Milwaukee Area Oktoberfest Guide: Fall 2026
Milwaukee’s German heritage comes alive each fall with beer gardens, polka music, stein-holding contests, dachshund races and plenty of pretzels and bratwurst.
Explore Milwaukee-area Oktoberfest celebrations in Glendale, Elm Grove, Waukesha, Cedarburg, Bayside and beyond. Check each event’s dates below before planning your visit.
Use our interactive Oktoberfest map to compare locations, filter celebrations by area and let the “Surprise Me” button choose your next fall adventure.
Last updated September 15, 2026. Event details can change, so check the linked organizer page before leaving home.
Find an Oktoberfest Near You
Filter by area or let us choose a festive fall adventure for you.
Milwaukee’s Original Oktoberfest at Bavarian Bierhaus
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October 4, 2026
Location: Bavarian Bierhaus and Old Heidelberg Park, 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale
The Milwaukee area’s longest Oktoberfest season brings German food, beer and live polka to Old Heidelberg Park every weekend.
Gates open at 4 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 on Fridays, $10 on Saturdays and free on Sundays.
The traditional menu includes bratwurst, schnitzel, Döner kebabs, pretzels, sauerkraut, warm potato salad and apple strudel.
Review the current hours, entertainment schedule and other details on the Bavarian Bierhaus Oktoberfest website.
Elm Grove Oktoberfest
Dates: Thursday–Saturday, September 17–19, 2026
Location: Elm Grove Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd., Elm Grove
Admission: Free
The 10th annual Elm Grove Oktoberfest has expanded to three days.
Thursday’s festivities run from 5–9 p.m. and include food trucks, a beer and wine tent, a bags tournament and live trivia. Friday continues from 5–10 p.m. with food, drinks, games and music.
Saturday begins with the tongue-in-cheek 0.5K Fun Run at 3:30 p.m., followed by live German music, food trucks, games and drinks from 4–10 p.m. Children can participate in the fun run and receive root beer along the route.
The festival is held rain or shine. In addition to beer and wine, the drink tent offers seltzers, nonalcoholic drinks and gluten-free choices.
Find the complete schedule and registration information on the Elm Grove Community Foundation website.
Waukesha Oktoberfest
Dates: Friday, September 25, 5–10 p.m.; Saturday, September 26, noon–10 p.m.
Location: Frame Park, 1150 Frame Park Drive, Waukesha
Admission: Free
This riverside festival fills Frame Park with German-style music, food, beer and friendly competitions.
Planned activities include stein holding, Hammerschlagen, cornhole and a best-dressed competition, so this is a good opportunity to bring out the lederhosen and dirndls.
Admission is free, although guests who want to purchase beer must buy a $2 wristband. Check the official Waukesha Oktoberfest page for the complete schedule, parking information and contest registration.
German Hunsrucker Oktoberfest
Dates: Saturday, September 26, noon–11 p.m.; Sunday, September 27, noon–7 p.m.
Location: Dheinsville Historic Park, N128 W18780 Holy Hill Road, Germantown
Admission and parking: Free
The Germantown Historical Society’s 32nd annual Oktoberfest combines German heritage with an easygoing family festival.
The weekend includes German music and dancing, traditional food, children’s activities, museum buildings and German beer. The popular Dheinsville Dachshund Dash takes place at 3 p.m. Saturday, while the annual car show is scheduled for Sunday.
See the entertainment schedule and Dachshund Dash information on the Germantown Historical Society website.
Greendale Lions Family Oktoberfest
Dates: Friday–Saturday, October 2–3, 2026
Location: Gazebo Park in downtown Greendale
Admission: Free
The Greendale Lions Club is expanding its Oktoberfest celebration for 2026 with a large beer tent in Gazebo Park.
Visitors can expect beer, German-inspired food and a lively community-festival atmosphere along Broad Street. Because additional schedule details may be announced closer to the festival, review the Greendale Lions Club event page before attending.
Milwaukee Oktoberfest
Dates: Friday, October 2, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, October 3, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, October 4, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, Mid Gate, Milwaukee
Milwaukee Oktoberfest returns to the lakefront with an expanded festival featuring German food from Kegel’s Inn, imported and local German-style beers, live music, cultural performances and competitions.
Family favorites include the wiener dog pageant and stein-hoisting contests.
Advance general admission is $7 through September 30 and admission at the gate is $12. Children ages 10 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Admission is also free from 11 a.m.–noon Saturday and Sunday. Veterans and adults ages 65 and older receive free admission before 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with identification.
Purchase tickets and review the entertainment lineup on the official Milwaukee Oktoberfest website.
Cedarburg Oktoberfest
Dates: Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, October 4, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Community Center parking lot and City Hall lawn in downtown Cedarburg
Admission and parking: Free
Cedarburg fills its downtown festival grounds with polka bands, Bavarian dancers, German food, drinks and playful competitions.
The festival’s signature Glockenspiel comes to life every two hours. Other activities traditionally include stein-holding competitions, Oktoberfest trivia, spelling bees, pretzel-eating contests and lederhosen and dirndl competitions for different age groups.
The celebration continues rain or shine. Pets and outside food and drinks are not permitted.
Visit the Festivals of Cedarburg website for the current entertainment schedule, parking information and festival rules.
Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest
Dates: Friday–Sunday, October 9–11, 2026
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 3722 S. 58th St., Milwaukee
Admission and parking: Free
This welcoming parish festival combines German traditions with plenty of activities for families.
Friday includes a fish fry, polka music, dancing, a campfire with s’mores and children’s art activities. Saturday brings an artisan fair, children’s activities, a Polka Mass and live music. Sunday concludes with more food, music and raffle drawings.
Legendary homemade apple strudel and treats from the Black Forest Café add to the experience.
See the daily schedule and food information on the Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest website.
Bayside Oktoberfest
Dates: Saturday–Sunday, October 10–11, 2026, 1–6 p.m. daily
Location: Ellsworth Park, 600 E. Ellsworth Lane, Bayside
Torzala Brewing Co. is hosting Bayside’s new two-day Oktoberfest as part of the village’s Brews in the Bay series.
The weekend will feature craft beer, food trucks and live music. Kid Elephant performs Saturday, while Gabriel Sanchez is scheduled to perform Sunday.
Get updates from the Village of Bayside’s official Oktoberfest page.
Tips for Attending Oktoberfest with Kids
Go earlier in the day for lighter crowds and the most family-oriented atmosphere.
Check each organizer’s rules concerning pets, outside food, bags and strollers. Cedarburg, for example, does not permit pets or outside carry-ins.
Bring layers. A comfortable fall afternoon can quickly turn into a chilly evening.
Review parking and road-closure information before leaving, especially for downtown Cedarburg and the larger Milwaukee lakefront festival.
Confirm ticket prices, free-admission periods and registration requirements for activities such as fun runs, contests and dachshund races.
Keep the Fall Fun Going
Looking for more seasonal outings? Browse our Milwaukee-area Oktoberfest coverage, fall festival guides and fall activities for more family adventures around southeastern Wisconsin.
Know of another confirmed Milwaukee-area Oktoberfest? Send North Shore Family Adventures the organizer’s 2026 event link so we can consider adding it to the guide.
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