Fort Worth Oktoberfest
In the heart of Trinity Park, where joggers normally outpace squirrels and families' bike beneath the trees, something a little louder, a little livelier, and a whole lot more Bavarian is brewing. Fort Worth Oktoberfest is back this Sep. 25 – 27, and tickets are on sale now for what’s become one of the city’s most beloved fall traditions — a three-day Munich-style festival packed with bier, bratwurst, and enough lederhosen to clothe a village in the Alps.
This year, the celebration adds some serious pedigree to its pours. Paulaner, one of the original Munich breweries that’s been a staple at the real-deal Wiesn since 1818, returns as the presenting sponsor. Expect their full German lineup — Lager, Oktoberfest, and Wheat — to be flowing freely alongside another Oktoberfest institution, Hacker-Pschorr, and a bevy of fall-themed craft beers from both sides of the Atlantic.
Of course, bier is only half the story. The festival opens with Thursday’s ceremonial “Tapping of the Kegs” and barrels through the weekend with a schedule that reads like a Bavarian fever dream: dachshund races, bier barrel rolling, carnival rides, a stein hoist contest, and the ever-popular Siegi’s Sausage Brat Eating Competition. For the calorie-conscious, there’s even an Oktoberfest 5K — presumably to justify that second (or third) schnitzel.
Speaking of schnitzel: traditional German fare takes center stage, featuring crispy potato pancakes, warm strudel, plate-sized pretzels, and juicy bratwursts. If you need a break from the sun, cool off in the air-conditioned Paulaner Halle or grab a shaded spot at the Paulaner Biergarten or Van Zandt Zelt, where live music never stops.
And the music lineup? Stacked. Over 50 performances are slated across multiple stages, with Grammy-nominated accordion-slinger Alex Meixner leading the charge. Festival favorites Das Ist Lustig, Alpenmusikanten, and the Walburg Boys return, and all the way from Bavaria comes the Happy Hour Oktoberfestband — because nothing says “authentic” like flying in a full brass band from Germany.
Need to bring home more than a hangover? The Marktplatz offers a bounty of handmade wares — everything from traditional German garb and steins to leather goods, artisanal condiments, and folk art worthy of your Oma’s approval.
General admission tickets cost $10–$20, and early birds who purchase online receive a commemorative 2025 Oktoberfest stein. For the die-hards and high rollers, there's Fort Wurst — an exclusive corporate-night kickoff held the Wednesday before the gates open to the public, complete with table sponsorships and a VIP-level bierhalle experience.
Prost to that.
For tickets and the full lineup, visit www.fortworthoktoberfest.com.
