Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Rhode Island
Several breweries have fun events happening this weekend to celebrate Oktoberfest brews.
Courtesy of Narragansett Beer
You don’t have to travel to Germany for Oktoberfest. There are plenty of Rhode Island breweries, restaurants and organizations that are hosting Oktoberfest beer festivals to celebrate the release of German brews including, Oktoberfest, festibier, lagers and more. Take a look at our list of the next few weekends’ happenings for the latest information of Oktoberfest festivals in Rhode Island that include beer, food, music and more.
1. Shaidzon is celebrating the first day of Oktoberfest in Germany, a.k.a. Saturday, September 16, by tapping into their appropriately named and timed brew, Oktoberfest. Stop by for a pint and festive fare from Binge BBQ from 2 to 7 p.m., plus live music from Molly Maguires from 3 to 6 p.m. Just don’t forget to come back the weekend of September 29th for the brewery’s Lagerfest when they’ll tap into their popular Buffalo Czech pilsner and their 2023 Heles brew (in addition to Oktoberfest, of course). All three days will feature live music and food: go Friday for Hank’s Down South BBQ and Tom Burgess, Saturday for Alaina’s Alehouse and the XTet, or Sunday for Gordito’s Snocones and Jake Wasson. Entry is free. See website for times. 141 Fairgrounds Rd., West Kingston, 401-314-8730, shaidzonbeer.com
2. Buttonwoods Brewery in Cranston is hosting its fifth annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 16. The day is packed from 1-8 p.m. with beer, food and throwback tunes with the Carson Daily RI. Entry is free. 530 Wellington Ave., Cranston, 401-563-8451, shop.buttonwoodsbrewery.com.
3. The City By the Sea is also getting in on the Oktoberfest action on Saturday, September 16, with the promise of authentic German beer, wine, food and live music inside the walls of historic Fort Adams. In addition to German staples Spaten, Paulaner, Ayinger and Weihenstephan, local brews from Ragged Island Brewing Co., Taproot Brewery and Rejects Beer Co. will also be on hand. Tickets include entry from 2 to 5:30 p.m. as well as a stein to be used for beer sampling, and can be purchased here. *Note: As this is an outdoor event, tickets sales have been suspended while the organizers monitor the path of Hurricane Lee. Learn more at newportoktoberfest.com.
4. Break out your finest Dirndl and Lederhosen for the Guild Pawtucket‘s annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 16, as the brewery will be offering prizes for best dressed. But if you don’t have any traditional German garb to don, no worries, you can still imbibe to your heart’s content, munch on some Bavarian bites, show off your strength in the stein hoisting competition and enjoy traditional German Oompah music by Tuba Frau and kick up your heels and dance with Future Dads RI. Entry is free. 461 Main St., Pawtucket, 401-724-1241, theguildri.com
5. Let the pups get a bite of the fun at the third annual Barktoberfest. Six Pack Brewing in Bristol is hosting a dog-friendly event on Saturday, September 23, from 1 to 9 p.m. with music from DCGracie, knackwurst and dogs from Not Another Food Truck, goodies from Wild Mutt Co. and the release of Hans & Franz, the brewery’s Festbier. They will also be giving away prizes to the humans who can beat the competition in the stein holding and boot chugging contests, and to the best-dressed pups and their owners. 87 Gooding Ave., Bristol, 401-200-8592, 6packbrewing.com
6. Narragansett Beer is throwing a three-day Oktoberfest bash Friday, September 29, to Sunday, October 1, at its Providence brewery. Back for a second year, the Oktoberfest weekend is promised to be even bigger with an authentic German menu for general admission and a traditional Oktoberfest feast in the VIP bier garten. partake in traditional Oktoberfest revelry with music from TubaFrau and Bavarian Bros on Saturday and Sunday and see who’s toughest in the daily stein-hoisting contests. Tickets are $10 for general admission on Friday (due to lack of music), $25 for general admission on Saturday and Sunday, $65 for VIP and $20 for designated drivers. All tickets come with a glass stein and a beer token. Tickets must be purchased in advance here. 271 Tockwotton St., Providence, 401-437-8970, narragansettbeer.com/pages/providencebrewery
7. Rejects Beer Co. in Middletown is hosting Rejects Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 1, from 2 to 7 p.m. Jam out on Saturday to live music by the Patsy Decline, the Edward Glenn Band, We Own Land, She Rides, and Salem Wolves. Or, on Sunday catch Los Duderinos, the Roland Highlife, the Smelltones and the McGunks. Reject’s seasonal Festbier, German bratwursts, kid games and food trucks will be available all weekend. Entry is free. 124 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, 401-619-8200, rejectsbeerco.com
8. Join the German American Club of Rhode Island for two full days of celebrating the Bavarian tradition of the Wies’n. The celebrations will take place Saturday, September 30 from 1 to 11 p.m., and Sunday, October 1 from noon to 5 p.m. and will include authentic German food and music as well as live music — be sure to keep up with the club on Instagram for vendor and entertainment announcements in the coming weeks. 78 Carter Ave., Pawtucket, gacsri.org/oktoberfest
8. On Sunday, October 8, Grey Sail is hosting their own Oktoberfest event with live music from the Vagabonds, Bavarian-inspired food from Vetrano’s Wood Fired and a hefty stein hoisting contest. On the brew end, visitors can expect to find Grey Sail’s fantastic fall lineup, including the Autumn Winds German malt, the Hop-toberfest (a collab with Heavy Seas Beer) and Rising Hope. 63 Canal St., Westerly, 401-212-7592, greysailbrewing.com
10. Durk’s BBQ-filled spin on Oktoberfest, Durktoberfest, returns for a second year outside its Downtown Providence address (with expanded patio seating) on Saturday, October 14, from 3 to 7 p.m. Head to Aborn Street for Oktoberfest-themed foods (think: sausages, German potato salad, saurkraut and house-made soft pretzels), a beer garden with bevvies provided by Moniker Brewery, live rock n’ roll by local musician Cody Nilson, giveaways and activities (let the kiddos know they can look forward to a bouncy house). Entry is free. 33 Aborn St. Providence, 401-563-8622, durksbbq.com
