Oktober-festivities
What’s an Oktoberfest without some fest? Technically, it’s just Oktober… but we wanted to make sure it’s way more than that, so we’ve designed some delightful activities, scratch that — make it Oktober-festivities — for you and yours to partake in. Fun!
Daily Happenings at Oktoberfest
Free Games
Spielplatz & Biergartens
Our Oktoberfest wouldn’t be complete without a smattering of whimsical games that you probably wouldn’t play anywhere but at an Oktoberfest! Check your inhibitions at the door and celebrate the harvest with our crazy fun games and challenges! Games are FREE to play.
- Steinholding – Held for the first 30 minutes of every hour throughout the festival, you can test your strength by seeing how long you can hold a full stein of beer in front of you!
If you think you’ve got what it takes to participate in the The Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championship, presented in partnership with the US Steinholding Association, then you should register for our Qualifier Competition by filling out the form here. The Qualifier Competition will be held on Oct. 5 at 6pm and the Championships are Oct. 12 at 6 pm; our champions will win $500 each!
Artists Market
Künstler Markt
Künstler Markt features different vendors showcasing German-themed merchandise, as well as more eclectic offerings from around the country.
Glassblowing Demonstrations & Hot Glass Experiences
Visit the talented artists of the ArtsQuest Glass Studio at the Banana Factory Arts Center as they demonstrate how to transform molten glass into amazing art. Beautiful, hand-blown glass pumpkins, seasonal decorative glass items and other works of art are also available for purchase. Try your hand at making your own solid glass pumpkin ($70 each). Pre-registration is suggested; visit bananafactory.org to reserve your spot.
Oktoberfest Hot Glass Experience
Fridays | 5-9 p.m.
Saturdays | 12-8 p.m.
Sundays | 12-4 p.m.
Make a solid glass pumpkin or an acorn at Oktoberfest. Work one on one with ArtsQuest Glass staff to create a work of art. Glass pieces need to cool for about 24 hours, participants must return to either the festival or Banana Factory to pick up their work. Shipping arrangements can be made with an additional cost.
Friday, October 11
KARAOKE WITH ROYAL
Fri, Oct. 4 & Oct. 11 | 9-11 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena at PNC Plaza
Join host, Royal Rehrig for 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 regularly at Brew Works, and at the newly opened The Vogue Lounge in Allentown.
THE OKTOBERFEST KONG PONG TOURNEY PRESENTED BY YUENGLING
Friday, October 11 | 7-8:30 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena
This is a 21+ event.
Only one person from your duo needs to register
Grab a buddy and come play the blown-up version of your favorite party game! We’ll have 55 gallon “cups”, two dodgeballs and two (2) $100 ArtsQuest gift cards for the duo that wins the tournament!
presented by
Music
Hofbräu Biergarten
6:30-8 p.m. | The Castaway Band
8:30 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
Samuel Adams/Dogfish Head Biergarten
5-6:30 p.m. | Starting Tomorrow
8-10 p.m. | Tavern Tan
Spaten Biergarten
5:30-6:30 p.m. | Melody Cruz
7 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
8-9:30 p.m. | Sons of Izzy
Yuengling Biergarten
6:30-8 p.m. | The Bavarian Kings
Saturday, October 12
Oktoberfest Pup Parade
Saturday, October 12 | 12:15 p.m.
Sunday, October 13 | 5:00 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena
Beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the Oktoberfest Arena at the PNC Plaza each Saturday and Sunday, pups donning their favorite costume or simply trotting as they are could be elected President or Chancellor of the parade! There will be prizes and there will be adorableness. The parade is free to participate, and no pre-registration is required. You can sign up your dog on the day of the parade beginning at 12pm at the Oktoberfest Arena. All dogs welcome.
*Sunday, October 13 will start at 5:00pm with check in beginning at 4:30 pm.
THE OKTOBERFEST WIENER DOG RACES
Saturday, October 12 | 1:30, 3, and 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 13 | 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena
On your bark! Get set! Register! The annual running of the wiener dogs is back at Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) Join in the festivities at the Oktoberfest Arena by registering your fast, four-legged friends in the unforgettable Wiener Dog Races! Race registration fee is $15 per dachshund
Purebreds, Dachshund mixes and wiener dogs at heart under 35 lbs. are welcome.
Saturday, October 12
Sunday, October 13
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE STEINHOLDING CHAMPIONSHIP
Presented by Samuel Adams
Qualifier: Oct. 5, 6 p.m.
Finals: Oct. 12, 6 p.m.
ArtsQuest is partnering with the US Steinholding Association to once again host the Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships!
Our winners in the men’s and women’s competitions will win $500 each, along with an official stein and the glory of being able to say they’re Pennsylvania’s best.
How do you get to the finals? There are two ways:
- Participate in our State Championship Qualifier Competition on October 5 at 6 p.m. in the Oktoberfest Arena. The participants with the top times will move on to the finals!
You must register in advance to participate in the Qualifier Competition. To do so, please fill out the form here. - The US Steinholding Assocation has partnered with breweries, bars, and festivals across the commonwealth to host qualifier competitions. The list of venues doing so is here.
While we’ll have a lot of fun, steinholding is serious business with a set of rules we’d recommend you brush up on before participating. Prost!
