Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2017 in Philadelphia
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by
Jessie Donofrio on Sep 12, 2017 in
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Oktoberfest season is here, and Philadelphia is going all out with the events. From now until mid October, beer lovers and Germanophiles alike will gather on the streets and in bars across town to celebrate this over 200 year old tradition. Dust off those lederhosen and prepare yourself for those festbiers, because this is what we have in store for you this year.
Thursday, September 14 - Sunday, September 24
Spruce Street Harbor Park (301 S Christopher Columbus Blvd.; 215-922-2386)
The waterfront park will be transformed into an autumn wonderland filled with free activities such as pumpkin carving, apple cider pressing, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and live music. Guests can also enjoy a rotating selection of local seasonal beers, spiked cider, and a cranberry margarita. There will also be seasonal inspired bites like pumpkin funnel cake, pumpkin pretzels, apple filled churros, pumpkin caramel zeppolis, and kielbasa burgers.
Friday, September 15 - Thursday, September 21
Standard Tap (901 N 2nd St.; 215-238-0630)
Standard Tap will offer a daily menu during this week long sausage party featuring a plethora of encased meats. At the bar, they’ll have a lineup of local festbiers and and German style drafts to help fest goers wash down all that sausage. Grab a punch card and fill in 10 spaces to win a free sausage fest t-shirt!
Saturday, September 16, 12 PM - 10 PM
Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.; 215-634-3338)
Fishtown neighbors Frankford Hall and Fette Sau are throwing an all-day Oktoberfest block party with food, fun and live music for everyone. There will be a ceremonial keg tapping, festive live music and dancing, carnival games, pony rides and a raffle to win a free trip to Oktoberfest in Munich. Of course, Bavarian and German-style beer will flow as a perfect pairing to brats and giant pretzels.
Saturday, September 16, 12 PM - 8 PM
Brauhaus Schmitz (718 South St.; 267-909-8814)
South Street’s beer hall Brauhaus Schmitz is taking over the street for their Ninth Annual Oktoberfest. The festival will feature tented areas outside, live oompah music, German food, face painting and 10 German beers on draft. Food and drink are pay as you go, but there is a $115 VIP package available that includes no-wait bathrooms, a Bavarian buffet, six tokens for beer, a t-shirt, and other Oktoberfest swag.
Saturday, September 16, 5 PM-8 PM
The Philadelphia Zoo (3400 W Girard Ave; 215-243-1100)
The first ever Oktoberfest-style beer festival at the zoo includes unlimited beer sampling, a souvenir tasting glass, entertainment including a live band, DJs, yard games, trivia, relay races and more. The $55 ticket also secures a night of fun with the zoo’s creatures and meet and greets with the keepers.
Saturday, September 23, 12 PM-8 PM
Uptown Beer Garden (1735 John F Kennedy Blvd.)
Visit this Center City beer garden for their second annual celebration of all things German. Local and imported German-style lagers will be on tap or if you’re feeling chilly grab a hot mulled cider or gluhwein. A full menu of traditional eats including four different brats, currywurst, pretzels, brotzeit, potato pancakes and more will be available for purchase. The event is free to get into, but there are VIP tickets available for $20 that include access to a special VIP-only area where guests can taste Hofstetten von 1810 (beer recipe served at the first Oktoberfest in 1810), a light buffet, and a souvenir glass filled with one beer of their choice.
Saturday, September 23, 2 PM - 8 PM
Downtown Ardmore (at Cricket Ave.)
Enjoy a huge selection of beers and live music at this outdoor festival in the Philly suburbs. Food options including pierogis, potato pancakes, apple fritters, sauerkraut, brats will be sold on a pay as you go basis. Outdoor activities include pumpkin decorating, cookie decorating and other crafts. and a moon bounce, cookie decorating station and other games will be on hand for the kiddos. The festival is free to attend with a VIP package offer for $50 that includes access to select craft beers, non-alcoholic refreshments, food and a special gift.
Thursday, September 28 – Friday, September 29
Sky Garten (1717 Arch Street)
Philadelphia’s tallest beer garden is hosting a two night Oktoberfest celebrating filled with German food, beers, music and more – 51 stories in the sky! Guests will enjoy traditional German fare, such as pretzels, brats, and a wurst platter and wash it all down with their featured draft Hofbräuhaus’ Oktoberfestbier. Think you got what it takes to win the liter lift contest? Sign up for your change to show off your muscles and win $100.
