Milwaukee Area Oktoberfest Guide to Fall 2025
The greater Milwaukee area offers the Midwest's most authentic Oktoberfest experience, with over 15 major celebrations spanning from July through October 2025. From the massive lakefront Milwaukee Oktoberfest to intimate community church festivals, these events showcase genuine German heritage with traditional food, imported beers, and cultural entertainment across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Cedarburg, Racine, and surrounding communities.
Milwaukee Oktoberfest
October 3-5, 2025
Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)
The largest Milwaukee Oktoberfest marks its 15th anniversary with a significant move to Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds). This flagship event features imported German beers including Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, and Paulaner, authentic cuisine by Kegel's Inn, and entertainment across multiple stages. Early bird tickets cost just $6 (regular $12), with free community hours Friday 4-5 PM and weekends 11 AM-1 PM. The celebration includes stein-hoisting contests, hammerschlagen nail-hammering games, Miss Oktoberfest competition, and a beloved wiener dog beauty pageant.
Bavarian Bierhaus Oktoberfest
September 5-October 5
Bavarian Bierhaus, Glendale
Milwaukee's longest-running Oktoberfest tradition, celebrating over 60 years every weekend. This authentic venue offers the most extensive celebration period, with Friday admission at $5, Saturday $10, and Sundays completely free. Their traditional menu features Usinger's sausage, fresh Bavarian pretzels, and schnitzel alongside imported German beers.
Waukesha's Oktoberfest
September 19-20
Frame Park, 1150 Frame Park Drive, Waukesha
Attending the event is free, with a $2 wristband purchase is required to purchase and consume beer. The 2025 lineup includes the 484th Army Band, CopperBox Oktoberfest Experience, and traditional D'Oberlandler Dancers. New additions include a glockenspiel clock with hourly performances and Oktoberfest beer flights. Free shuttles run Saturday 2-10 PM with 15-minute intervals.
Cedarburg Oktoberfest
October 4-5
Cedarburg Community Center
Transforms the historic downtown into an authentic Bavarian celebration with free admission across both days. The Community Center parking lot hosts wooden polka dance floors, traditional German bands including Pommersche Tanzdeel and River City Blaskepelle, plus glockenspiel shows every two hours. Foxtown Brewing operates a beer garden on City Hall's lawn.
Elm Grove Community Foundation Oktoberfest
September 19-20
Elm Grove Village Park
The festival features food trucks, local and German beers, live music, games—including new contests—and a 0.5K Fun Run with three beer stations along the route. Events run Friday evening and Saturday afternoon through night, rain or shine. Volunteers and youth groups are encouraged to help out.
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest
Dheinsville Dachshund Dash
September 27-28
Dheinsville Park
Celebrates specific German regional heritage with free admission and parking. Saturday highlights include the Dheinsville Dachshund Dash ($10 registration, $5 early bird), while Sunday features a classic car show alongside live music from Ryan Kautzer Band and Copper Box.
Oktoberfest of Greater Racine
September 25-28
Franksville Memorial Park
Claims the title of "area's largest Oktoberfest celebration.” This four-day event features free admission with 30+ craft beers on tap under a 3,200-square-foot Lakefront Brewery tent. The celebration includes spanferkel pig roasts, authentic German cuisine, and live music on Visit Racine County's stage.
Burlington's Oktoberfest
Runs across three separate weekends (September 21, 28, and October 5) at The Runaway Micropub on historic East Chestnut Street. The September 21 and October 5 events feature full street closures of "The Loop" for all-day celebrations, with October 5 including a vintage German car show by Zuffengruppe. Entertainment includes Tom Brusky Polka Band, Kenosha Musikanten 10-piece Oompah Band, and D'Oberlandler German Dancers.
Local Oktoberfest Lagers
Milwaukee's craft brewing scene contributes significantly to Oktoberfest celebrations despite recent industry changes that closed several local breweries in 2025. Lakefront Brewery remains the most active participant, providing official beers for multiple area events including the Greater Racine celebration and featuring their traditional Märzen-style lager with Munich malt and Mt. Hood hops.