Yuengling Beer Dinner
Saturday, October 12 | 5:00 p.m.
Fowler Blast Furnace Room
This is an 21+ event.
One seat for $69 | Two for $129 | Four for $249
Buy TicketsArtsQuest, Levy Restaurants and D. G. Yuengling & Son have partnered to put together a scrumptious beer dinner! We have four courses paired with 6oz 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!
DRAGTOBERFEST
Saturday, October 5 & 12 | 8:30 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena
This is an 18+ event.
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 the Oktoberfest Arena stage.
This free show fills up quickly, so come early to grab your spot!
Music
Hofbräu Biergarten
12-1:30 p.m. | Joe Kroboth Quartet
3-4 p.m. | Pepperwine
4:30-5:30 p.m. | Regina Sayles
7-8 p.m. | B.D. Lenz All Stars
9-10 p.m. | Big Bone Daddy
Samuel Adams/Dogfish Head Biergarten
12 p.m. | Almrausch Altoona Schuplattlers
1:30-3 p.m. | Reservoir Hill
3 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
4:30 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
5:30 p.m. | Almrausch Altoona Schuplattlers
6-7 p.m. | Sarah Lanier & Carl Palmeri
8-9 p.m. | RadioOne
Spaten Biergarten
1 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
2-3 p.m. | Honey & Nutz
3:30 p.m. | Almrausch Altoona Schuplattlers
6-7 p.m. | Polkadelphia
8-9 p.m. | Polkadelphia
Yuengling Biergarten
12-1:30 p.m. | Life After Dead: A Grateful Dead Tribute
3-4 p.m. | Dina Hall Band
4:45-5:30 p.m. | Polkadelphia
7-8 p.m. | Civilian
Sunday, October 13
Brewers’ Village (Ages 21+)
Presented by The Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild
Musikfest Cafe
Sunday, October 13 | 1 & 4 p.m.
From German-style marzens to autumn-inspired pumpkin ales, the hand-crafted beers of Pennsylvania’s award-winning craft breweries take center stage as the Oktoberfest Brewers’ Village presented by the Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild returns for its eighth year.
Guests will enjoy a diverse array of Oktoberfests, limited-edition, and seasonal offerings. All attendees receive a commemorative sampling mug and have the opportunity to meet the breweries’ staff and brewers, as well as enjoy the delicious food, fun and games of Oktoberfest, now in its 14th year.
VIP ticketholders will enjoy an hour of exclusive access to Session 1 and a complimentary gift!
Confirmed breweries include the 25+ members of the Lehigh Valley Brewer’s Guild, Yuengling, and Sam Adams/Boston Beer Co. (All participants must be 21 and older).
The Karl Ehmer Bratwurst Eating Competition
Sunday, October 13
Oktoberfest Arena
The Karl Ehmer Bratwurst Eating Competition makes its return to Oktoberfest in 2024!
You could win $250 if you’re the first person to eat 10 Karl Ehmer brats. The rules are simple:
- each contestant will have 10 Karl Ehmer brats (no buns) in front of them
- the first contestant to finish all 10 – and keep them down for two minutes after finishing – wins!
All contestants must be 18 or older on the day of the competition.
Registrations are $10 and can be completed here.
Oktoberfest Pup Parade
Saturday, October 12 | 12:15 p.m.
Sunday, October 13 | 5:00 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena
Beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the Oktoberfest Arena at the PNC Plaza each Saturday and Sunday, pups donning their favorite costume or simply trotting as they are could be elected President or Chancellor of the parade! There will be prizes and there will be adorableness. The parade is free to participate, and no pre-registration is required. You can sign up your dog on the day of the parade beginning at 12pm at the Oktoberfest Arena. All dogs welcome.
*Sunday, October 13 will start at 5:00pm with check in beginning at 4:30 pm.
THE OKTOBERFEST WIENER DOG RACES
Saturday, October 12 | 1:30, 3, and 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 13 | 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Oktoberfest Arena
On your bark! Get set! Register! The annual running of the wiener dogs is back at Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) Join in the festivities at the Oktoberfest Arena by registering your fast, four-legged friends in the unforgettable Wiener Dog Races! Race registration fee is $15 per dachshund
Purebreds, Dachshund mixes and wiener dogs at heart under 35 lbs. are welcome.
Saturday, October 12
Sunday, October 13
Music
Hofbräu Biergarten
12-1:30 p.m. | Pentley Holmes
3-4:30 p.m. | Acoustic Kitty Project
4:30 p.m. | Almrausch Altoona Schuplattlers
Samuel Adams/Dogfish Head Biergarten
12 p.m. | Almrausch Altoona Schuplattlers
1 p.m. | Almrausch Altoona Schuplattlers
1:30-3 p.m. | Julia and The Martians
3:30 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
4:30-6 p.m. | The ColourSound
Spaten Biergarten
1 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
2-3 p.m. | Kendal Conrad
4:30-6 p.m. | Up and Up – A Coldplay Tribute by Chasing Daylight
Yuengling Biergarten
12-1:30 p.m. | John Stevens Doubleshot
2 p.m. | GTV Almrausch Schuhplattlers
3-4:30 p.m. | Joe Miralles Trio
