Oktoberfest Los Angeles
I Fear No Beer
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Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 5-Oct. 20
It’s only a short trip to Bavaria when you walk through the gates at the Fairplex in Pomona into a German wunderland. You’ll find yourself surrounded with authentic German food to chow down on, food trucks to test out, activities and games, traditional music and steins of beer, beer, and more beer. Bring a big appetite, dust off that lederhosen and prepare your best moves, there will be chicken dancing, and plenty of it. This event is 21 and over and tickets are $10 with a $12 fee to park.
Native Knowledge: Brush up on your German and ask someone to dance: “Mochten sie tanzen?”
1101 W McKinley Ave
Pomona, CA 91768
909.623.3111
Guten Appetit
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Dates: Saturdays, Oct. 6-Oct. 27
This Venice locale gets down and Bavarian for four Saturdays throughout October. As German craft beers are flowing from the taps, fill yourself with giant pretzels and exotic sausages like the rattlesnake and rabbit sausage, or their duck and bacon option. Oh, and don’t forget to wear your best lederhosen or dirndl, because this is as close as you are going to get to an authentic Munich Oktoberfest minus the crowd.
Native Knowledge: Tickets are selling quick at $25, and you’ll most likely want to take an Uber or Lyft as street parking can be a bit limited.
625 Lincoln Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
213.687.4444
Stein Time
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Dates: Oct. 13
Unlimited beer tasting at the Long Beach Oktoberfest will give you something to cheers to! The non-traditional festival focuses on fall craft beers, offering two different tasting sessions. A variety of beers from breweries including Rock Bottom, Ballast Point, Elysian Brewing and a few others provide a boutique tasting experience, which again is unlimited (another round anyone?). There will be food on site as well as groove-worthy jams by DJ Amanda B.
Native Knowledge: Tickets start at $20 and include a souvenir beer mug to use for the tasting!
The Pike Outlets
95 South Pine Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802