Summer might be Chicago’s biggest festival season, but the city also goes all out in early fall to celebrate Oktoberfest. The area’s strong German heritage means you’ll find plenty of communities hosting huge parties with live music and traditional fun like stein-holding competitions, while breweries put their own spins on Oktoberfest beers on tap and restaurants add specials like bratwurst and schnitzel to their menus. Bring an appetite and prepare to shout, “Prost!” — the German word for cheers — a lot when you head to one of these 35 Oktoberfest celebrations.
South Side & Near South Side
The Duck Inn
The Bridgeport restaurant closes out its tropical pig roast summer series with Pigs in Lederhosen, blending German and Hawaiian fare with mai tais and lots of beer. 5 p.m. Sept. 25. 2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811; tickets are $55, theduckinnchicago.com
The Loop and Near North Side
Aloft Chicago Mag Mile
A patio party on Sept. 19 features a live polka band, brews from Steiner-Bier, frozen cocktails and a stein-hoisting competition. 243 E. Ontario St., 312-429-6600, marriott.com
Hubbard Haus
The River North block party features drink specials, games, stein painting, seasonal doughnuts, German bands and DJs. Noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 27. Hubbard Street between LaSalle Drive and Clark Street; tickets are $15 at oktoberfest.hubbardhauschicago.com
The Northman Beer & Cider Garden
The riverfront bar runs celebrations every weekend from Sept. 19 to Oct. 5, serving beers from Germany, Austria and Chicago; nonalcoholic Oktoberfest from Athletic Brewing Company; and smoked sausage stuffed with cheese. The festivities include live music, stein-holding contests awarding brewery swag, giant pretzels (served Saturdays while supplies last), pretzel-necklace-making kits. Bring your appetite for a bratwurst-eating competition at noon Sept. 27. 233 E. Riverwalk, thenorthman.com
Oktoberfest on Division Street
The Gold Coast bash features Oktoberfest beer, live music from Maggie Speaks and 7th Heaven, stein-holding competitions and a German word pronunciation contest. 3-10 p.m. Oct. 3 and noon to 10 p.m. Oct. 4. 21 W. Division St.; tickets are $12 at lmgchicago.com/oktoberfest
Old Town Oktoberfest
Celebrate the neighborhood’s German history with beer, food, live music and a stein-holding contest. 5-10 p.m. Sept. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 20 and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 21. Wells and Schiller streets, $10 suggested donation, oldtownchicago.org
North Side & Northwest Side
Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery
The breweries’ 13th annual Oktoberfestiversary street festival features food trucks, live music, kids’ activities and lots of beer. Donations benefit The Friendship Center. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 11 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 12. Ravenswood and Belle Plaine avenues; $5 suggested donation, oktoberfestiversary.com
Bitter Pops
Test your strength in the taproom’s annual stein-hoisting competition. 8 p.m. Sept. 18. 3357 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-857-7677, bitterpops.com
Cody’s Public House
Compete in a stein-hoisting competition during half-time of the Cowboys vs. Bears game Sept. 21 and you’ll get to keep the stein and could win Revolution swag. Drink specials include $6 Jäger shots, $7 Revolution Oktoberfest and both drinks for $12. Test your strength in a stein-hoisting contest at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 for the chance to win a $100 Cody’s gift card. You can pour your own shots from a Jägermeister machine and enjoy $7 steins of Paulaner Oktoberfest. Bring your pup for a Barktoberfest benefit for Chicago Canine Rescue at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 and they’ll get a free pup cup. The bash features a buffet with brats, German potato salad and pretzels, plus $6 steins of Sam Adams Octoberfest and a stein-hoisting contest. 1658 W. Barry Ave., 773-799-8217, codyschicago.com/events
DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
DANK Haus’ ballroom transforms into a biergarten where you can enjoy German beer, bratwurst and pretzels, enter a stein-holding contest, and catch performances from Alpine Thunder and Alphorn Duo. 6:30-11:30 p.m. Sept. 27. 4740 N. Western Ave.; $5 suggested donation, dankhaus.com/Oktoberfest
