From wee little lads to bearded grandpas, don the lederhosen and grab a stein. It’s Oktoberfest time. Thanks to the German heritage across Texas, biergartens are popping up like dandelions. Oktoberfest began in Munich, Bavaria, in the 1800s. The annual event runs through the last few weeks of September and into early October. In Texas, the traditional leather garb isn’t sweat-proof, so the first cold front kicks off the events in October. Here are the best Oktoberfests in Texas.
Oktoberfests in Texas
Native Texan here; Oktoberfest in Texas is a bit different. For one, it is later than in Bavaria, which holds its events from mid-September to early October. Second, it is usually warmer, not blazing hot like the summer, but I recommend short sleeves.
German beer making and Texas go back 200 years, so I recommend sampling local breweries’ Märzen or Oktoberfest seasonal brews. Many people have German or Czech heritage in Texas, so I always sample locally made sausages.
Best Oktoberfests in Texas
Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg
Wurstfest in New Braunfels
Houston area Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest in San Antonio
Oktoberfest in Galveston
Austoberfest in Austin
Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest in Shiner
Salado Oktoberfest
Muenster Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest in Addison
Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg
With a German heritage dating back to the 1840s, Fredericksburg is dripping in German charm from its bakeries to its breweries. Its historic core includes German and Alpine architectural details. This is one of the Best Oktoberfests in Texas.
Fredericksburg Oktoberfest centers on the Marketplatz for its annual festival. Visitors will see people dressed in Lederhosen and Dirndl dresses (there’s a contest) holding beer steins. The festival features five live music stages, a polka contest and a Kinder Park for kids.
This is one of the top Oktoberfests in Texas. It runs Friday, October 2; Saturday, October 3; and Sunday, October 4, 2026. Adults are $15 and kids 7 to 12 are $1.
Altdorf Biergarten
For a downtown biergarten, steps from the shopping, head to Altdorf Biergarten. There, visitors will find traditional fare like beer and sausage plates. It plays live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Located at 301 W. Main St. in Fredericksburg. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Altstadt Brewery
Travelers can visit a 120-acre property with a Bavarian brewery just a few minutes outside of town. Altstadt Brewery is the largest in Fredericksburg and offers several venues to enjoy a beer on its campus.
Located at 6120 E. US 290, Fredericksburg. Open Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Wurstfest in New Braunfels
Another town that is proud of its German roots, New Braunfels celebrates German food and heritage in a big way. Each year, Wurstfest draws crowds from across the state for its authentic festival.
At the headwaters of the beautiful Comal River in a dedicated parcel, Wurstfest is a 10-day festival. From November 7 to 16, it celebrates sausage. This is one of the Best Oktoberfests in Texas.
Created in 1961 to celebrate sausage, Wurstfest features a Marketplatz, a Wursthalle and a Kinderhalle for the kids, including rides and games.
Visitors will find Alpine and Bavarian-style entertainment. There is traditional German food like Schnitzels, sausage on a stick and more.
Located at 120 Landa Street. This year’s dates are Friday, November 6, to Sunday, November 15, 2026. Advance tickets required.
Krause’s Biergarten
For a German Biergarten experience, grab a table under the authentic flags at the indoor beer hall in the heart of New Braunfels. Outside the hall, find an outdoor space with a stage that hosts frequent live music.
Grab a spot at the communal tables and order a brat. Then the attentive staff will guide you through the beer menu. With a wall of beers on tap, the deciding isn’t easy. Find local, seasonal or traditional German brews aplenty.
Located at 148 S. Castell Ave. in New Braunfels. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and it serves breakfast.
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Houston Area Oktoberfests
As the fourth-largest city, Houston offers several German festivals each fall.
Sugar Land Oktoberfest
The Flying Saucer Biergarten Oktoberfest features traditional beer, plus the release of its seasonal brew.
