Oompah-pah bands, Sauerkraut, Pretzels, Bavarian dancing, German crafts and, of course, plenty of German Beer - In the spirit of Munich, Germany's annual sixteen-day festival, many communities and organizations throughout the Southeast U.S. celebrate Oktoberfest. Some Oktoberfest celebrations last one day while others continue for several weeks, each with its own unique format and traditions. If you are not able to travel to the real deal in Germany, these festivals in the Southeast offer several good choices for Oktoberfest fun.
Oktoberfest - Helen, Georgia
Oktoberfest Parade in Helen, Georgia: Photo courtesy of the Georgia Dept. of Economic Development
September 22 - 25, 2011 (Thursday - Sunday) and September 26 - October 30, 2011 (Daily)
The Oktoberfest celebration in Helen, Georgia, one of the most festive fall happenings in the Southeast, goes on and on for several weeks. The area's top tourist event attracts thousands of visitors each year to Helen's large Festhalle to enjoy authentic German music and dancing, food and beer and more. A year round getaway destination, Helen Georgia is a charming Alpine-style town located in the North Georgia mountains and surrounded by picturesque scenery.
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Annual MainStrasse Village Oktoberfest - Covington, Kentucky
September 9 - 11, 2011MainStrasse Village, a 19th century German neighborhood located just across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio in Covington, Kentucky, celebrates Oktoberfest each year with a blend of German and international foods, music and arts and crafts, rides and live entertainment. This popular Oktoberfest attracts around 150,000 festival-goers each year.
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Fredericksburg Area Oktoberfest - Fredericksburg, Virginia
September 23 - 24, 2011Historic Fredericksburg celebrates German heritage with family entertainment, including singing and dancing, contests, German food and authentic Oktoberfest Beer and German Hefeweizen from Blue and Gray Brewing.
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Annual Oktoberfest on the River - Savannah, Georgia
September 30 - October 2, 2011Enjoy German food, wiener dog races, multiple beverage stations, Friday night fireworks and more along Savannah's historic River Street.
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Annual Oktoberfest - Lake Worth, Florida
October 7 - 9 and 14 - 16, 2011Held over two weekends on ten acres under a pavilion and massive tent, this is one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the country. Hosted by the American-German Club of the Palm Beaches, Inc. each year on the second and third weekends of October, this traditional Oktoberfest festival features bands from Germany, entertainment, authentic German food and imported German beer and wine, plus arts and crafts, souvenirs and a carnival for kids and adults.
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Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest - Arlington, Virginia
October 8, 2011Held rain or shine at Shirlington Village, this Oktoberfest celebration features over 40 breweries giving out 4oz samples, plus authentic German music and food. There is an entry fee for those who wish to sample the beer, but the festival is free to non-sampling attendees.
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Charlotte Oktoberfest Beer Festival - Charlotte, North Carolina
October 8, 2011This annual celebration features hundreds of beers from some of the finest breweries from across the Southeast and around the world. Other features of the festival include live musical entertainment and plenty of food vendors, offering many choices from snacks to full meals.
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Asheville Oktoberfest - Asheville, North Carolina
October 8, 2011Held on Wall Street in downtown Asheville, this Oktoberfest celebration highlights local breweries and restaurants, while mixing Bavarian traditions with uniquely Asheville traditions. Live music and contests add to the fun.
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Myrtle Beach Ocean Boulevard's Oktoberfest
October 8, 2011The free admission festival along Ocean Boulevard begins at noon and concludes with a firework show. Enjoy authentic German food, beer and wine, an alcohol-free Kids Zone with inflatables and street performers, a bratwurst eating contest, Oompah band music and concerts all day.
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Bramwell Oktoberfest - Bramwell, West Virginia
October 8, 2011Known for its live musical entertainment, with traditional folk, blues, bluegrass and alternative artists performing throughout the day, the annual Bramwell Oktoberfest features food, entertainment, beer samples and guided outdoor tours of Bramwell's Millionaire Row Historic District.
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Germantown Street Festival - Nashville, Tennessee
October 8, 2011The original Germantown neighborhood Oktoberfest celebration has evolved throughout the years into the Germantown Street Festival. Held on the second Saturday in October the festival continues the original flavor of the original Oktoberfest with authentic German beer and food along with entertainment in a variety of musical styles and fun activities.
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Annual Richmond Oktoberfest - Richmond, Virginia
October 21 - 22, 2011The largest German / American Oktoberfest festival in the state of Virginia, this two-day indoor festival offers a sample of German Bavarian culture at its best, including German food, dancing, bands and more.
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