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).
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
