Your Guide to Celebrating Oktoberfest 2023 in Arizona

Photo by Louis Hansel/Unsplash

By Robert Gundran

September 14, 2023

Oktoberfest is the world’s biggest beer festival. It originated in Germany in 1810 as a celebration of a royal marriage in Munich and continues today as a celebration of German culture.

The celebration spread across the world, and now several cities in Arizona host their own festivals every year in late September and early October.

Here are five Oktoberfest festivals and events you need to check out this year:

Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest

Sept. 30 and Oct. 1
3 S. Arizona Ave.
Cost: $12-$20
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Hours:
1 p.m.–10 p.m. Sept. 30
1 p.m.–8 p.m. Oct. 1

Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest is back for its second year at Dr. AJ Chandler Park.

Pedal Haus Brewery and SanTan Brewing Company are the featured breweries at Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest.

The festival will have live music from bands like People Who Could Fly, Rock Lobster, Metalhead, and Corey Golden Band.

In addition to live music and local beer, there will be canned cocktails from SanTan Spirits, German fare, and games.

The festival is all ages and kids 5 and younger get in free.

Buy tickets here.

Gilbert Oktoberfest

Oct. 7
1. Civic Center Drive
Cost: $15
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Hours: 2 p.m.–9 p.m.

Come to Gilbert Oktoberfest for beers from OHSO, Desert Monk Brewing Co., Flying Basset Brewing, 12 West Brewing Co., and Four Silos Brewery.

The festival will have live music, games like ax throwing, and food vendors.

The event is for all ages. Kids 12 and younger get in for free.

Attendees can bring in two sealed bottles of water as well as small snacks for children and medical needs.

Buy tickets here.

Flagstaff Oktoberfest

Oct. 7
212 W. Aspen Ave.
Cost: $7
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Hours: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Flagstaff Oktoberfest is definitely Arizona’s coolest beer festival in the early fall. Don’t worry about the heat bearing down on you all day here—you might even need to bring a light jacket if you stay late.

Grab some fall beers here like Surly Oktoberfest, Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest, and Four Peaks Pumpkin Porter.

Satchmo’s BBQ is one of the vendors there, bringing brats, pretzels, and more. They’ll be hosting a brat-eating contest as well.

Buy tickets here. Kids 12 and younger get in for free.

Tucson Oktoberfest

Oct. 7
305 N. Fourth Ave.
Cost. $35-$50
Hours: 12 p.m.–4 p.m.

A ticket to Tucson Oktoberfest will get you a commemorative mug and three mug fills of beer, all for $35.

A $50 ticket gets you six total beers.

Designated drivers can get into the event for only $10.

The event will have live music, food vendors, prizes for the best dressed, and pie-eating contests.

Buy tickets here.

Four Peaks Oktoberfest

Oct. 13-15
80 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Cost: Free-$20
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Hours:
Oct. 13 5 p.m.–Midnight
Oct. 14 10 a.m.–Midnight
Oct. 15 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Arizona’s premier Oktoberfest takes place every year at Tempe Beach Park and is hosted by Tempe Sister Cities.

Tempe Sister Cities is a nonprofit organization that facilitates student, educator, and professional exchange programs with sister cities across the world. Tempe’s sister cities include Regensburg, Germany; Timbuktu, Mali; and Cusco, Peru.

Four Peaks Oktoberfest has bratwurst tents, carnival treats, and plenty of Four Peaks beer, of course.

Over 25 bands and musical artists will perform at the event.

Buy tickets here.

Author

Robert Gundran

Robert Gundran grew up in the Southwest, spending equal time in the Valley and Southern California throughout his life. He graduated from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in 2018 and wrote for The Arizona Republic and The Orange County Register.

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