Cheers! Oktoberfest is Here!
Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) takes place during the weekends of Oct. 4-6 & 11-13!
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., September 10, 2024 – ArtsQuest is excited to announce the 14th annual Oktoberfest, presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). The German-inspired festival kicks off on Friday October 4 and continues through Sunday, October 6. The second weekend is set to take place from Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13. This free festival features brews, food, live music, local artisans and fan favorites, such as Brewers’ Village presented by The Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild and the Oktoberfest Bratwurst Toss. Read on to learn about ALL of the festive fun happening throughout the festival.
ACTIVITIES:
Oktoberfest Human Foosball Tournament
Join us for the FIRST EVER Oktoberfest Human Foosball Tournament on Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m. Teams of six will compete in this life size rec room game for the chance to win two $50 ArtsQuest gift cards. Teams will consist of one goalie, two defensive and three offensive players. All players will have to keep their hand on a pool noodle that will be able to slide left and right on a rope tied across our Oktoberfest Arena fencing.
Games will last 10 minutes. The bracket is double elimination so each team will play at least two games.
Eight team capacity, so register NOW before space fills up!
The Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championship
ArtsQuest is partnering with the US Steinholding Association to once again host the Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships presented by Samuel Adams! The State Championship Qualifier Competition will take place on Saturday, October 5 at 6 p.m. Register for the competition here. It’s free to participate and the participants with the best times will advance to the finals.
The return of the Oktoberfest Bratwurst Toss will be on Sunday, October 6 at 5 p.m. The toss is now with eco-friendly, reusable, not at all edible, synthetic Bratwursts!
Take turns tossing your synthetic bratwurst between you and a partner, increasing your distance from one another with each throw. Partners will have to catch the brat in an ArtsQuest provided bun. We will be conducting this competition in heats, so if you win the first round, be prepared to compete again in the final round. Register your team here!
The winning duo will win two $50 ArtsQuest gift cards.
Oktoberfest Kong Pong Tournament
On Friday, October 11, The Oktoberfest Kong Pong Tournament sponsored by Yuengling will kick off at 7 p.m. Grab a partner and play a fan-favorite party game! There will be 55-gallon cups, two dodgeballs and a $100 ArtsQuest gift card for the pair that wins the tournament along with Yuengling Flight Kanga coolers and hats. Registration is $8 for ArtsQuest Members and $10 for the general public. You can register here or on the day of the event! Make sure you register at least 15 minutes before the event starts and only one person from your duo needs to register!
Oktoberfest Hot Glass Experience
Work one on one with a hot glass instructor to create your own piece of art from molten glass. Ages 6 and up, no experience necessary. Pieces need 48 hours to cool, and participants need to return to the festival to pick up their work or to have it shipped directly, pay a shipping charge.
20-minute time slots are available every day of Oktoberfest starting at 5 p.m. on Fridays and noon Saturdays and Sundays. Please arrive 10 minutes before your time slot.
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ACTIVITIES:
The annual race for beer is on! The Yuengling Oktoberfest 5k, in partnership with Run Lehigh Valley, returns for the 10th year on Sunday, October 6. Pre-registration is required.
Purebreds, Dachshund mixes and wiener dogs at heart under 35 lbs. will race in a double elimination bracket until a 3rd, 2nd and 1st place pup emerge victorious. Multiple entries are allowed, but there is no guarantee that your dogs will not race against each other. Races are held both weekends.
The festival will host a parade every Saturday and Sunday. Pups donning their favorite costume or simply trotting as they are, could be elected President of Chancellor of the parade. There will be prizes and there will be adorableness. The parade is free to participate in, and no pre-registration is required.
SPECIALTY FOOD/BEVERAGE:
In its 8th year, Oktoberfest Brewers’ Village presented by The Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild will be on Sunday, October 13 in the Musikfest Café. This event offers over 30 brews, all award-winning craft breweries. All attendees will receive a commemorative sampling mug and have the opportunity to meet the breweries’ staff and brewers. From German-style marzens to autumn-inspired pumpkin ales, you can purchase your tickets here!
ArtsQuest has partnered with Levy Restaurants and Easton-based Imported Enrichment to put together a delightful culinary experience around liquor and wine imported directly from Austria! On October 5 at 5 p.m. in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room, you will be able to enjoy this four-course cuisine and drinks. This is a 21+ event. Tickets are $84 and are available online!
ArtsQuest, Levy Restaurants and D.G. Yuengling & Sons have partnered to present a scrumptious beer dinner on October 12 at 5 p.m. in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room in the ArtsQuest Center! This is a 21+ event. We have four courses paired with 6 oz. pours of four different Yuengling beers. A Yuengling brewer will be talking about the brewing process and each beer as we go through the dinner. And each patron will get a special Yuengling pint glass!
ADDITIONAL FOOD VENDOR INFO:
Enjoy a bite from some festival favorites! From tacos to pierogis to smoked BBQ, there are too many delicious options that you don’t want to miss.
Karl Ehmer Quality Meats Allentown
Food Stuff
Take a Taco (10/12 Only)
Be sure to visit all four of our biergartens where you’ll find Hofbräu, Samuel Adams, Dogfish Head, Spaten and Yuengling on tap and more. (Feel free to bring your Musikfest Mug or purchase an official Oktoberfest Mug).
RETAILERS/CRAFTERS:
Ernst Licht Embroidery and Imports Inc.
ENTERTAINMENT:
This 18+ event is hosted by former Miss Gay Pennsylvania Elektra Fearce St. James – who recently became the first drag queen to perform at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion – is back to direct one of our most enduring Oktoberfest traditions: Dragtoberfest! She’ll have a cast full of the region’s most talented queens ready to serve you with jaw-dropping performances on both Saturday, October 5 and Saturday, October 12 at 8:30 p.m.
This FREE show fills up quickly, so come early to grab your spot!
Royal Rehrig will be hosting two hours of Karaoke fun at the Oktoberfest Arena. Royal has been hosting karaoke across the Lehigh Valley for 29 years! You can find him at the Oktoberfest Arena on Friday, October 4 and Friday, October 11 at 9 p.m.
LIVE MUSIC:
It wouldn’t be an ArtsQuest event without live music! Between our four biergartens – Hofbräu Biergarten, Samuel Adams/Dogfish Head Biergarten, Spaten Biergarten and Yuengling Biergarten – we’re hosting can’t miss performances from bands like Stefanie Johnson Band, 3 Varks, GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers, Fritz’s Polka Band, The Wonton Soups, Stacy Gabel and many more. For a comprehensive lineup, visit https://www.steelstacks.org/festivals/oktoberfest/oktoberfest-schedule/.
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which nearly 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.