More Top Picks Best Noise Canceling Headphones For Toddlers
Lottie’s Pub
Buy a Revolution Oktoberfest to enter a stein-hoisting competition and you’ll keep the stein and have a chance to win a Revolution swag bag. Enjoy $6 Revolution pints and $5 oven-baked jumbo pretzels with cheese. 7-9 p.m. Sept. 18. 1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com/events/revolution-oktoberfest
Murphy’s Bleachers
East Lakeview Neighbors’ 25th annual Oktoberfest party features a pig roast, German food and beer, music by Jukebox Heroes, a raffle and a silent auction awarding Cubs memorabilia. 3:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. 3655 N. Sheffield Ave., tickets $35-$40, eastlakeview.org
Oktoberfest with the Cubs
The Wrigleyville bash features a ceremonial keg tapping, food and beer tents, stein-holding and keg-rolling competitions, live music, carnival rides and games. 4-10 p.m. Sept. 19, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 20 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 21. 1126 W. Grace St.; tickets are $15 for one-day access, free for kids 10 and under, mlb.com/cubs/tickets/oktoberfest
Park & Field
Celebrate with live German music, German food specials and $10 souvenir steins from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 18. A Dogtoberfest on the patio from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 21 features beer specials and doggy giveaways. Tickets are $5 for both events. 3509 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-360-7373, parkandfieldchicago.com/social-events
St. Alphonsus
The 24th annual celebration inside and outside the Lakeview church features flights of German beer, brats, commemorative beer steins, a ceremonial keg tapping, a stein-hoisting competition, kids activities, and live music from Trippin Billies and Bratwurst Brothers.5-10 p.m. Sept. 26, noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 27 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 28. 1429 W. Wellington Ave.; $5-$10 suggested donation, stalsoktoberfest.com
Uvae Kitchen & Wine Bar
Germany doesn’t just make great beer. An Oktoberfest wine-tasting showcases the country’s riesling, pinot noir and indigenous grape varietals. 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 4. 5553 N. Clark St., 773-654-1432; tickets are $40, uvaechicago.com
West Side & Near West Side
Cruz Blanca Brewpub
The ninth annual Das Bueno Oktoberfest bash features sausages from Kevin Hickey (The Duck Inn), Paul Virant (Gaijin), Ben Lustbagel (Loaf Lounge) and Curtis Duffy (Ever), live music from Los Gallos, apple cider margaritas, and Oktoberfest beer served in a souvenir stein. Noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 20. 904 W. Randolph St.; tickets are $10, 312-733-1975, eventbrite.com
Girl & the Goat
You’ll be welcomed with a pour of Märzen at a Goat-tober Fest family-style brunch featuring seasonal food and festive cocktails. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 28. 809 W. Randolph St.; tickets are $75, 312-492-6262, girlandthegoat.com/chicago
Guinness Open Gate Brewery
Bring your pooch for a Barktoberfest party from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 featuring pup-friendly treats and a best-dressed dog competition. The brewpub serves three German-style beers along with schnitzel, giant pretzels and sausages through Oct. 6. 901 W. Kinzie St., guinnessbrewerychicago.com
Haymarket Brewing Company
Celebrate Sept. 27 with festbier, grilled sausages and live music. 737 W. Randolph St., 312-638-0700, haymarketbeer.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
Specials offered Sept. 20 through Oct. 5 include soft pretzel twists with cheddar cheese sauce and spicy mustard ($10), wood-grilled smoked bacon cheddar brats topped with German mustard ($14), 3 Floyds Brewing Munsterfest ($8) and Revolution Brewing Oktoberfest ($7). 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com/events
PB&J
The bar serves Oktoberfest beer, beer brats and jumbo pretzels Sept. 19 to Oct. 12. Wear an Oktoberfest costume to win swag and gift cards. From 4-8 p.m. Sept. 27, PB&J serves as the starting point for an Oktoberfest bar crawl. 205 N. Peoria St., 872-318-3184, pbjwestloop.com/events
The Publican
Celebrate Sept. 20 through Oct. 5 with specials including Paulaner Festbier, Bavarian pretzels, sausages and wienerschnitzel. 837 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9555, thepublicanrestaurant.com
