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Fall Season

Brewfests signal another stellar New England fall

By Brion O'ConnorSeptember 22, 2021

Sampling liquid treats in Maine. (Visit Maine)

The Bavarians knew what they were doing when, back in the fall of 1810, they launched the first “Oktoberfest.”

The inaugural event was a celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria (who later became King Louis I) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. But this was no 24-hour affair. The original Oktoberfest concluded five days later with a horse race that came to be called Theresienwiese (“Therese’s green”).

In 1811, the horse race was combined with a state agricultural fair, and by 1818 booths serving food and drink could be found everywhere. And carbonated adult beverages always were a highlight of the festivities.

By the late 20th century, those booths had evolved into large beer halls made of plywood, with interior balconies and bandstands. Today, Oktoberfest continues to thrive as an annual festival in Munich, Germany, held over a two-week period and ending on the first Sunday in October. Each of the Munich brewers erects temporary structures, with seating capacities sometimes exceeding 6,000. Clearly, this is serious fun. The autumnal celebration draws more than six million people every year, many of them tourists. This year, Oktoberfest begins on Sept. 18, and ends on Oct. 2, with a total beer consumption estimated at about two million gallons. 

Of course, here in New England, we don’t need to stand on the well-established ceremony (or example) of our European brethren. In fact, we have a well-established track record of doing just the opposite. Basically, we relish the idea that we can do whatever the heck we want. Which means we tend to have a fall brewfest season that launches shortly after Labor Day and doesn’t wind down until almost Thanksgiving. Autumn, it’s safe to say, is prime time for beer lovers.

What strikes me most about the modern-day autumnal brewfest in the Northeast is the variety we have. You’ll find events held indoors and out, in urban, suburban, and rural settings, from inner cities like Boston and Bangor to the borough of Brooklyn. 

I personally like to head to the hills with my two-wheeler, bang out a couple of hard hours pedaling, pushing my legs and lungs to their breaking point, and then reward that effort with a nice ice-cold microbrew. To my way of thinking, there’s simply nothing better. That’s why I’ll typically gravitate toward Oktoberfest-hosting ski resorts — from Sunday River in Maine to the east, Okemo and Stratton in Vermont to the west, and Wachusett in Massachusetts and Mount Southington in Connecticut to the south. These festivals always have a great selection of craft brews, from near and far.

But who am I to suggest that everyone else will agree with my idea of a good time? As my beloved Grandpere would say in his native French, “Vivre la difference!” Many folks, including a good number of my friends, prefer the city experience. There’s even one right around the corner from my home on Boston’s North Shore — the Craft & Specialty Food Fair at the Topsfield Fairgrounds on Nov. 12. 

With so many New England brew fests to choose from, beer lovers should be able to enjoy a festival that suits their particular tastes. Here’s a list to choose from (Please note that the following festivals were still on the calendar at press time. However, due to the ongoing concerns and uncertainty regarding COVID 19 and its variants, it would be wise to check before going. For example, the 2021 Burke Fall Festival, scheduled to take place Sept. 25, was canceled in late August).

White Mountain Oktoberfest is set for Oct. 9-10 at Loon Mountain Resort. (Loon Mountain Resort)

Sept. 24

Torrington Oktoberfest

Franklin Plaza

Torrington, Conn.

Brewfest at the Beach

Ocean Beach Park

New London, Conn.

Sept. 24-25

Milford Oktoberfest

Fowler Field, Rotary
Pavilion, Milford, Conn.

Sept. 24-26

Funk On The Water

Foam Brewers

Burlington, Vt.

Sept. 25

Cape Cod Brew Fest

Cape Cod Fairgrounds

East Falmouth, Mass.

Killington Brewfest

Pico Mountain Ski Resort

Mendon, Vt.

Maine Lakes Brew Fest

Point Sebago Resort

Casco, Maine

Kingston Beer-fest

Kingston, N.H.

Brass City Brew & Que

Library Park

Waterbury, Conn.

Sam Adams Octoberfest

Sam Adams Taproom

Boston

Oktoberfest Alvarium

Alvarium Beer Company

New Britain, Conn.

Oktoberfest

German-American
Cultural Society of R.I. 

Pawtucket, R.I.

Harvest Festival

Franklin Farm

Cumberland, R.I.

Harvest Fest

Friends of Attleboro Animal Shelter

Attleboro, Mass.

