Southern California is ready to welcome the centuries-old German tradition of Oktoberfest, bringing live oompah bands, lederhosen, dirndls, and plenty of beer to various locales across the region. While the festival historically begins in mid-September in Munich, many local events will run throughout October, with some starting in early September and extending into mid-November. Whether you prefer a traditional biergarten experience, a beachside party, or a mountain getaway, there are numerous ways to celebrate with a bratwurst and a stein.
In Los Angeles, several venues are transforming for the season. Highland Park's Wirtshaus, a sister establishment to Wirtshaus and Rasselbock, is hosting its second annual Oktoberfest celebration, turning its space into a Bavarian beer hall. Patrons can enjoy food and drink specials, live music, and stein-holding contests every Friday and Saturday through Halloween. In Venice, Wurstküche is holding its Bavarian celebration every weekend through October 24. This gastropub offers a menu that includes rattlesnake and rabbit hot links, German and Belgian beers, yodeling, and live German music. Tickets, which start at $72, include a Wurstküche beer stein with the first fill-up, with seatings regularly selling out.
For a unique twist, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia combines its horse races with Oktoberfest festivities over two weekends, October 10–11 and 17–18. Attendees can participate in stein-holding and costume contests, corn hole, keg rolling, and enjoy pretzels and beer. General admission includes a mini tasting stein, eight three-ounce beer tastings, a $5 betting voucher, and access to open grandstand seating. The South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Peninsula introduces "Dogtoberfest" this October, extending its dog-walking hours to every weekend. Humans can find beer stations along a "Pup Crawl" and on the main lawn, with live music from Die Sauerkrauts, plus stein-holding, pretzel-tossing, and yodeling contests. New this year, a dog VIP ticket offers a free "dog beer" tasting, a treat, a photo, and access to a VIP Top Dog Zone with splash pads and doggie pools.
Silver Lake's Red Lion Tavern, known for its year-round Bavarian atmosphere, ramps up its Oktoberfest celebrations through mid-November. The tavern offers an Oktoberfest platter of pretzels, brats, schnitzel, and sides, alongside four-liter boots of beer, with live music and stein-holding contests on select nights. In Santa Monica, The Bungalow at the oceanfront Fairmont Miramar Hotel hosts a weekend-long Oktoberfest, blending Bavarian fun with beachy vibes. Guests can enjoy Paulaner or Hefeweizen beers, bratwurst, pretzels, and apple strudel, accompanied by music from Festmeister Hans und Die Sauerkrauts and German pop. Entry to this event is free this year.
Moving east to the Inland Empire, the Fairplex in Pomona, home of the Los Angeles County Fair, transforms into a German wonderland every Friday and Saturday from October 2 to 17. This 21-plus event features Bavarian music, games, chicken dancing, and authentic German suds, with bratwurst, knockwurst, and potato pancakes on the menu. DJs and cover bands performing hits from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Selena, and Journey will also be featured.
Orange County’s Old World in Huntington Beach, billing itself as “Orange County’s biggest party since 1977,” offers a recreated Bavarian village experience from Wednesday through Sunday between September 12 and November 8. The event promises a sausage-filled menu, oompah and German bands, a biergarten, and dancing. While Friday and Saturday evenings are 21-plus with a cover charge, the celebration is open to all ages on Saturday afternoons and other nights, with free entry on Wednesday and Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons if booked online.
For those looking for a mountain escape, Big Bear Lake hosts its annual Oktoberfest every weekend from September to early November. The event features flowing beer, knockwursts, and dirndls, with an entertainment lineup including bands, many directly from Germany. Contests include stein-carrying to crown an Oktoberfest Queen, along with log-sawing, stein-holding, and chugging competitions. Nearby, Lake Arrowhead’s all-ages Oktoberfest runs every weekend from September 19 to October 25 this year in Waterfront Park. It features live German American oompah bands, dance contests, children’s games, and a daily sausage toss, alongside a contest described as "choke the chicken." While there's no entry fee, booking picnic or pub tables is advised for prime seating near the stage.
