The 14th annual Oktoberfest will return for the weekend at Ag Heritage Park, with the festival taking place on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. Established in Auburn in 2008, Oktoberfest has become one of the largest beer festivals in the South. Around 70 of the world’s most renowned breweries and wineries are registered for the event, including Blue Moon, Sweetwater, Goat Island, Stone, Victory, New Belgium and more.
Along with over a dozen other home brewers from Alabama set to compete for the title of Central Alabama’s best home brewery, Auburn’s own Brewing Science & Operations from the University’s Horticulture Department will be present.
Along with the beer tasting and judging, the event will have popular activities such as live music from The War Damn Polka Band and Kidd Blue, the Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest contest, wiener dog races, barrel races, a chicken dance competition and the famous (and crowd-favorite) Stein Hoisting competition.
Field games, exciting performances, food trucks, televisions for avid college football watchers and other activities will also be set up on the festival grounds.
Originally beginning as a celebration for the royal union of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in Munich, Germany, the Oktoberfest tradition has transcended, reaching all corners of the globe. In over 200 years, the annual celebration has evolved and transformed into internationally known festivities in places like Brazil; Tokyo, Japan; Hong Kong; and Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada.
With Oktoberfest finally making its way to the United States in the 1960s, Auburn is committed to making the festival more memorable each year.
Experiences available for each guest depends on their chosen ticket package. General admission for Oktoberfest allows access to the Saturday festival and its activities, including games and food for sale, with a limit to the alcohol that can be purchased.
"The Drink & Be German" Package allows the same privileges as general admission, with the addition of a mug, a lanyard, no alcohol purchasing limit and the ability to taste all products at the event.
Similarly, "The Eat, Drink & Be German" Package includes all previous access and benefits, along with a “neck nosh” pretzel necklace, a t-shirt and a food ticket to a single food truck. This food ticket is good for 1 food item and 1 non-alcoholic beverage. However, the sale for this particular package ended Sept. 30.
For guests seeking more family-friendly fun, the "Friday Night Beer & Family Style Dinner" will be held on the eve of the festival, Oct. 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Greenspace at Hey Day Market. Admittance includes a family-portion food option, live entertainment, a stein mug and hat pin, purchasable beer and wine and participation in the official kick-off to Oktoberfest – which the “Burgermeister” or the mayor of the 2025 Oktoberfest will begin with the first tapping of the keg.
For the most enthusiastic guests, "The Ultimate Oktoberfest" package includes 1 ticket to the "Friday Night Beer & Family Style Dinner" and 1 "Eat, Drink and Be German" ticket to the Saturday Oktoberfest event.
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