Sept. 25-26

Punk in Drublic 2021

Palladium

Worcester, Mass.

Salem Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

Salem Common

Salem, Mass.

Sept. 26

Beer & Chili Festival

Castle in the Clouds

Moultonborough, N.H.

Mimosa Festival

The Strand Ballroom

Providence

Oct. 1

Apizza Feast

New Haven, Conn.

Oct. 1-3

Harpoon Octoberfest

Harpoon Brewery

Boston

Oct. 2

Power Beer Fest

Cyclorama

Boston

Powder Keg Beer Festival

Swasey Parkway

Exeter, N.H.

Oktoberfest 2021

49 State Pier

New Bedford, Mass.

Smoke in the Valley Craft Beer/Home Brew

Bad Sons Brewery

Derby, Conn.

Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival at Polar Park

Worcester, Mass.

Oktoberfest

Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort

Middlefield, Conn.

The Fall Artisan Market 

Redemption Rock Brewing

Worcester, Mass.

Berkshire Blues & Brews Fest

Berkshire Theatre Group

Pittsfield, Mass.

Autumn Craft Festival

Mill Falls Marketplace

Meredith, N.H.

Alpine BrewGrass FallFest

Black Line Tavern

Londonderry, Vt.

Oct. 3

Wachusett OktoberFest

Princeton, Mass.

Oct. 8-10

Washashore Music & Arts

Provincetown Brewing Co.

Provincetown, Mass.

Stowe Foliage Arts Festival

Topnotch Resort

Stowe, Vt.

Oct. 9

Western Mass Beer & Food Truck Fest

Elks Club

Springfield, Mass.

New Hampshire Brewfest

Cisco Brewers

Portsmouth, N.H.

HarvestFest Weekend

Stratton Mountain Resort

Stratton Mountain, Vt.

Swine & Stein Brewfest

Bateau Brewing

Gardiner, Maine

Maine Food Festival & Craft Expo

Fairgrounds Road

Topsham, Maine

Food Truck Festival

Hamilton Rod & Gun Club

Sturbridge, Mass.

Oct. 9-10

Garlic & Harvest Festival & Expo

Bethlehem Fair Grounds

Bethlehem, Conn.

White Mountain
Oktoberfest

Loon Resort, Lincoln, N.H.

Oct. 9-11

Woonsocket Autumnfest

World War II Memorial Park

Woonsocket, R.I.

Oct. 15

The Return of Beervana Fest 2021

Rhodes On The Pawtuxet

Cranston, R.I.

Oct. 16

Oktoberfest Mass. 2021

Young Mens Club
of Hadley, Hadley, Mass.

Fall Fest 

Westfield River Brewing

Southwick, Mass.

We=Nbpt Fall Festival

Newburyport Brewing Co.

Newburyport, Mass.

NH Rocks! Harvest Festival

Cisco Brewers

Portsmouth, N.H.

Oct. 16-17

Newport Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

Fort Adams State Park

Newport, R.I.

Oct. 19-23

Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival

Winnetu Oceanside Resort

Edgartown, Mass.

Oct. 23

Spooktoberfest Beer & Wine Festival

Hilton Mystic

Mystic, Conn.

Change in Air Festival

Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ

New Haven, Conn.

Oct. 23-24

Fall Castleberry Faire

Shriners Auditorium

Wilmington, Mass.

Oct. 23-25

Spooktoberfest 

Beer & Wine Festival

Stonington, Conn.

Oct. 25

Madison Beer — The Life Support Tour

House of Blues, Boston

Oct. 28

2021 Oktoberfest — Construction Institute

SBC Restaurant/Beer Bar

Milford, Conn.

Oct. 30

Connecticut Taco Festival: Day of Dead

Bushnell Park Foundation

Hartford, Conn.

Oct. 31

Manchester Brewfest

Arms Park

Manchester, N.H.

Nov. 5-7

Fall Food Truck Festival

Normandy Farms Campground, Foxboro, Mass.

Nov. 6

29th annual Fall Festival

St. Marguerite
Bourgeoys Church

Brookfield, Conn.

Burlington Margarita & Mimosa Fest

Rí Rá Irish Pub

Burlington, Vt.

Nov. 12

25th annual Craft & Specialty Food Fair 

Topsfield Fairgrounds

Topsfield, Mass.

Nov. 20-21

Maine Harvest Festival

Cross Insurance Center

Bangor, Maine

Tags: beer, fall festivals, oktoberfest

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