Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest like the Germans do at these Charlotte-area breweries
.jpeg "Lost Worlds Brewing will celebrate Oktoberfest twice, on Sept. 16 and Oct. 14.")
With fall comes Oktoberfest, a German tradition celebrated in September and October in Munich. And you can join in on the festivities in Charlotte now — a packed calendar of events awaits.
Among the Oktoberfest party plans at area breweries are beer releases and opportunities to drink German Marzen, Festbier and other traditional styles, along with German food. You’ll also find live music, beer stein holding competitions and more.
Here’s how you can join in on the celebration in the Charlotte area:
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten
Location: 4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
When: Friday, Sept. 22-24
Mecktoberfest at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery will take place two weekends in September, Friday through Sunday. (The first event has now passed.) Expect traditional German fare such as pork schnitzel, sausages and pretzels, live music performances in the biergarten and stein holding contests.
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Cabarrus Brewing Co.
Location: Gibson Mill, 329 McGill Ave NW, Concord, NC 28027
When: Friday, Sept. 22, 3-11 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 23, noon-11 p.m.
Cabarrus Brewing Co.’s annual Oktoberfest celebration will kick off with a Marzen keg tapping ceremony on Friday with Concord Mayor Bill Dusch and include Oktoberfest food, brewery tours, live music and contests for costumes, stein holding and boot chugging. On Saturday, you’ll find a vendor market and more contests, including a brat eating contest with a $10 entry fee. Live music will entertain guests in the beer garden in the evening.
Gilde Brewery
Location: 3530 Dewitt Lane, Charlotte, NC 28217
When: Friday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Oct. 8
Gilde Brewery, home to the German brewer’s only U.S. location, is celebrating Oktoberfest on repeat. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can expect a festival experience with live music and events such as stein holding competitions. Pair its Charlotte-brewed Oktoberfest German Marzen beer along with a Wurst Flight from its menu of traditional German foods for an authentic feel. There’s apple strudel, too.
The brewery will also host the North Carolina Stein Holding Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 3-6 p.m. Top competitors from around the state will gather to compete for $500 in prizes.
King Canary Brewing Co.
Location: 562 Williamson Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, noon-11 p.m.
King Canary Brewing’s Oktoberfest will feature stein holding competitions for adults and kids, along with live music and new glassware. The Strudelteig food truck will be on hand from 12-8 p.m., selling Bavarian pretzels, sausages, house-made sauerkraut and deserts.
Open Tap
Location: 5010 Carmel Ctr Dr, Charlotte, NC 28226
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, all day
At Open Tap’s Oktoberfest celebration, you’ll find a traditional oompah band, German fare from Chop Chop Red Pot, games and stein holding contests, with brews from Hofbräu Müenchen, Spatenbraeu and Hacker-Pschorr.
Wooden Robot
Location: 1440 S Tryon St #109, Charlotte, NC 28203
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 4-11 p.m.
In celebration of the Oktoberfest season, Wooden Robot has invited local and regional breweries to band together for beer fest using local ingredients with Epiphany Craft Malt. In addition to the beer, you’ll find traditional German-inspired food and you can register for a stein holding competition.
Old Armor Beer Company
Location: 211 West Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081
When: Friday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Kantoberfest at Old Armor will include rides, games and music, along with food and beer. You can also pre-purchase a shirt and stein package for $25 to help you prepare.
Model A Brewing
Location: 1175 Stonecrest Blvd, Fort Mill, SC 29708
When: Saturday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.-close
Model A Brewing’s Oktoberfest situation will feature live music from nationally touring polka band OOPS so you can dance all day, along with the release of its U.S. Open wining Marzen, “Vest Weather.” You’ll find more German beer and German food, plus a lowcountry boil hosted by Saltwater Markets for $25.
Seaboard Brewing Taproom & Wine Bar
Location: 213 N Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105
When: Saturday, Sept. 30, all day
Details are still in the works, but plans call for Seaboard Brewing’s Oktoberfest beer to be available, as well as others directly from Munich. Branded mugs will be on hand, and the brewery will hold its traditional bratwurst cookout.
The Dreamchasers Brewery
Location: 115 E North Main St, Waxhaw, NC 28173
When: Sunday, Oct. 1
Dreamchasers Brewery’s Oktoberfest celebration will include the release of its Waxtoberfest beer. While you try it out, you can enjoy live music and nosh on treats from the Strudeltieg and Taste of Chicago food trucks.
Ghostface Brewing
Location: 215 S Broad St, Mooresville, NC 28115
When: Sunday, Oct. 1 , 1 p.m. to close
Ghostface Brewing’s first Oktoberfest celebration will include a stein holding competition. The $20 entry fee comes along with a stein and a liter of Oktoberface Marzen. In addition to getting a $50 Ghostface gift card, the winner of the men’s and women’s competitions will automatically compete at the state finals in Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Gilde Brewery.
Lost Worlds Brewing
Location: 19700-D, One Norman Blvd, Cornelius, NC 28031
When: Saturday, Oct. 14, noon
Lost Worlds Brewing is so excited about Oktoberfest that it’s celebrating twice. You can join the Lake Norman brewery in September and October for dancing to an oompa band, contests and German food to pair with steins of Oktoberfest Marzen Lager, plus a special Kellerfest Cask.
Did we miss an event? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
This story was originally published August 31, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
