With temperatures in the high 90’s and low 70’s, it’s the perfect weather to head out to Oktoberfest and enjoy German food, music and dance. Oktoberfest celebrations take center stage in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe and Fountain Hills, with some really fun after parties!
You’ll definitely want to hit the Beer Garden at the Brat Haus in Old Town Scottsdale, Octoberfest at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Phoenix Oktoberfest at Margaret T. Hance Park put on by the Arizona Center for Germanic Cultures, Four Peaks Oktoberfest in Tempe held at Tempe Town Lake, and last but not least, the Fountain Hills Oktoberfest at the Fountain Park which may be the most authentic German festival this season. And the best part is the festivities are spread throughout the month of October so you get to wear your lederhosen more than once!
The menu offerings are amazing with homemade pretzels, pork schnitzel, potato pancakes, Bratwurst, apple strudel among many other delicious ethnic delicacies. But we all know the real reason we go to an Oktoberfest. It’s for the beer, lots and lots of beer!
The beer menus seem endless but to whet your appetite here’s the short list: local breweries will be serving up Oktoberfest Vienna Lager, Pumpkin Porter; imports featuring traditional Oktoberfest Bier, Pilsner, Dunkel, Warsteiner Hefeweizen, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Spaten Oktoberfest and Spaten Opimator; and if your taste buds favor a domestic brew there will be a select few to choose from.
For fun why not enter the stein holding contest! The stein originated in Germany and comes in four standard sizes, 8.5, 16.9, 25.4 and 33.8 ounces. Be mindful of how much delicious gold magic you are consuming, some of the Oktoberfests have designed their own take home souvenir steins and it’s prudent to ask how many ounces you are being served.
For the DD there will always be a traditional cool non-alcoholic brew and you may even be lucky enough to snag a specialty of the season, a Stella Cidre (Cider Beer). We don’t need to remind you, drink and drive responsibly!
