Every year, local bars, breweries, and restaurants treat us to a two- to three-week folk festival that runs from mid and late September to the beginning of October.
Can your lederhosen handle all of the shenanigans?
Whether you’d like to visit a specific place for your favorite beer or get a taste of more than one local brewery at the Trail Dust Town Oktoberfest, you’ve got plenty of options.
Also, pay attention to the date because some are happening sooner than others.
Tap & Bottle North
5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, September 19
7254 N. Oracle Rd.
The downtown craft beer spot is throwing a party with Sierra Nevada to celebrate Oktoberfest.
They’re going to be serving limited brews and will also have plenty of games to play.
Featured Beer
- Oktoberfest
- Kellerweis
- Hazy Little Thing IPA
- 2017 Narwhal
For more information, check out Tap & Bottle’s Facebook event page.
Pueblo Vida Brewing Company
Noon – 11 p.m. Saturday, September 21
115 E. Broadway Blvd.
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The downtown taproom is pumped for one of the most festive times of the year.
They’ll be releasing an Oktoberfest-style lager named the Eiskalt, as well as a special Pueblo Vida Steins. You can snag a four-pack of Eiskalt and a Stein for $25 during this event.
For more information, visit Pueblo Vida Brewing’s Facebook event page.
Mount Lemmon, Ski Valley
Saturday, September 21 – Sunday, October 13
10300 Ski Run Rd., Mount Lemmon, AZ
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Ski Valley, near the top of Mount Lemmon, is throwing their annual Oktoberfest that’s fit for the entire family for four weekends.
Aside from the incredible weather, there’s going to be German beer, traditional German food, a live German band, and plenty of fun over a span of multiple days. It’d be a good idea to designate a driver and carpool up the mountain.
For more information on the week-long event, call (520) 576-1321 or visit skithelemmon.com.
Arizona Beer House
Noon – Midnight, Saturday, September 28
150 S. Kolb Rd.
It’s “A Very Arizona Oktoberfest” at the eastside drinking spot.
There’s going to be a lot of family-friendly fun, German-style beer, food trucks, face painting, balloon twisting, and live music until midnight.
For more information, visit Arizona Beer House’s Facebook event page.
Dillinger Brewing Company
Friday, September 27 – Saturday, September 28
3895 N. Oracle Rd.
Dillinger Brewing Company is hosting a two-day party of fun with Oktoberfest-style beer, games, music, and food. They’re even setting up a large community table for extra seating.
2 – 10 p.m. on Friday, September 27
- Release of the Festbier
- Pop’s Hot Chicken food truck will be parked out front
Noon – 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 28
- B.A. Naked Warrior release paired with German Streusel
- Serrano Seduction Beer Cheese
- Live music from 7 – 9 p.m.
For more information, visit Dillinger Brewing Company’s Facebook event page.
Ten55 Brewing Company
11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday, October 4 – Sunday, October 6
110 E. Congress St.
There is a lot going on at the brewery this year.
It’s going to be three days of non-stop partying with German beers, food, a costume contest, Stein holding competitions, live music, and the fun times you normally have at Ten55 Brewing.
This year’s brews include the Hefeweizen, Dunkleweisse, Helles, Zwickelbier, Dampfbier, and a brand new Altbier. You’ll also find some food specials on the Classic German Jagerschnitzel and Spaetzle.
For more information, visit Ten55 Brewing’s Facebook event page.
Button Brew House
Noon – 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 5
110 E. Congress St.
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The northwest side brewery is throwing a party with eight other local breweries.
Button Brew House is sharing their space and parking lot for the epic Oktoberfest celebration. You can expect plenty of beer, music, and food by American Flying Buffalo.
Tickets are $20 for a half liter Stein and two beer fills. Each additional pour is $1 or $5 for any of the breweries posted up outside. Tickets are limited so be sure to purchase them now from Button Brew House.
Participating Breweries
- Black Rock Brewers
- Borderlands Brewing Company
- Catalina Brewing Company
- Copper Brothel Brewery
- Crooked Tooth Brewing Company
- Harbottle Brewing Company
- Dillinger Brewing Company
- Tombstone Brewing Company
For more information, visit Button Brew House on Facebook.
Trail Dust Town
3 – 10 p.m. Saturday, October 5
6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
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In celebration, Trail Dust Town’s Oktoberfest has once again invited a handful of local breweries to the courtyard.
It’s going to be a blast with German-inspired food, Trail Dust Town attractions, and more.
Featured Breweries:
- 1912 Brewing Company
- Barrio Brewing Company
- BlackRock Brewers
- Borderlands Brewing Company
- Sentinel Peak Brewing Company
- Uncle Bear’s Brewery
Tickets are $2 each this year and each beer tasting, pint, amusement ride or food item costs a certain amount of tickets.
For more information, call (520) 296-4551 or visit Trail Dust Town on Facebook.
Tap & Bottle North
5 – 8 p.m. Thursday, October 10
7254 N. Oracle Rd.
Much like its downtown spot, the northwest side hangout is hosting an extravaganza with Sierra Nevada — just in case you missed the other event.
However, there’s going to be different limited brews at this one.
Featured Beer
- Oktoberfest
- Kellerweis
- 2017 Trip in the Woods Narwhal Coconut Cocoa
- 2017 Trip in the Woods: Scotch Map
For more information, check out Tap & Bottle’s Facebook event page.
Sentinel Peak Brewing Company
11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12
4746 E. Grant Rd.
This one’s happening a little later, so if you’ve missed out on the other events you still have a chance to celebrate.
The party at the midtown brewery starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m.
For more information, check out Sentinel Peak Brewing’s Facebook event page.
Dragoon Brewing Company
2 – 5 p.m., Sunday, October 20
3895 N. Oracle Rd.
Dragoon Brewing is celebrating with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra this year.
If you buy a ticket to TSO’s show you’ll get a free pint at the brewery, popular drinking songs, and a tour of where all of the magic happens.
Also, some tasty brats will be available for purchase from German Food Station.
For more information, visit Dragoon Brewing’s Facebook event page.
Blue Willow Restaurant & Gift Shop
Lunch Special weekdays September 23 – October 4; Dinner Special 5 p.m. October 1 – 5
2616 N. Campbell Ave.
Blue Willow will offer a German lunch special and dinner special for the designated times noted above.
The lunch special is the Schnitzel Sandwich ($12) on a pretzel roll with sauerkraut,
rotkohl, and warm potato salad. The dinner special is a Traditional German Schnitzel ($16) with rotkohl, spätzle, and lemon.
Oktoberfest Hefe~Weizen ($4) and Apfelstrudel ($6) are available with both specials.
For more information, visit bluewillowtucson.com.
JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Thursday, October 24
3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa is throwing a late Oktoberfest Beer Festival this year, and it’s complete with a beer garden.
In addition, there will be House Smoked Turkey Legs, Bratwurst, Bavarian Pretzels, and authentic German Sides. Games and activities will also be available.
The Oktoberfest Beer Festival is open to guests and to the public.
Available Brews in the Beer Garden
- Four Peaks Brewing Co. Oktoberfest
- Four Peaks Brewing Co. Pumpkin Porter
- Stella Artois
- TBS Weihenstephan Festbier
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Oktoberfest
- Beck’s Beer
- Ace Apple California Cider
For more information, check out the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort’s Facebook event page.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