Third Space Brewing produces the highest-rated Oktoberfest beer (4.3/5 rating) - a dark amber Märzen with toasty malts and clean finish. Their Menomonee Valley location offers Saturday brewery tours at 2:00 PM and 3:15 PM throughout the season.
Milwaukee Brewing Company crafts their Oktoberfest using pale ale, caramel, and toasted Munich malts, creating sweet earthy flavors with bright orange hue. Sprecher Brewing in Glendale specializes in traditional German-style beers, releasing their copper-orange seasonal lager from August through October with special tapping events.
Central Waters Brewing Milwaukee, housed in a converted church at 1037 W Juneau Ave, serves their "Octoberfest Lager" alongside 24 taps specializing in lagers and hoppy ales, partnering with Trouble Makers Cocina for authentic Mexican food pairings.
Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest (October 10-12) represents the pinnacle of church-based celebrations, offering free admission and parking with homemade apple strudel using a legacy recipe from 97-year-old Toni Osep. The three-day event features artisan fairs, cake walks led by "Grace the cake walk lady," beer gardens with vegetarian options, and concludes with Polka Mass at 4 PM Sunday.
The German-American Societies of Milwaukee umbrella organization coordinates 30+ German societies throughout the metro area, providing contact information for authentic German bands, choirs, and dance groups. Key member organizations include Milwaukee Liederkranz (founded 1878), United Donauschwaben (200+ members representing Wisconsin's largest German ethnic group), and Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt preserving Pomeranian folk culture.
Milwaukee Turners maintains Turner Hall as a Germanic athletic and cultural center since 1882, while Goethe House Wisconsin operates as a non-profit cultural institute offering German language classes since 1958.
Planning considerations
Transportation and parking vary significantly by venue. Henry Maier Festival Park events offer SP+ managed parking starting at $40, with public transit via MCTS routes 15, 18, 30, plus The Hop streetcar stopping at The Couture. Suburban events typically provide free parking, with Waukesha offering complimentary shuttle service Saturday 2-10 PM.
Family accessibility remains excellent across all events. Henry Maier Festival Park maintains full ADA compliance with wheelchair paths, accessible restrooms, and a Respite Pavilion open noon-10 PM featuring temperature control and changing areas. Most events offer children's activities, face painting, crafts, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Current health protocols for 2025 follow updated Wisconsin Department of Health Services guidelines emphasizing vaccination, treatment, and staying home when sick. No state-mandated restrictions currently apply to outdoor festivals, though individual events may implement specific safety protocols.
Budget-friendly options
Free admission events include Waukesha Oktoberfest, Cedarburg Oktoberfest, Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest of Greater Racine, Our Lady of Lourdes celebration, and Das Fest Wisconsin. Many ticketed events offer significant early bird discounts and free community hours.
Premium experiences include VIP table reservations at Milwaukee Oktoberfest's main stage area and Bavarian Bierhaus's 8-person picnic table reservations. Elm Grove's 0.5K Fun Run provides unique entertainment value at $35 early registration.
Seasonal timeline guides
July celebrations include German Fest Milwaukee (25-27) and Das Fest Wisconsin (18-20), offering summer weather advantages and serving as preparatory events for fall festivities.
September events dominate the calendar with multiple communities sharing September 19-20 weekend (Waukesha, Elm Grove, Greendale), Burlington's multi-weekend celebration, and Germantown's September 27-28 heritage festival.
October events conclude the season with Milwaukee Oktoberfest's lakefront celebration (3-5), Cedarburg's downtown festival (4-5), and Our Lady of Lourdes church celebration (10-12), taking advantage of peak fall foliage and comfortable temperatures.
The greater Milwaukee area's Oktoberfest celebrations represent the Midwest's most comprehensive German heritage festival circuit, combining authentic traditions with modern accessibility and family-friendly programming across urban, suburban, and community venues throughout the fall season.
