Cleveland Oktoberfest returns to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds for its 20th anniversary with two weekends of great brews, bratwurst, bands, and more. Great Lakes Brewing Co. is once again the Official Craft Beer Sponsor of this iconic Cleveland cultural event, so read on to learn what you can expect from both action-packed weekends of Cleveland Oktoberfest.
Das Bier!
It wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without a stein or two full of the good stuff. Of course, we’re bringing our critically lauded Oktoberfest so you can have a real Munich-inspired experience. The best part about sipping an Oktoberfest at Oktoberfest is that it’s guaranteed to pair perfectly with the scrumptious German-inspired foods served throughout the event: Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel, bratwurst, pierogi… yeah, you’re gonna need a bigger plate.
Late summer events in Cleveland can get a little sticky, so we recommend cooling off with a pour of the Northeast Ohio exclusive Cold Rush Premium Light Lager, Cleveland’s light beer and an ideal match for a long day of fun in the sun. And to put some Midwest in your fest, grab Midwest IPA and the limited release Midwest Hazy Mimosa IPA (try that with a fruited Danish for an extra sweet treat!)
The original Oktoberfest in Munich marked a marriage celebration of Bavarian royals, but in Cleveland, it marks the start of football season. Okay, not historically, but the timing is perfect, and so is a lineman-sized stein full of 73 Kolsch, our Northeast Ohio exclusive ale brewed in collaboration with Cleveland football legend Joe Thomas.
You’ll find these beers on tap throughout the entire festival, with additional selections including Strawberry Pineapple Wheat, and more offered in the Great Lakes Bier Garten where you can enjoy free live entertainment and sample a variety of craft brews from our fellow Cleveland breweries.
How do you count to three in German beer styles? Oans (Oktoberfest), Zwoa (Dortmunder Gold Lager), Drei (73 Kolsch), G’suffa! We’ll “prost” to that.
What’s the deal with the Glockenspiel?
Stop at one of our beer trucks and you’re likely to have a prime view of the Glockenspiel, a giant wooden cottage (the largest of its kind in the U.S.) with a colorful cuckoo clock and big bubbling steins. Keep your eye on the clock, as every hour the Glockenspiel erupts with eclectic live cultural performances and a quirky bird puppet. Best of all? You’ll have the chance to catch prizes and swag from festival sponsors and entertainers during the performances—including your pals at GLBC! In fact, we highly recommend stopping by around 7PM on Friday, August 29 for a chance to catch some Great Lakes swag and meet some very special guests.
Run (or walk) for your brew!
Once again, we are proud to sponsor the Great Lakes 5K Bier Run & One Mile Walk, taking place Monday, September 1. This annual race benefits University Hospital Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Have a little fun with it and run or walk in costume to collect an extra admission ticket! All 21+ runners will receive free admission to Oktoberfest, one drink ticket, and a commemorative GLBC x Oktoberfest race t-shirt. Good swag, good cause—what are you waiting for? Register for the race here.
Wiener dogs, wiener schnitzel… an all-around winning weekend
What else is there to do? Catch the Midwest-famous and highly competitive (read: adorable) wiener dog races, shop for locally made treasures at the Art & Craft Markets and imported goods at the Bavarian Shopping Village, and oom-pah-pah your heart out to the sounds of a wide variety of live music and cultural performances. There’s plenty to do with your whole crew, young and old, both weekends.
Cleveland Oktoberfest runs August 29 – September 1, and September 5-6 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Don’t miss out on this spectacular annual tradition. Get your Cleveland Oktoberfest tickets here. Make sure you tag your Oktoberfest moments @glbc_cleveland on X and Instagram!
Words by Marissa DeSantis
Photos by Marissa DeSantis and Lily Switka