Friday, September 29 - Sunday, September 31
Alla Spina (1410 Mount Vernon St.; 215-600-0017)
Marc Vetri’s Italian gastropub is going German once again for their annual weekend-long Oktoberfest celebration. Victory Brewing Company is taking over the taps while the kitchen serves up traditional German foods like house-made brats, apple slaw, potato salad, schnitzel and spatezel. Begin the weekend at the Stein Hoist competition on Friday. Then move outside on Saturday from 1 PM - 6 PM when Alla Spina shuts down Mt. Vernon Street, fires up the grills, and parties while Polkadelphia provides some authentic tunes. Finish off the weekend with kegs and eggs from 10 AM-2 PM with $2 off lagers and German-inspired brunch specials.
Saturday, September 30 - Sunday, October 1, 3 PM - 11 PM
Hop Angel Brauhaus (7980 Oxford Ave.; 215-437-1939)
Hop Angel’s two-day fest will feature authentic Oktoberfest-style beers and Bavarian food specials. The festivities will include outdoor fun and games, prize drawings for lederhosen and dirndl wearers, live music and a strength contest.
Saturday, September 30, 3 PM - 7 PM
Xfinity Live! (1100 Pattison Ave.; 855-406-4119)
For its sixth annual Oktoberfest celebration, Xfinity Live! is pulling out all the stops. This year’s event area is even bigger than ever and it’ll feature unlimited samples of more than 250 craft beers from over 150 breweries. There will also be live music, games, contests, prizes and food trucks. Tickets start at $45 per person with $60 VIP tickets sold with one hour early entry, VIP-only beers, private bathrooms, and complimentary water and soft pretzels.
Friday, October 6 - Sunday, October 8
23rd Street Armory (22 S 23rd St.)
The folks at Brauhaus Schmitz are doing it again at West Center City’s 16,000 square foot armory adorned with authentic Munich festival tents. Guests will be able to purchase tickets for one of four separate sessions. Traditional food from chef Jeremy Nolen will be served along with beer provided by the famous Hofbräuhaus. General admission tickets are $35 and include a liter of beer and a keepsake glass stein. VIP tickets are $65 and include reserved seating, quick entry and three food tickets as well as GA perks. UBER VIP tickets are $85 and include everything so far as well as reserved seating for at least eight, table service, 10-liter mini kegs, two meats and cheese appetizers, two Schlachtplatte entrees, two Schnaps skis and access to private bathrooms.
Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 7
Morgan's Pier (221 N Christopher Columbus Blvd.; 215-279-7134)
For just $35, enjoy a 4 hour open bar, live music, traditional German food, and soft pretzels on the Delaware waterfront. The first 200 guests will even receive a limited edition Morgan's Pier glass beer stein! You can get tickets in advance or at the door.
Saturday, October 7
Morgan's Pier (221 N Christopher Columbus Blvd.; 215-279-7134)
For just $35, enjoy a 4 hour open bar, live music, traditional German food, and soft pretzels on the Delaware waterfront. The first 200 guests will even receive a limited edition Morgan's Pier glass beer stein! You can get tickets in advance or at the door.
Saturday, October 7
McGillins (1310 Drury St.; 215-735-5562)
This time honored bar will be celebrating everything German all month long. The celebration concludes at the huge Midtown Village Fall Festival where McGillins will be serving German fare and beer to festival goers. They’ve teamed up with Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company to even launch their own Oktoberfest beer available all season as well as have local seasonal brews on tap. A rotating list of food specials including mussels, cabbage, sausage and other German favorites will be available on their menu all month as well.
Wednesday, October 11 - Sunday, October 15, 5 PM-9 PM
Dilworth Park (1 S 15th St.; 215-440-5500)
Enjoy all that is fall in the center of our great city at Dilworth Park’s Octoberfest celebration. They’ll have festive beers on tap, traditional German eats, local DJs, as well as fall-inspired cocktails featuring Effen Blood Orange Vodka and Maker’s Mark.
Saturday, October 14, 12 PM-8 PM
West South Street (18th and South)
Listen to great local bands and sip on craft beer at this ninth annual neighborhood Oktoberfest. Enjoy great food trucks, food from local restaurants, beer and music on South Street. Best of all festival proceeds go to support local Graduate Hospital community organizations.
Photo via Zum Schneider
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