Oompah! Our favourite holiday of the year is almost upon us. No, not Halloween, nor Christmas. But Oktoberfest! So dust off your lederhosen, top up on the best Bavarian beer from ALDI and start blasting all the greatest German folk music hits. Did someone say: Wo sind die Hände? Luckily for us, there are plenty of options to embrace the stein swigging festivities. So we’ve rounded up the best Birmingham Oktoberfest celebrations taking place.
1. Luna Springs’ Oktoberfest
The outdoor bar, Luna Springs, will host a three-week extravaganza that revels in the world-renowned German festival. Between September 16 to October 1, Luna Springs will be refitted with Bavarian decor and serve up authentic, award-winning Bavarian lager, Hofmeister. Live entertainment will also be provided by DJs and a Bavarian band, so expect all your favourite Oompah folk hits. Trust us, you’ll be up dancing on the tables and singing along to every tune by the end of Oktoberfest. Every Saturday during the celebrations, Luna Springs will also host Big, Bad, Bavarian bottomless brunches, with tickets between £35 and £45. The regular Octoberfest celebrations will take place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are £10 each and include one stein on entry.
2. Digbeth Oktoberfest
For the seventh year running, head down to Factory Works in Digbeth to get involved with the festivities on October 7 & 8. As usual, the venue will deck out with traditional German decor and supply a selection of classic German beers. If beer is not your thing, however, there’ll also be German gin and wines, as well as Oktoberfest themed cocktails too. In terms of food Yardbirds will bring traditional German schnitzel, while The Bournville Waffle Company have curated an Oktoberfest-themed menu that includes apple strudel waffles. Expect a ton of entertainment including DJ’s, live bands, and lots of traditional Oktoberfest games and not-so-traditional games. There’s even a best-dressed competition this year too! Tickets are £14.
3. Oktoberfest at Albert’s Schloss
It’s Stein time at Albert’s Schloss’ from September 17 to October 3. For two weeks of raucous celebrations, attendees can indulge in sausage eating competitions, keg tapping, special live performances, a ‘super disco party fest’, bier guzzling, and best dressed competitions. It will showcase all five Oktoberfest biers too – a rare find outside of the original Munich festival. Twisted Tubes will also be playing live throughout the festival, while Albert Schloss’s staff will don classic lederhosen and dirndl, and encourage revellers to join the party too.
4. Zumhof Biergarten
It’s no surprise that this German-inspired establishment in Birmingham would be celebrating with an Oktoberfest party. Zumhof Biergarten is throwing two massive weekend opening parties on September 23 and 24. This will include keg tapping, free biers, fun games, DJ’s, a sausage eating contest, promenaders, performers and of course vendors. Expect sets from a live Oompah Band, reworking your favourite songs from the 90’s and 2000’s, plus they’ll be serving Germany’s biggest Oktoberfest biers including Paulaner, Lowenbrau and Hofbrau. Tickets are £12.50 and include a two pint stein and pretzel, while free Oktoberfest merchandise will be handed out throughout the evening.