Have you been neglecting your lederhosen lately?
Button ’em up fast because Oktoberfest is coming in hot this year with multiple events scattered around Tucson.
Although Oktoberfest is celebrated on different days during the next few weeks, the tradition of drinking and eating in mass amounts has remained unchanged over time.
There’s more to it than that, but there’s plenty of time to learn about one of the greatest holidays at the following events.
We’ll add more events to this list as we discover them.
Casino Del Sol
Noon – 10 p.m. Saturday, October 21
5655 W. Valencia Rd.
This year’s second Annual Oktoberfest, featuring Sam Adams and Paulaner, is happening at the AVA Amphitheater.
It doesn’t cost you anything to get in, but any purchase you make will benefit local charities.
Come out for the beer, live music, games, contests, and even German desserts.
- Freshly made German Pretzels $6.50
- Forbes Meat Company Bratwurst and Jagerwurst $7
- Mustard Braised Pork Shanks $12
- Chicken Schnitzel Sandwiches $10
- German Desserts $3-$5
- $6.50 Sam Adams and Paulaner
- $20 36-ounce Beer Stein with $9 Refills
For more information, call (855) 765-7829 or visit casinodelsol.com.
Passed Events
AZ Hops & Vines
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, October 7
3450 Highway 82, Sonoita, Arizona
German beer, German food, and German music out at the vineyard.
Tickets are $20 and include a souvenir glass, six tasting tickets, and a food ticket. Make sure to buy your tickets early, because prices will go up to $25 on the day of.
For more information, call (520) 955-4249 or visit azhopsandvines.com.
Cafe Passé
Saturday, September 16 – October 3
417 N. 4th Ave.
Come celebrate Oktoberfest at Cafe Passé down on 4th avenue.
You can expect brats, big glasses of beer, pierogis, schnitzel, and did we mention big glasses of beer?
A schedule for live music and dancing groups are TBA.
For more information, call (520) 624-4411 or visit cafepasse.com.
Dillinger Brewing Company
4 – 9 p.m. Friday, September 22 – Saturday, September 23
3895 N. Oracle Rd.
Dillinger Brewing Company is hosting an Oktoberfest weekend with a release of a new beer.
If you buy a decorated pint glass for $8, you’ll get $1 off each glass of their limited Oktoberfestbier all weekend.
On Saturday, September 23, get a taste of the limited Barrel Aged Stout that spent a half a year in mesquite smoked Whiskey Del Bac barrels.
Food Vendors:
- Beer Geek Bakery: 4 – 9 p.m., Friday, September 22 – Saturday, September 23
- Burgerrito food truck: 5:30 – 9 p.m., Friday, September 22
- Meatball Madness food truck: 5:30 – 9 p.m., Saturday, September 23
For more information, call (520) 207-2312 or visit dillingerbrewing.com.
Mount Lemmon, Ski Valley
Weekends, September 23 – October 7
10300 Ski Run Rd., Mount Lemmon, AZ
For three weekends in a row, from noon – 5 p.m., Ski Valley will host it’s annual Oktoberfest on the mountain.
You can expect German beer, food, music, and dancing in the forest.
Admission is free but there are minimal parking and highway fees.
Make sure to leave your dogs at home because pooches are not permitted at the festival.
For more information call (520) 576-1321 or visit skithelemmon.com.
REVEL
Noon – 6 p.m. Saturday, September 30
416 E. Ninth St.
REVEL is throwing an Oktoberfest celebration with $3 Spaten pints and $5 Rosé.
Forbes Meat Company will be serving up bratwursts and Swiss sausages. too.
For more information, visit their Facebook Event Page.
Three Canyon Beer and Wine Garden
5 – 9 p.m. Thursdays, September 21 – October 5
4999 N. Sabino Canyon Rd.
For three Thursdays in a row, Haus of Brats will be parked outside of Three Canyon Beer and Wine Garden.
Multiple German beers are on tap to accompany the German food and music.
$20 will get you a brat, two pints of German beer or one flight of four tastings, and a free Spaten Stein.
For more information, call (520) 900-7866 or visit threecanyonbeerandwinegarden.com.
Trail Dust Town
3 – 9 p.m. Saturday, October 7
6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
Trail Dust Town’s Oktoberfest is often considered one of their biggest events of the year.
Featured Breweries:
- Iron John’s Brewing Company
- Sentinel Peak Brewing Company
- Thunder Canyon Brewery
- Uncle Bear’s Brewery
With the proper amount of beer comes dancing. Live music from Bouncing Czechs is going down at 7 p.m.
Food vendors will be on site as well, but have yet to be named.
For more information, call (520) 296-4551 or visit traildusttown.com.
Tucson Hop Shop
6 – 8 p.m. Saturday, September 16
3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year over at the Tucson Hop Shop.
The shop is celebrating Oktoberfest with beer garden tables, and Sierra Nevada‘s seasonal Oktoberfest.
For more information, call (520) 908-7765 or visit tucsonhopshop.com.
Whole Foods Market
5 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 18
7133 N. Oracle Rd.
Enjoy a four-course dinner paired with four beers from Rogue Ales & Spirits.
The menu will include delicious bruschetta, followed by a stacked caprese salad, and main course of cioppino stew.
Don’t forget dessert with a fall themed cupcake.
Tickets are $25 per person.
For more information, call (520) 352-0111 or visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
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.
