October brings a little extra fun to Arizona, and the state is ready to raise the stein in style. From alpine‑inspired block parties to brewery‑driven celebrations, Oktoberfests across the state blend Bavarian tradition with desert flair. Expect bratwurst, polka, stein‑holding contests, and plenty of local craft beer on tap. October is a month full of Bavarian tradition around the state — here are a few.
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Four Peaks Brewing Oktoberfest
The 53rd annual Four Peaks Brewing Oktoberfest is important to longtime volunteer Paul Sheard.
He began volunteering at the event 26 years ago, picking up trash. Sheard’s work paid off. Along with fellow volunteer Mike O’Hara, he co-produces the fundraiser, which will take place at Tempe Town Lake from Friday, Oct. 9, to Sunday, Oct. 12.
Open to all ages, Arizona’s Bavarian celebration features authentic German food, beer, carnival rides, games, dancing and entertainment. This year’s live music lineup will be headlined by Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels on Friday, Wyves on Saturday and Whiskey’s Quicker on Sunday, with additional performances throughout the weekend.
According to Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels lead singer, Jay Poole, the band leans into the joy of late ’70s and early ’80s yacht rock.
“You can expect a high-energy crowd singing along to everybody’s favorites from the late ’70s and early ’80s.”
For Poole, yacht rock’s resurgence comes down to joy.
“We’ll look out, and everybody’s united, everybody’s smiling, everybody’s singing along,” he said. “That exchange of energy means a lot to us.”
Last year, the band’s scheduled performance was rained out — but they still played an impromptu show the crew and volunteers.
“It was a super special moment for us,” he said. “Everybody had a blast.”
Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 9; noon to midnight Saturday, Oct. 10, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Admission starts at $25 per day; Sunday is free for everyone.
The Kinderfest area offers free activities for kids — box castles, painting, arts and crafts — plus additional paid attractions.
Guests will see the wiener dog races, brat-eating contest and the Four Peaks Brewing stein-holding competition. The Frank Kush Foundation’s Runnin’ for the Brats is Saturday, Oct. 10, with a 10K, 5K and 1-mile options. Oktoberfest costumes encouraged, and all runners are admitted for free on Saturday. Registration is open.
Sheard said the festival has grown dramatically. What once consisted of small, 21‑and‑over beer gardens has evolved into a sprawling, family-friendly celebration.
The Four Peaks Brewing is the event’s title sponsor, joined by key sponsor State Farm Insurance and new partner Paulaner Sunset, a popular German soft drink known as “Spezi.” Sheard called it “delicious.”
“We’re pretty excited to have a German brand out there,” he said.
At the Four Peaks Brewing Oktoberfest, beer is the “das tagesgetränk” (or “drink of the day”).
“We have Four Peaks beer at the event,” he said. “But we also have German beers from Spaten and Weihenstephaner, and wines from Copa di Vino [known for its single-serve, portable wine], seltzers from NÜTRL and canned cocktails from Cutwater.”
New this year are mocktails by Recess Zero Proof.
“It does true, nonalcoholic mocktails,” he said. “We’re really excited about that. There has been a huge decline in drinking alcohol, especially those 21 to 35, so we’re trying to provide other options.
“It’s not just a beer festival. It’s an Oktoberfest — it’s family-friendly.”
The annual fundraiser benefits Tempe Sister Cities, an internationally recognized nonprofit founded in 1970. Sheard spends his days volunteering with the organization.
Oktoberfest is Tempe Sister Cities’ largest fundraiser, covering roughly 90% of its annual operating expenses. It also takes an army to run — about 2,000 volunteers each year. The City of Tempe also plays a major role, supporting security, fire, police and parks operations.
Proceeds help send Tempe high school students to nine of the 11 cities in the Tempe Sister Cities program. The relationship with Regensburg, Germany, is the program’s longest-running partnership, dating back to 1978.
