Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest in Syracuse and Upstate New York Breweries
Munich’s famous Oktoberfest was canceled for the second year in a row. That just means we can have our own Oktoberfest in Syracuse! The silver lining is that many local breweries are celebrating here at home, so you don’t need to travel to Germany to drink beer with your friends in true Bavarian style. Check out these upcoming Oktoberfest celebrations around Central New York.
Oktoberfest in Syracuse
Willow Rock kicked off the celebrations early with a the 1st Annual Syracuse Oktoberfest on August 14th. The festivities included food from long-time favorite German restaurant Danzer’s along with music from the Oktoberfest Band and Fritz’s Polka Band. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon kicked off the day by tapping the keg.
Middle Ages followed soon after, by releasing their Octoberfest Amber Lager on Saturday, September 3rd.
Missed the celebrations? No worries! You can still get Willow Rock’s Oktoberfest lager, Hoi-Hoi-Hoi, or Middle Ages’ Oktoberfest at the breweries or local stores.
Curious to learn more about how Oktoberfest got started? Read about the famous German festival in Munich.
Thursday, September 16 – Buried Acorn Brewing Company
Buried Acorn‘s Stein Night is back! Starting this Thursday, and for every upcoming Thursday while it’s available, you can fill your stein with their Oktoberfest beer. Start by buying your mug and filling it right away for $16. Every refill of Wackaloon, their Marzen Lager, after that is just $6 on Thursdays.
If for some crazy reason you just want the mug, it’s $12. But seriously, you’ve got to try at least one fill of the Wackaloon!
Friday, September 17 – Full Boar Craft Brewery
Dave and Eric have been having a lot of fun getting ready for Oktoberfest at Full Boar. While there is no big event planned, they are doing a double beer release on Friday, September 17th.
To help promote, Dave got dressed up in full lederhosen while Eric donned a pumpkin costume. Anyone who visits the brewery dressed the same on Friday night will get their first pint of beer for FREE.
What beers are they releasing? Their OktoBOARfest Marzen and their Pumpkin Spice Blonde Ale.
Sunday, September 19 – ONCO Fermentations
Beer mugs, German food, live music, and prizes? Sounds like a great Oktoberfest to me! That’s how ONCO Fermentations will be celebrating this Sunday, September 19th.
ONCtOberfest festivities begin at noon with Jess Novak and Ben Wayne taking the stage at 12:30. Herlihy Smokehouse food truck will be on site, featuring a special menu of German goodies. Door prizes will be raffled off throughout the day and then Frank Stepanek & Friends play from 3-6pm.
If you’re heading out to the brewery, make sure you get your own ONCtOberfest tankard mug! For $20 you get the mug and your first fill of ONCtOberfest beer, and a door prize ticket. Plus get additional refills of ONCtOberfest for just $5 with your mug.
(Mug purchase is optional; the event is free to attend.)
Friday – Sunday, September 24 – 26 – Red Shed Brewery
If you’re looking for the truest Oktoberfest celebration in Upstate New York, you’ve got to go to Red Shed Brewery in Cooperstown. We went last year on a whim and we absolutely loved it. Three days of fresh beer, live music, and German food. What could be better? Hammerschlagen, keg tossing and stein holding competitions! Yea, I had to look up hammerschlagen too. It’s a competition where players have to drive a nail into a tree stump. Who knew? Anyway…
Make sure that Red Shed is added to your things to do this month. With three days to choose from, you can’t miss it! They will have their Oktoberfest lager on tap and be releasing their Hefeweizen for the festival. Both are very tasty.
Sunday, September 26 – Meier’s Creek Brewing Company
Meier’s Creek is also celebrating their 1st annual Oktoberfest this month! It’s happening Sunday, September 26th and tickets are required. Tickets are $35 and include two beers, a German brat for lunch, and a stein to take home.
Activities will include live music, a stein holding competition (of course), and giveaways throughout the day. Must be 21+ to attend.
Sunday, September 26 – Talking Cursive Brewing Company
Not all Oktoberfests are just about the beer – the food is just as important! And Talking Cursive is creating an Oktoberfest foodie heaven with their Brewer’s Dinner.
You’re in for a real treat with this one. The dinner includes 5 courses of delicious German food. Schnitzel. Spaetzle. Bavarian charcuterie. All the good stuff. Each course is paired with a different TCBC beer, and the meal includes a special Q&A with the brewers and a stein to take home.
Saturday, October 2 – Young Lion Brewing Company
Young Lion Brewing Company in Canandaigua had been planning an Oktoberfest at the brewery on Saturday, October 2nd. Chris Collingwood was going to headline the event.
Unfortunately, due to the rise of COVID variant strains, the concert has been canceled and the event is currently being reviewed for how it can be held safely.
In the meantime, you can still visit the brewery to try a pint of the Oktoberfest special release – or find it at your local bottle shop.
Stay tuned for updates!
Saturday, October 16 – Baggs Square Brewing Company
The beers and festivities aren’t over yet! Baggs Square Brewing Company in Utica is going all out on Saturday, October 16th. There will be music, food vendors, games, giveaways and prizes – all in their historic Baggs Square location. They are kicking things off on Friday night with a special Oktoberfest beer release at the brewery.
This festival is particularly good since Baggs Square specializes in German beers. What could be more appropriate? Even better, Baggs Square has a few other exciting events coming up in October, like their “Eat, Drink, and Be Scary” dinner on October 28th.
More Oktoberfest Beers in Syracuse
Can’t make it to an Oktoberfest? No worries! Most of the breweries will have the beer for sale after the events. Plus, many of the craft beer stores in Syracuse have local Oktoberfest beers available. Celebrate at home by making brats and soft pretzels and cracking open some brews!
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