Your Guide to Oktoberfest Across Tampa Bay 

Oktoberfest has grown into a popular Tampa Bay area tradition. One needs only to look around each fall to see many opportunities to celebrate in various ways across an eclectic mix of settings. Here is a guide to fun, local Oktoberfest events worth checking out this October.  

Why hoist your stein just once when you can jet across the Bay area each weekend to a new location and continue the celebration? So raise those mugs and declare “Salud!”…make that “Prost!” 

2022 Oktoberfest of Pinellas (Pinellas Park) 

HOST:  German American Friendship Society
LOCATION:  8098 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
DATES:  Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Oct. 7-8, Oct. 14-15, 2022
TIMES:  5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  $10 (kids ages 12 and younger, free); free admission for military members with active military IDs 

This social club runs events throughout the year to promote cultural exchange in the community, but their Oktoberfest is its most well-known for its authentic German cuisine and fun activities and dances that take place throughout the multi-weekend celebration. The ‘apfelstrudel’ (apple strudel) comes highly recommended! 

Oktoberfest of Pinellas always features fun dance and music events including alphorn playing.
(photo courtesy of German American Society) 

For more information, click here for the event website. Readers can also follow updates at the event Facebook page. 

2nd Annual Grand Central Oktoberfest (St. Petersburg) 

HOST:  Grand Central Brewhouse
LOCATION:  2340 Central Av., St. Petersburg, FL 33712
DATES:  Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2, 2022
TIMES:  12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  free, with food and drink available for purchase) 

This local brewery and beer garden invites everyone – families and leashed pets included – to join in

the Oktoberfest fun. Get ready for Oompah Music by Apple Strudel & Nu Soundz, German far, traditional lagers and commemorative GCB steins and Oktoberfest merchandise. Plus, there will be plenty of games for all including traditional Oktoberfest games and a Best Dressed Contest. 

This local event promises to deliver plenty of tasty brew and fun for the whole family, even the four-legged variety.
(photo courtesy of Grand Central Brewhouse and Beer Garden) 

For more information, click here for the event website. Readers can also follow updates at the event Facebook page. 

22nd Annual Oktobeerfest (Dunedin) 

HOST:  Dunedin Brewery
LOCATION:  937 Douglas Av., Dunedin, FL 34698
DATES:  Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 6-9, 2022
TIMES:  12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  free, with food and drink available for purchase 

This Dunedin Oktoberfest tradition is as much about great music as it is the scrumptious German food and tasty beer, and this year is no exception. Hear from an eclectic mix of performers including Tand, Displace, Goldenera, Mike Garulli, Legacy Orchestra Collective, GoldenEra and more. On Sunday afternoon, the Sunday Songwriter Showcase closes out the entertainment and features Kristopher James, Joe Marcinek, Joe Roman, Danielle Mohr, and Jessica Rose Powell. A complete music schedule is available at the Brewery website. 

As is tradition, Dunedin Brewery’s Oktobeerfest offers four days of memorable live music.
(illustration courtesy of Dunedin Brewery) 

For more information, click here for the event website.  

Oktoberfest Tampa 2022 (Downtown Tampa) 

HOST:  The City of Tampa
LOCATION:  Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park – 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, FL 33602
DATES:  Friday through Sunday, Oct. 7-9, 2022
TIMES:  FRI – 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; SAT – 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; SUN – 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  $10-$25 (visit event website for pre-sale ticket purchase) Event entry is free to men and women of the Armed Forces (active and retired) and first responders of the City of Tampa (TPD, TFR, and EMS) with proper ID. 

Voted one of the top 5 Oktoberfests in the country by the website sheknows.com, this event packs a lot of food, brew, and activities into three very busy days in the city’s largest Oktoberfest event. This year, the event partners with Green Bench Brewing to offer attendees three traditional beers that will only be found at Oktoberfest Tampa. The fest’s Outrageous Bavarian Games element is popular with festival goers including keg stacking, carry the wench, brat toss and stein hosting (4-year hoisting champion John Alderman pictured below) 

Outrageous Bavarian Games continue to be a popular feature, including Stein Hoisting.
(Photo courtesy of Oktoberfest Tampa) 

For more information, click here for the event website. Readers can also follow updates at the event Facebook page. 

Oktoberfest Fall Arts and Crafts Fair (Downtown Tampa) 

HOST:  Your Tampa Markets
LOCATION:  Water Works Park, Tampa Riverwalk – 1701 N. Highland, Tampa, FL 33602
DATES:  Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022
TIMES:  10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  free 

Browse booths and support your community at the same time as part of this annual event which features food trucks, art on display and handcrafted goods available for purchase, and live music. Get an early start on your holiday list and shop handmade items by local shops and artisans. 

 Enjoy the ambience of the Riverwalk while supporting local businesses and artists.
(photo courtesy of Your Tampa Markets) 

For more information, click here for the event website. Readers can also follow updates at the event Facebook page. 

Oktoberfest on the Beach (Indian Rocks Beach) 

HOST:  IRB Action 2000
LOCATION:  Kolb Park – 1508 Bay Palm Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
DATES:  Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022
TIMES:  12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  free 

Indulge in a different kind of Oktoberfest with sand, waves, and sunshine a part of the festivities. This year’s festival promises to offer great beer and international food vendors, arts and crafts, live music and fun contests, including keg throwing and stein carrying. Attendees also can take part in a silent auction and 50/50 raffle, with past winners leaving with as much as $3,000! Proceeds from the event raise funds for the nonprofit’s community beautification projects, such as pedestrian benches and shelters and other street-scaping improvements. 

Take in a beachier version of Oktoberfest at this Indian Rocks tradition.
(illustration courtesy of IRB Action 2000) 

For more information, click here for the event website.  

2022 Upper Tampa Bay Oktoberfest (Tampa) 

HOST:  Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
LOCATION:  Tampa Bay Downs – 11225 Race Track Rd., Tampa, FL 33626
DATES:  Friday through Sunday, Oct. 21-23, 2022
TIMES:  FRI – 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; SAT – 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; SUN – 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:  $5 admission (kids ages 12 and younger, free); free admission for military members with active military IDs 

This popular fundraiser for the Upper Tampa Chamber of Commerce offers something for

everybody. Aside from tasty, authentic German cuisine and a wide variety of brews, there are events galore – log sawing contests for men and women, keg hurling and stein hoisting, an auction…even a carnival! But the event which typically garners the most attention is its popular Weiner Dog Derby, being held this year on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m. For a full schedule by day of this year’s Oktoberfest activities, stop by the Chamber’s event page. 

The event’s Weiner Dog Derby continues to be a fan favorite.
(photo courtesy of Florida Weiner Dog Derby) 

For more information, click here for the event website.

by Chris Kuhn exclusively for Destination Tampa Bay.  All photos and images attributed as noted for editorial use only all right reserved.

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