The nonprofit has 11 sister cities around the world — Skopje, North Macedonia; Regensburg Germany; Lower Hutt, New Zealand; Zhenjiang, China; Timbuktu, Mali; Beaulieu sur Mer, France; Carlow, Ireland; Cuenca, Ecuador; Cusco, Peru; Trollhättan, Sweden and Agra City, India.
To keep a “global, worldly” feel to the festival, the food options will go beyond German.
“We have Indian and Asian food options. This ties into the nonprofit’s motto: Bringing the world together, one friendship at a time.”
As an aside, Four Peaks Eighth Street Pub in Tempe will host live music by the German band Das Aubachtal Sextett from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Other Oktoberfests
During Dog Haus’ Oktoberfestival, the restaurant will serve the Prost platter, Paulaner Oktoberfest bier and host stein-holding contests in Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix and Gilbert.
The Prost platter has the Das Brat, one of Dog Haus’ signature menu items — a premium, all-natural pork bratwurst with caramelized onions, sauerkraut, spicy brown mustard and garlic aioli on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls. Eight Pretzel Bites round out the feast with cheese sauce plus garlic aioli and brown mustard for dipping.
At locations without beer service, the Prost platter comes with Das brat, pretzel bites and dipping sauces.
At beer-serving restaurants, guests can add a 16-ounce pint of Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, with an optional upgrade to a 32-ounce stein.
“Oktoberfest is a celebration Dog Haus always loves to play up, and this year we wanted to have some fun with it in a way that feels true to us,” said Hagop Giragossian, co-founder of Dog Haus.
“Das Brat and Pretzel Bites are two of the staples people already know, so bringing them together with dipping sauces and an Oktoberfest beer makes for a complete experience that feels right at home in the Biergarten. It has the familiar elements of Oktoberfest, but with the personality and culinary approach that make it Dog Haus.”
Sticking with the German theme, stein-holding contests will be featured. Each contest winner will receive a $50 Haus Rewards credit, valid through April 15.
Flagstaff Oktoberfest
The 17th annual Flagstaff Oktoberfest runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Wheeler Park, 212 W. Aspen Ave, Downtown Flagstaff. Tickets are $11.59. Kids 12 and younger are admitted for free.
Highlighted interactive activities include:
Weiner dog race: The tiny “hot dogs” dash down the track. Some of the pups are adoptable pets provided by High Country Humane.
Beer stein-hoisting contest: Contestants hold heavy steins filled with water without taking breaks. The contestant who holds his/her steins the longest wins. Prizes are awarded to the top three contestants. Each round has three heats with 10 people per round. Space is limited.
Satchmo’s brat-eating contest: Competitors eat as many brats — with bun — as they can in 3 minutes. Prizes are awarded to the top three competitors and all participants receive a Satchmo’s T-shirt. Space is limited.
Findlay Toyota Cram the Camry: Teams squeeze, stack and contort their way into a Toyota Camry.
Frozen T-shirt contest: Two-person teams scramble to thaw, stretch and wrestle a rock-solid frozen shirt onto a teammate. This year’s contest will feature five teams; the top three fastest teams will earn prizes.
To complement the selection of beer, cider, canned cocktails, and a non-alcoholic beer option, attendees can whet their appetites at six food vendors. In addition, the kid-friendly Kids Root Beer Garden will be serving free root beer floats while supplies last, compliments of Nackard Pepsi and Grand Canyon Railway.
Other notable attractions include a free photobooth thanks to Russ Lyon Realty; a playground with lawn games that; interactive vendor booths and opportunities to purchase Flagstaff Oktoberfest merchandise.
Musical entertainment is provided by the Flagstaff Klezmer Orkestra, The Flag 5, High ’90s Band and Mike Reeves Band.
Beyond the beer, brats and festivities, Flagstaff Oktoberfest has raised over $200,000 for numerous local nonprofits and causes over the last 16 years. One of the beneficiaries is the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation. Dedicated to the late founder of Flagstaff Oktoberfest, the foundation created a memorial fund in her honor.