Tuman’s Tap & Grill
The celebration kicks off Sept. 20 with a tapping of seven beers including 3 Floyds Brewing Munsterfest and Art History Brewing Artoberfest ($9-$17). The bar serves a $19 bratwurst dinner with sauteed cabbage, crispy bacon, roasted potatoes and German mustard daily through Oct. 5. 2159 W. Chicago Ave., 773-782-1400, tumanstapandgrill.com
More Top Picks Best Built In Refrigerators
Suburban and multiple locations
Brookfield Zoo
A party on the zoo’s Carousel Plaza features live polka music, themed giveaways and games, with Oktoberfest beer, bratwurst and pretzels with cheese available for purchase. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28. 8400 31st St., Brookfield, brookfieldzoo.org/Oktoberfest
Downtown Oak Park
The 33rd annual Oaktoberfest features beer including Leinenkugel Oktoberfest and Kinslahger Festbier, food from local restaurants, live music from Billy Branch & The Sons and Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, and kids activities. 4-10 p.m. Sept. 26 and noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 27. North Boulevard and Marion Street; 708-383-4145, oaktoberfest.net
FIBS Brewing
The brewery serves its NickelBock Austrian-style bock alongside brats, Bavarian pretzels with cheese and apple strudel during a two-day Bocktoberfest celebration in its beer garden. Heaters and fire pits will keep you toasty while you listen to music from School of Rock and Nickelback tribute band Feed the Machine. 6-9 p.m. Sept. 19 and 7-9 p.m. Sept. 20. 260 Howard Ave., Des Plaines, 847-227-9790, fibsbrewing.com
Hannah’s Bretzel
The chain celebrates its German roots with a bratwurst sandwich made with sauerkraut, whole grain honey mustard and caramelized onions. Multiple locations, hannahsbretzel.com
Jens Jensen Park
Highland Park’s fourth annual Oktoberfest celebration features food and beverage vendors, a stein-holding contest, kids’ activities, an amateur barbecue competition, and live music from The Slow Polkas and Extra Crispy Brass Band. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 20. 486 Roger Williams Ave., enjoyhighlandpark.com/oktoberfest
Memorial Park
Sample beer and cider and grab some bites from the Spoon Burger and Nick’s Pizza food trucks at the annual Hoptober Fest celebration raising money for the DuPage County Historical Museum. 1-5 p.m. Sept. 27. 225 W. Karlskoga Ave., Wheaton; tickets $20-$50, 630-510-4961, wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/hoptoberfest
Naper Settlement
Enjoy German food from local restaurants and food trucks plus a variety of Oktoberfest beers served in a giant heated tent. The celebration also features live music, kids’ activities and a stein-holding contest. 5-10 p.m. Oct. 3 and 3-10 p.m. Oct. 4. 523 S. Webster St., Naperville; tickets are $25, $15 for kids ages 4-12; 630-420-6010, napersettlement.org/237/Oktoberfest
Old Town Pour House
An Oktoberfest burger ($17) offered through Nov. 4 features a beef patty topped with smoked provolone, beer-braised onions, sliced sausage, cider ale mustard and bacon-braised sauerkraut served on a pretzel bun. 8 Oak Brook Center, Oak Brook, 630-601-1440 and 1703 Freedom Drive, Naperville, 630-448-6020, oldtownpourhouse.com
Puttshack
From Sept. 19 to Oct. 19, you can enjoy a $5 pint of a Samuel Adams Octoberfest and a $13 Bavarian-style soft pretzel with honey-dijon mustard and beer cheese between rounds of mini golf. 1828 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook and 4999 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, puttshack.com
Rotary Club of Palatine Oktoberfest
The annual bash features live German music, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr beer served in collectible mugs, food from local restaurants, family activities and a raffle. 5 p.m. to midnight Sept. 19, noon to midnight Sept. 20 and noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 21. 170 W. Slade St., Palatine, palatinerotary.com/Oktoberfest
St. Mary Church
The second annual OktoberFiesta features Mexican and German food, drinks from Sketchbook Brewing Co., Double Clutch Brewing Company and Tequila Cazadores, live music, kids’ activities, and a raffle to raise money for St. John XXIII Parish and Pope John XXIII School. $5. 3-9 p.m. Sept. 27. 1012 Lake St., Evanston, 847-864-0333, stjohn23evanston.org/oktoberfiesta
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.