Red Not Chili Peppers, Fortunate Youth, Gene Farris and No Duh lead two days of live music, contests and beachside fun Oct. 9-10
Dust off the lederhosen and dig out the butterfly clips, because Ocean Beach Oktoberfest is partying like it’s 2002. The beachside bash returns Oct. 9-10 where Newport meets the beach, celebrating more than 20 years of steins, brats and salty sea air with a Y2K-themed weekend that organizers are calling their biggest and boldest yet.
This year’s 21-and-over festival comes with an expanded beachfront footprint and two stages of entertainment: live bands take over the JƤgermeister Main Stage while DJs keep the energy high at the Buzz Cannabis Electronica Stage. Hermosa Beach reggae-rock favorites Fortunate Youth headline Friday night, and Saturday cranks up the nostalgia with Red Not Chili Peppers, a tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. House music veteran Gene Farris, No Doubt tribute band No Duh and Green Day tribute American Idiots round out a lineup built for singing along with a stein in hand.
Beyond the music, the weekend is packed with OB Oktoberfest traditions and throwback programming. Expect stein-holding competitions, the Mr. & Ms. Oktoberfest Bikini Contest, a 2000s Dance Off, a Y2K Lip Sync Battle, a pretzel toss, a brat-eating contest and a late-night neon party. Contests have no entry fee, and sign-ups happen first come, first served at the contest tent near the stage.
Friday, Oct. 9 | 4-11:30 p.m.
Friday marks Flashback Friday/Locals Night, with two-for-one beers until 5 p.m. and Cash Grab Giveaways throughout the night. Locals can also show off their grip strength in the Local Legends Stein Hold.Ā
JƤgermeister Main Stage
- 4:20 p.m. Electric Waste Band
- 5:45 p.m. Pretzel Toss
- 6:15 p.m. Doah’s Daydream
- 7:30 p.m. Local Legends Stein Hold
- 8 p.m. Fortunate Youth
- 9:30 p.m. Men’s & Women’s Stein Hold
- 10 p.m. Band of Gringos
Buzz Cannabis Electronica Stage
- 4 p.m. Acacia
- 5 p.m. Bondar
- 6 p.m. Brett Rubin
- 7 p.m. Getto Blaster
- 8:30 p.m. Gene Farris
Saturday, Oct. 10 | Noon-11:30 p.m.
Saturday kicks off early with two-for-one beers until 1 p.m. and the OB+RL Beach Party from noon to 5 p.m., featuring the Mr. & Ms. Oktoberfest Bikini Contest. Once the sun sets, the Y2K After Dark Neon Party lights up the Electronica Stage from 8 to 10 p.m. with DGTL CLR and Travi Trav. Hungry competitors can sign up for the brat-eating contest, while the stein-holding crowd gets one more shot at glory before the night wraps.
JƤgermeister Main Stage
- Noon y2k2k!
- 1 p.m. Y2K Lip Sync Battle
- 1:30 p.m. No Duh (No Doubt tribute)
- 2:45 p.m. 2000s Dance Off
- 3:15 p.m. The Bay Birds
- 4:15 p.m. Mr. & Ms. Oktoberfest Bikini Contest
- 5 p.m. Three Legged Dog
- 6:15 p.m. Brat Eating Competition
- 6:45 p.m. Red Not Chili Peppers
- 8 p.m. Limbo
- 8:30 p.m. Porcelain
- 9:45 p.m. Men’s & Women’s Stein Hold
- 10:15 p.m. American Idiots (Green Day tribute)
Buzz Cannabis Electronica Stage
- Noon Match.a.Mor
- 1:30 p.m. Rui
- 2:30 p.m. Susio b2b Hylas
- 4 p.m. SharƔzz
- 5 p.m. Mango & Ginger
- 6:30 p.m. Luke Andy
- 8 p.m. DGTL CLR
- 9 p.m. Travi Trav
Sip, Snack and Upgrade
The beer garden sits right where Newport Avenue meets the pier, now with double the beachfront views. Sip a classic German brew, local beer, wine or spirits, then grab some food between sets. Want the full experience? VIP tickets include entry, a custom one-liter OB2K Oktoberfest mug filled with two beers, access to the Main Stage VIP area and restrooms and priority re-entry. General admission tickets are sold on-site the day of the event.
Good to Know Before You Go
Parking in OB can be a challenge, so ride-sharing is the way to go. The festival has a designated pickup and drop-off spot at Saratoga Avenue and Abbott Street. Check the festival map to plan your route around the grounds.
Every stein raised also gives back. Over the past two decades, OB Oktoberfest has donated more than $850,000 to local organizations, helping keep Ocean Beach thriving. Make a weekend of it and explore the neighborhood’s shops and restaurants with help from the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association.
OB Oktoberfest
5099 Newport Ave
San Diego, CA 92107
Instagram: @oboktoberfestĀ
Q&A:
Q: When and where is Ocean Beach Oktoberfest 2026?
A: The festival takes place Friday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 11:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 11:30 p.m. at the OB Pier Parking Lot, where Newport Avenue meets the pier in Ocean Beach.
Q: Who is headlining this year?
A: Reggae-rock favorites Fortunate Youth headline the JƤgermeister Main Stage on Friday at 8 p.m., while Red Not Chili Peppers, a tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, take the stage Saturday at 6:45 p.m. House music veteran Gene Farris closes out Friday on the Buzz Cannabis Electronica Stage, and tribute bands No Duh and American Idiots bring the Y2K nostalgia on Saturday.
Q: Is the festival open to all ages?
A: No. Ocean Beach Oktoberfest is a 21-and-over event, so be sure to bring a valid ID.
Q: How do I get tickets, and what comes with VIP?
A: General admission tickets are sold on-site the day of the event. VIP tickets are available online and include entry, a custom one-liter OB2K Oktoberfest mug filled with two beers, access to the Main Stage VIP area and restrooms and priority re-entry.
Q: What’s the best way to get there?
A: Parking in OB fills up fast, so ride-sharing is your best bet. The festival has a designated pickup and drop-off spot at Saratoga Avenue and Abbott Street. Arrive early on Friday to catch two-for-one beers until 5 p.m., or on Saturday for the same deal until 1 p.m.
Erik Hale is the visionary and publisher behind LOCALE Magazine. He launched the magazine in 2010, wanting to give the community of OC a premiere lifestyle magazine that knew all the native knowledge behind OC. āSix years ago Ashley and I sat at a table scratching the name LOCALE (among some other names) onto a sheet of paper,ā says Erik, ācoming up with story ideas and basically dreaming. Everything we imagined has happened and we have been blessed with so much more. I am so grateful as we start another year for my family, my two wonderful children, my health, our amazing writers, designers and photographers, our advertising partners and you.ā
