Prost (cheers!) to 8 Pennsylvania Oktoberfest events in 2024

Pennsylvania’s rich German heritage shines brightly in September and October as Oktoberfest celebrations spring to life across the Keystone State.

Dust off your lederhosen, as Oktoberfest season will soon be upon us. At Oktoberfest events in Pennsylvania, the German beer will flow, the polka music will play, and steins everywhere will be raised with a cry of prost! — that’s German for cheers! Read on to see where you can celebrate this German fall festival all across the commonwealth.

Oktoberfest in Western Pa.

Pittsburgh Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfest

Dates: Sept. 20-21; 27-28

Hofbräuhaus was Germany’s first beer hall, established in Munich in 1589 — before Germany itself was even founded. As Hofbräuhaus has a large role in Munich’s Oktoberfest, it’s no surprise that Pittsburgh Hofbräuhaus — a franchise of what is now a worldwide chain — goes all out in its version of Oktoberfest. Enjoy two weekends of live music, plenty of beer, and even balloons and face painting for kids.

Pennsylvania Bavarian Oktoberfest – Canonsburg

Dates: Sept. 20-22

Washington County in Southwestern Pa. may be largely rural, but it still hosts a roaring Oktoberfest each fall season. The Pennsylvania Bavarian Oktoberfest is held in downtown Canonsburg and features German music (as well as popular music), German food (as well as American food), arts and craft vendors, carnival rides, and kids’ activities. Canonsburg is just half an hour from Pittsburgh.

Oktoberfest in Central Pa.

Cassville Oktoberfest

Dates: Sept. 27-29

Huntingdon County’s tiny Cassville (population: 138) has hosted Oktoberfest for decades. This year, the 48th annual Cassville Oktoberfest will be a community weekend full of fall fun, the annual Oktoberfest run, a parade, Friday night bingo, lots of festival food, and even apple butter making. 

Mifflinburg Oktoberfest

Dates: Oct. 4-5

Located in Union County in the Susquehanna River Valley, the Mifflinburg Oktoberfest is a celebration of German beer, with the mayor opening the festival by tapping a firkin (small keg). Enjoy live music (including that of an oompah band), games and contests, and great food. And if you do your friends a solid and serve as the designated driver, you get unlimited birch beer in a free souvenir cup!

Oktoberfest in Southeastern Pa.

Bethlehem Oktoberfest

Dates: Oct. 4-6; 11-13

Bethlehem Oktoberfest 2024 is in its 14th year, and in 2024, you can expect the same great selection of German food and entertainment and, of course, lots of beer in four biergartens. The area Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley International Airport, also includes a special dachshund parade, Dragtoberfest (exactly what it sounds like), and a steinholding competition (also exactly what it sounds like). Join the fun two weekends in October at SteelStacks.

Photo courtesy of JasonParis/CC BY 2.0.

Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest

Dates: Oct. 2-6 

The Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest is one of the commonwealth’s largest and most authentic Oktoberfest events. In fact, USAToday and Business Insider have both considered it among the best ten Oktoberfest events in the country. (Actually, in 2012, Business Insider named the Reading festival one of the best in the world.) Each year, the festival attracts thousands of visitors looking to revel in German live music, food, and beer. Reading’s Oktoberfest has eight bars, but you can still enjoy yourself if you don’t love beer; the festival also serves Glühwein — the hot, spiced German wine often served at German Christmas markets.

Brauhaus Schmitz Oktoberfest Events – Philadelphia 

Dates: South Street Oktoberfest: Sept. 21; Armory Oktoberfest: Oct. 11-12

Brauhaus Schmitz, a German beer hall and restaurant in Philadelphia, prides itself on its authenticity. And like any German beer hall, Brauhaus Schmitz hosts an incredible Oktoberfest. One of Philadelphia’s biggest Oktoberfest events takes place within the 700 block of South Street. At the South Street Oktoberfest in 2024, there will be plenty of German beer and German food as well as dancing from the United German Hungarians and German music from the band Die Heimatklänge. Brauhaus Schmitz also hosts a large Oktoberfest at The Armory, where you can expect an Oktoberfest as close to the Munich original as possible.

Photo courtesy of A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia.

Oktoberfest in Northeastern Pa.

Oktoberfest at Blue Mountain Resort – Palmerton

Dates: Sept. 28-29

Blue Mountain Resort in the Pocono Mountains is hosting an Oktoberfest event with traditional German music and entertainment, German food, a biergarten, and arts and crafts vendors. You can also take a hayride to the resort’s pumpkin patch (a less traditional Oktoberfest activity in Germany). Kids are welcome — and so are dogs!