Oktoberfest NYC: Your Guide To The Night
- Oktoberfest started back in 1810, when Bavarian Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
- Her name was so long that people despaired, drinking hideous amounts of beer. Not really. They were simply celebrating the wedding.
- Alongside the beer consumption, they also danced, ate traditional Bavarian cuisine, donned their best lederhosen, and danced around for 3 days.
- In the US, we celebrate from September through to October because October can be quite cold. And if your precious constitution can't take a bit of October chill, you can still get involved. And where better to spend Oktoberfest than NYC, the (at times) coldest city on Earth (at least it feels like it)?
So now that you're caught up, you'll be wanting to know when and where you can party. Never fear, our guide to Oktoberfest NYC is just a scroll away. Eyes down, bottoms up, and make this Oktoberfest the best Oktoberfest you could possibly imagine.
OktoberFest New York
And we start with, well, an entire, month-long festival dedicated to Oktoberfest. If you want an authentic Oktoberfest, definitely check out OktoberFest.
Expect all of the traditional German beer your stomach can hold, authentic food (lots of sausage and pretzels, you know the drill), and masskrugstemmen: stein-holding contests, to the uninitiated. Alongside these, expect some very American games with a Bavarian twist. Volley pong, corn-in-the-hole, and ping pong are all there to be played. There's also music if the beer inclines you to strut your stuff. Best of all, entry is free. Not the beer, sadly. Standard steins should set you back about ten bucks. Not too bad for New York. Don't know what that says about our fair city, but you roll with the punches kiddo.
Munich on the East River
New York's first original Bavarian Bierhaus welcomes you to a week of de-beer-auchery in the East Village. For the last few years they've been celebrating Oktoberfest in style. They erect a huge tent with original Bavarian furniture, an Oompah band stage, and even VIP seating if you want to feel extra special on the big day.
There will be beer. Lots of beer. HB Traunstein Festbier and Andechs Festbier, both exclusive to Zum Schneider in New York, will of course be overflowing in Masskrugen (1 litre steins). But if for some reason you want to celebrate sans beer (Prince Ludwig will be spinning in his grave), they also have wines, ciders, and bottled water. Gross. Who celebrates such a beery time with water? Don't even think about it.
Staten Island Oktoberfest
Wanna drink copious amounts of beer while helping a good cause? Of course you do, sinner. Get some soulful brownie points at the Staten Island Oktoberfest, which supports the country's heroes. It's only ten bucks to get in, which also gets you a free drink. And feel free to buy as much food and drink while you're there, as all proceeds go to Veterans In Need.
Staten Island Oktoberfest also styles itself as a family-friendly affair, so those of you with little munchkins will find lots to do. There's a bouncy house, rides, and other entertainment to keep them busy while you celebrate the day in a more over-21 way.
Bohemian Beer Hall Oktoberfest Party and Scavenger Hunt
If you want to add a little spice to your beer-drinking, head over to the legendary Bohemian Beer Hall for a different kind of Oktoberfest in NYC. With a good old fashioned scavenger hunt! Everyone's split into team of 3-5 people, and then you're off, solving clues and all the rest.
After 45 minutes, you can get your precious beer, a bite to eat, and wait to see who won what. After the winners are announced, and you inevitably claim first prize, you can continue the merriment with live music and other assorted entertainment for the rest of the afternoon. Plus beer. Obviously, there will be more beer. Calm down, fiend. You'll get your beer.
Bangtoberfest
If you want to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC a little less authentically, why not go to a dance party of the more modern variety? It starts at 9am, and the bar is free til 11am. So, get there early and get ready for a heavy one.
Costumes are recommended. Take that how you will. And the even ends at a reasonable 4pm, so if you have work the next day you've got plenty of time to sleep it off. Or do a duvet day and stay in bed all day, feeling sorry for yourself. Flashbacks of your terrible dancing and wardrobe malfunctions might be more than enough to call in sick. And why not play some video games set in the Big Apple while you're recovering?
Them's our picks for the best things to do for Oktoberfest in NYC. Any other events tickling your fancy, or did these pique your interest? Let us know below, and have a good one.