An Oktoberfest-style event that celebrates nonalcoholic drinks, instead of traditional beers with alcohol, is coming to Evanston as a social celebration of fall — without the hangover.
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A group called Chicago AF (for alcohol-free) is planning the event — called Mocktoberfest — for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Palmhouse, 619 Howard St., Evanston, with games and contests, live music, a local vendor market, talks on German culture and beverage styles, opportunities for adults to connect and nonalcoholic beverage samples.
Founded in October 2020, Chicago AF has built an email list of 2,300 people across the city and suburbs who are living, or experimenting with, a nonalcoholic life for a variety of reasons.
The organization is a social group designed for adults to make connections, not a support group for those pursuing sobriety, and its founder Carrie May of Arlington Heights says it exists also as a counter to the the loneliness and isolation many adults experience.
“People are having a harder time getting out of their houses lately and meeting people face-to-face, in real life,” May said in a phone interview.
That’s why Chicago AF events focus on piquing adults’ interest with intriguing reasons to engage in companionship and activity.
Mocktoberfest will feature German-style festival seating and decor throughout the venue, in both indoor and outdoor spaces, as well inside as a photo booth to capture funny poses.
Chicago AF hosted a similar event, called Oksoberfest, at Lincoln Park Zoo in 2023 and 2024, so organizers know it’s a popular concept.
“We know that the community loves it,” May said. “They love to have this reason to come out for a big type of German festival with all the fun festival vibes.”
For a $39.19 ticket, festivalgoers can experience unlimited 3-ounce samples of nonalcoholic beverages, a German-themed menu with food for purchase, roaming performers and what
organizers describe as a “rock/pop energy, with just enough polka to keep things festive.”
NA brewers Go Brewing of Naperville and Best Day Brewing of California will offer Oktoberfest-style NA beers, and other nonalcoholic vendors, including Chicago-founded Years, will give out samples as well.
Pat Corcoran, co-founder of Years, said he made the decision to go alcohol-free himself before forming the company in 2024, and he’s been an attendee and vendor at Chicago AF events
before. Corcoran called this era the “zeitgeist of nonalcoholic beer,” in part because of the quest by people of all ages for health and longevity.
“I think all generations are trying to learn how we can live healthy, more meaningful, longer lives,” Corcoran said.
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“I think convivialism and drinking alcohol can be part of that. But I think now a lot of people realize that maybe that gets taken too far.”
Years will bring its three original brews — Original Pilsner, Classic Pale and Belgian Wit — for sampling, in an environment where he expects the crowd will be open-minded and interested to try new things. With brands now making “NA versions of more full-bodied, full-flavored craft beers” instead of “NA watered-down lite beers,” Corcoran said an interest has grown in nonalcoholic options.
“Since it’s socially acceptable to drink NA beer,” he said, “we want to try NA beers.”
May said Chicago AF sees the growing acceptability of NA choices in action. Roughly 15 people sign up as members each week, bringing new ideas for events and activities.
The group has hosted summer concerts, plans a monthly nature walk at various preserves and trails, and offers special events like summer garden parties or chartered boat cruises — all without the presence of alcohol.
“It keeps multiplying and exploding,” May said about Chicago AF.
With Mocktoberfest, organizers hope some of the adults in the crowd will be college students from nearby campuses such as Northwestern and Loyola, so they can try “something different
to do that doesn’t involve drinking that’s still super-fun,” as May puts it.
Tickets to the event are available at chicagoafcommunity.com. Organizers and vendors hope people will give it a try.
“There’s something fun about it. I feel more in-the-moment having NA beers,” Corcoran said. “I love the fact that I can do it every single day and never slow down.”