Located at 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land. This year’s event runs from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
Oktoberfest Weekend at the Texas Renaissance Festival
For over 50 years, the Texas Renaissance Festival has been a fall getaway to another time with jousting, Scotch eggs and more. Always welcoming to costumes, the dirndl and lederhosen come out for the first weekend of the festival.
Traveling back to old Bavaria, with wursts, bier and live music. Costume contests and more are on October 10 and 11. Located at 21778 Farm to Market 1774, Todd Mission.
Oktoberfest in San Antonio
Germans have a long history in San Antonio, with several of the city’s original breweries brewing German-style beer. At Beethoven Männerchor Halle und Garten, they have been singing in German since 1867.
For two weekends in October, they tap a keg, sing some songs and serve traditional German food and drink. Beethoven Männerchor Halle und Garten is dedicated to German culture in San Antonio.
Held at 422 Pereida St., San Antonio, on October 2 and 3 and October 9 and 10, 2026.
Oktoberfest in Galveston
For a German celebration on your beach getaway, head to Galveston Island. Now, in its 43rd year, Island Oktoberfest is held at the First Lutheran Church at 24th and Winnie in downtown Galveston.
Visitors will enjoy tradition music and dancing. There’s Wurstabendessen, a German dinner and of course, beer. The festival is on October 23 and 24.
Austoberfest in Austin
Scholz Garten is Austin’s oldest drinking establishment in Austin, featuring a biergarten. Sponsored by Austin Saengerrunde, Austoberfest will take place on October 3, 2026, from noon to 10 p.m. There will be games, like stein-holding contests, sausages and more.
Located at 1607 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin.
The German-Texan Heritage Society will host the Austin Oktoberfest on October 10, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 507 E. 10th St., Austin. In addition to traditional food and drink, this festival features yodeling.
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Fort Worth Oktoberfest
This three-day festival features live music, dirndl-dressed dancers and even Wiener dog races. The Fort Worth Oktoberfest offers a marketplatz for German gifts and carnival rides.
Located at Trinity Park in Fort Worth at 2401 University Dr., from September 24 to 26, 2026,
Oktoberfest in Shiner
Home of Shiner beer, the small town offers an adults-only Oktoberfest at the K. Spoetzl Brewery and Distillery. The Spoetzl Brewery opened in 1909 and brews its iconic Shiner Bock, as well as a variety of seasonal brews, including Shiner Oktoberfest.
Festival-goers will enjoy German-style K. Spoetzl BBQ while listening to Polka music.
Located at 603 E. Brewery St. in Shiner. Its Oktoberfest is held on Saturdays from September 19 to October 3. This event is 21+.
Salado Oktoberfest
Spend some time sipping the local brew at an authentic German biergarten table next to the bubbling springs on Salado Creek. Find beers like Big Bubbly Blonde (a personal favorite) and Evil Catfish IPA at Barrow Brewing Company, along with seasonal brews, many named after local legends.
Barrow Brewing Company celebrates Oktoberfest every Saturday from September 26 to October 31. Then bring your fur friends for BARKTOBERFEST on October 25th. Throughout the season, find live music, traditional food and games all under the party lights.
Located at 108 Royal St. in Salado. Open daily from noon to dark, dog and family-friendly.
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Oktoberfest in Muenster
Along the Red River, this small town is named after cheese. The town may be small, but it has a strong German heritage, with two annual festivals.
From its Dachshund Dash, the Wiener Dog race, to the Bartender Triathlon while holding a beer, Oktoberfest is big on fun and games. Of course, there is beer and polka.
Oktoberfest in Muenster is held at Heritage Park at 301 N. Ash St., Muenster on Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Oktoberfest in Addison
This Dallas suburb has hosted an Oktoberfest celebration for 35 years. From German beer steins to pretzels as big as your face and sausages, North Texans enjoy the season in their festival garb.
Oktoberfest in Addison is held in September, more closely aligning to the German dates. For 2025, it is September 18 and 19 and September 17 to 20, 2026..
