The best 2024 Oktoberfest events in Brooklyn

By Joshua Encinias

Oktoberfest is back, bringing with it no shortage of steins, sausages, lederhosen and feats of strength across the borough.

In this guide you’ll find traditional Oktoberfest festivities at spots like Williamsburg’s Radegast Hall & Biergarten and Bay Ridge’s Schnitzel Haus. There’s also an Oktoberfest cruise, a fundraiser for the Brooklyn School German — and, for some reason, Brooklyn Crab.

Here are our top picks for the fest. O’zapft is!

Radegast Hall & Biergarten
Saturday, September 21 to Saturday, October 5
Radegast Hall & Biergarten came to Brooklyn in 2007 back when you could actually almost afford to live in Williamsburg. Life was all Mumford & Sons, Lumineers and waxed mustaches. That era is long gone, but Radegast Hall & Biergarten is still going strong. Their Oktoberfest season begins on September 21 with a brass band, men’s and women’s stein-holding competitions and a ceremonial keg-tapping followed by a dance party. They’re taking reservations now for the entire season. 113 N 3rd St.

Oktoberfest Parties at Black Forest
Saturday, September 21 to Saturday, October 26
Black Forest’s Brooklyn locations in Fort Greene and Cobble Hill will host Oktoberfest parties every weekend through October 26. Now in its 11th year, you can check out the festivities over six Fridays and Saturdays — with some Sunday daytime events sprinkled in. Each party will feature authentic decorations, a live German oompah band, drink and food specials, and a mug-holding and costume contest with prizes. The party kicks off on September 21 with traditional keg tapping ceremonies, filling your steins with the freshest bier right from the keg! Tickets start at $15 for entry, and you can add on three hours of unlimited beer for $45. 733 Fulton Street, Fort Greene & 181 Smith Street, Cobble Hill.

Oktoberfest at Brooklyn Brewery
Wednesday, September 25 at 7 p.m.
Not to be confused with the Brewery’s Blocktoberfest (see below), Brooklyn Brewery’s Tasting Room will host a night of live music, a stein-holding contest, an Oktoberfest menu provided by Mables BBQ and of course, great beer. Free to attend, $15 to enter the stein-holding contest (first beer included). 79 North 11th Street.

Zum Schneider Oktoberfest 2024
Friday, September 27 to Sunday, October 6
Zum Schneider’s famous annual Oktoberfest Tent returns to Brooklyn from September 27 through October 6. Their theme is “Munich in Brooklyn” at host venue 3 Dollar Bill, where Zum Schneider’s authentic Oktoberfest experience takes place in a fully decked-out Munich Oktoberfest tent, seating over 600 people. Sip on their exclusively imported Oktoberfest Bier from Bavaria and wider Germany such as Weihenstephan, paired with their traditional fare and atmosphere by Mösl Franzi and the JaJaJas Oompah band. There’s a price point for every budget so check out their Eventbrite for tickets. 260 Meserole Street.

Circle Line Oktoberfest Cruises
September 28 and November 10
Circle Line hosts two different Oktoberfest-themed cruises this fall. One is four hours long and the other lasts eight. Enjoy Oktoberfest-themed food and drinks, live music, and views of the changing leaves along the Hudson River. You will cruise to Bear Mountain, passing the Hudson River Palisades, the Cloisters and more. Fill up on Bavarian pretzels, German beer, bratwursts, and apple cider donuts, and take your Dramamine. Pier 83, 12th Avenue and W 42nd Street. Ticket prices vary.

Blocktoberfest 2024
Sunday, September 29
Blocktoberfest is pouring out a feast of hoppy delights on September 29. It’s the city’s only event featuring nearly every member of the NYC Brewers Guild, and there are even drinks for non-beer drinkers. New this year: Blocktoberfest will be indoors in the taproom of Brooklyn Brewery. The fest has several different ticket levels so imbibe to your wallet’s delight. If you really want to treat yourself, the first 100 VIP ticket holders to arrive will receive a delicious and complimentary pretzel from Sigmund’s Pretzels. 79 North 11th Street. Tickets start from $19.98.

German School Brooklyn’s Oktoberfest
Sunday, September 29 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Drink a bier for a good cause on Sunday, September 29 on Governors Island. Taco Vista will host the 10th annual Oktoberfest fundraiser for the German School Brooklyn from 2 to 5 p.m. for a buffet meal of brats, pretzels and sides (vegetarian options included). Hop on the ferry from Red Hook or Brooklyn Bridge Park to enjoy some German beer and family-friendly fun. Children’s tickets are $20 and adults get in for $40.

Brooklyn Crab Oktoberfest Beer Festival
Sunday, September 29 to Monday, October 28
Brooklyn Crab has entered the chat. On Sunday, September 29, the Red Hook stalwart will provide a nautical immersion into craft beers, pretzels and sausages and their own stein-holding contests. The event runs through Monday, October 28, but the big party is Sunday, September 29. 24 Reed Street. Tickets are $60.54.

Greenwood Park’s annual Brooktoberfest
October 5, 2 to 7 p.m.
Lace your lederhosen and dust of your dirndl for the third annual iteration of this sprawling Greenwood Heights’ beergarden Oktoberfest. There will be a stein holding competition, pretzel eating contest, weiner tossing, trivia and a drunk spelling bee. Fabulous prizes abound! Free to compete, book tables on Resy. 555 Seventh Avenue.