Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Boston this fall

Malden’s Idle Hands celebrates its anniversary around Oktoberfest, and the 13th annual party on Saturday, Sept. 14, is poised to be a doozy. Only $5 at the door includes entry and a ceremonial plastic half-liter stein. (Upgrade to a $20 ticket for the ceramic anniversary stein.) The party starts at noon and ends at 10pm. Throughout the day, you’ll find live polka music by The Beer Hall Boys and alt rock from Norris The Terrible. Oktoberfest food will be supplied by The Scott Brother BBQ and Lionheart Confections bringing pretzels, doughnuts and desserts. At 4pm, join the stein-hoisting competition hosted by Rich Keefe of WEEI and the #DORK Podcast. Finally, and most fun of all, you’ll be able to participate in a celebrity dunk tank to raise funds for Housing Families—including a chance to dunk Time Out Boston editor Jackie Cain.

The sprawling Dorchester brewery—with one of the best roof decks in town—is all in on Oktoberfest with celebrations spanning from the weekends of September 14 and September 21. There is no cover charge, and activities on both Saturdays include a stein holding competition, live German music, German food specials from M&M BBQ and liter pours of German beers and event exclusive flights. Dog people, get excited, because on Sunday September 15, the brewery is hosting Dogtoberfest, a pup-friendly celebration!  

Kicking off September 15 and running through October 30, this Kenmore Square brasserie will serve an Oktoberfest menu created by chef Martin Brock, an actual Bavarian. The menu will include chicken, bacon and cheddar bratwurst; mushroom and cheese spaetzle; short rib goulash and a porkfest for two. The bar at Blue Ribbon Brasserie is also pouring steins of Jack's Abby Copper Legend, a Märzen-style Oktoberfest brew.

For something a little different, Boston beer educator Craft Beer Concierge is offering guided Oktoberfest beer and cheese tastings (because yes, cheese pairings!) at Castle Island Brewing in Southie and at Dorchester Brewing. The events are on September 18 and 19, respectively, and you can find out more about tickets on the Boston beer educator's Linktree.

Head to this Somerville pub for live German music from Bavarian Brothers and Vagabonds, traditional food and beer on Saturday, Sept. 21. This free event will run all evening, but if you miss it, there's still time to enjoy the Bavarian flavor. Olde Magoun's will serve an Oktoberfest food menu until October 31.

Both the Canton and Fort Point locations of ​​Trillium Brewing Co. will host a lively Oktoberfest weekend September 21 and 22, full of food specials, beer releases, costume competitions and more. Fest fans will find live DJs at both venues all weekend as well as family-friendly activities like face painting. Not only will there be a special German menu, but Taqueria el Barrio will host a food truck pop-up, too. Not to be outdone, Trillium’s smaller outposts in Fenway and on the Greenway will feature celebratory touches such as Oktoberfest steins and shirts for sale and festive beers on tap. 

This relaxed Allston favorite from Stillwater chef-owner and Chopped champion Sarah Wade is running an Oktoberfest menu from September 22–October 6 with the likes of curry fries, jumbo pretzels and grilled bratwurst. Meanwhile, the bar is pouring Zero Gravity’s Oktoberfest in steins and half-steins.

This elevated comfort-food spot in the Leather District is hosting Sausagefest, a food celebration of Oktoberfest, from September 22–October 6. The menu includes a sausage-cuterie board with grilled brats and garlic-cheese sausage, bratwurst and mash, a savory sauerkraut strudel and more. The bar is pouring Jack’s Abby Copper Legend, one of our favorite Oktoberfest brews.

A Boston classic, Sam Adams always comes through with a good time. This year, the Oktoberfest celebration at the original Jamaica Plain brewery includes a celebration of classic German beers, live music and stein-hoisting challenges across four days of fun. Things start on Thursday, Sept. 26, with a special four course Oktoberfest dinner in the bier keller ($75/person). The party goes into the weekend with live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus fest plates of brats and Bavarian pretzels alongside the lineup of brews.

With locations in Everett and Lovejoy Wharf and beer gardens on the Esplanade, in Allston and on the Greenway, Night Shift is raising a mug to Oktoberfest with celebrations where you can eat, drink and yodel at each of their spots. The annual Oktoberfest festivities will see exclusive new releases at all locations, kicking off Friday, Sept. 27. 

The Everett Taproom hosts their Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 28. In addition to the exclusive beer releases, festivities include live music from the Tubafrau Hofbrau Polka Band starting at 1pm, a stein-hoisting competition at 4pm, pretzels from One Mighty Mill, treats from Far Out Ice Cream and more. The Lovejoy Wharf Oktoberfest celebration is on their waterfront patio on Sunday, Sept. 29. In addition to the exclusive beer releases, Tubafrau is there with the tunes at 2pm and the restaurant will be serving Oktoberfest-themed menu items. 

On Saturday, Sept. 28, from 1–9pm, Aeronaut Allston will be celebrating the beeriest time of the year. They’re pouring favorite German-inspired beers, including Oktoberfest, and serving German fare from Swissbakers and Hungry Nomad. Beyond eating and drinking, the Hofbräu Spieler Band will be bringing the house down, and Aeronaut will host a multi-round, all-abilities-welcome stein-holding competition.

The Canton restaurant will host its third annual Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 28. , in collaboration with Craft Collective and Counterweight Brewery, it's across two ticketed sessions from 11am-3pm and 4-8pm. Attendees will get a take-home Counterweight Brewery pint glass and tickets redeemable for beers and chef Marc Sheehan's German-inspired, wood-fired food menu, such as pork schnitzel and bratwurst. Tickets are $30 and available on Resy as well as at the door day-of.

Befitting its name, Harvest restaurant in Cambridge hosts a fall festival with Oktoberfest beers on September 29. Executive chef Nick Deutmeyer and the team are celebrating all things autumn with hearty German-inspired dishes like sausages and more. There will also be live music and games. Tickets are $75 per person and include two drinks and food. Guests are encouraged to dress the part, as well!

On Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10am–4pm, TD Garden-side sports bar Banners is hosting a $50 ticketed Oktoberfest that includes a souvenir stein, your first beer and small bites. The TD Garden-side sports bar will also have a special Oktoberfest menu alongside regular offerings. The event will feature live entertainment from a DJ and a band, authentic German actors, and more than a dozen local breweries—including Jack's Abby and Sam Adams—offering seasonal samples with attendees voting for their favorites. There will also be a raffle, door prizes, and competitions for best dressed and stein holding. 

We love free, and Blackmoor is bringing live German music from TubaFrau and the Bavarian Brothers to Charlestown for three free events on Thursday, Oct. 10; Saturday, Oct. 19 and Thursday, Oct. 24. The bustling pub will also offer an Oktoberfest menu through October 31—and, obviously, lots of beer.