Prost! A Roundup of Oktoberfest Happenings in the DMV

By Susan Able, Edible DC

It’s time for Oktoberfest! The origins of the celebrations go back to October 12, 1810, when King Ludwig I (reign: 1825–1848), married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities which included horse racing, dancing, singing and of course, beer drinking. It was so popular, it became an annual event.

Flash forward a couple of hundred years, and you can take part in local Oktoberfest happenings around the DMV. Feel like getting out for an in-person event or take-out for your own fest at home? We’ve got options.

The large yard at Guinness Open Gate Brewery will be transformed into an outdoor German Beer garden during their Oktoberfest celebration.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery

Just a few minutes from BWI, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery is hosting its second annual Oktoberfest celebration with traditional German festivities, during back-to-back weekends from Friday, September 25 through 27 and October 2 through 4. The brewing team will tap two Oktoberfest-themed beers: Festbier is a modern take on a traditional German Festival Beer, returning on draft and as a special small-batched can release and Dunkel Lager will return as a draft-only release, made with all German malts and hops at a 5% ABV. Both beers are available exclusively at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery on tap and in cans for purchase on-site or curbside pickup. 

The Open Gate Brewery’s outdoor lawn will be transformed into an open-air German Beer Hall filled with harvest decor, festive attire and specialty beer steins. Guests will enjoy a special Oktoberfest menu and live music each Saturday from a local oompah band. Attendees have the option of ordering food from the Guinness food truck, table staff or taproom inside the brewery. Speciality food items include bavarian pretzel with blonde beer cheese, knockwurst, bauernwurst, apple strudel and cheesecake bars. No ticket required for entry.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery, 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, MD 21227 | Open Thursday 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Friday 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM.

Stable DC, H Street NE, Washington DC

DC’s favorite Swiss restaurant has created some delicious take-home options for Oktoberfesting at home, including their famous fondue. Stable co-owners Silvan Kraemer and David Fritsche are ensuring guests can enjoy their cold weather comforts at home with seasonal to-go packages, new fall cocktails, and pumpkins for sale, starting Thursday, September 24.

Stable At-Home Packages:
The Vineyard Picnic Package ($39) 1 Landjäger (semi-dried sausage) with mustard, cornichons and pearl onions, 1 weekly cheese pick from Switzerland, 1 Speck (Alto Adige, Italy), 1 Wurzel Brot and 2 Berliners (Swiss-style doughnuts filled with jam.)
The Fondue Package ($79 or $42 without wine and Kirsch) 1 Stable fondue cheese mix for 2 people (includes wine for cooking), 1 Fondue bread, 1 serving of Kirsch (Swiss cherry firewater, a liquor often used in or enjoyed with fondue) and 1 bottle of Renaissance Fendant (Chasselas, Valais, Switzerland.)
The Oktoberfest Package ($37 or $22 without beer) 2 Weisswurst (uncooked, traditional Bavarian sausage), 2 Homemade Pretzels, sweet and regular mustard, sauerkraut and 4 bottles of German beer.

Guests can order online at www.stabledc.com or by calling (202) 733-4604. Stable is located at 1324 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. For more information, please visit www.stabledc.com or call (202) 733-4604.

Capitol Riverfront Oktoberfest Crawl

Oktoberfest may be socially distant this year, but the Capitol Riverfront Oktoberfest Crawl is an option for celebrating with favorite local restaurants. The first annual Capitol Riverfront Oktoberfest Crawl was created to be a fun way for the community to try all of the fall flavors the neighborhood has to offer, support local hotspots, and win prizes along the way.

From September 19th to October 4th, foodies are invited to work their way around the neighborhood according to the Oktoberfest Crawl "punch card" (above) to enjoy fall menu items like hot gingersnap coffee, pumpkin cheesecake and Hill House Fest Lager. \

How to play? (1) Order any of the featured Oktoberfest Crawl menu items (2) Take a photo of the special, post it on your Instagram Story, and tag @CapitolRiverfront + the restaurant (3) Keep playing until you've gotten them all! The more restaurants you visit, the more chances you have of winning; each photo gets you one entry into a random drawing for a $50 gift card (4 up for grabs) each week of Oktoberfest. For those feeling extra competitive: Enjoy 10 or more of the featured items to be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $200 gift card!

For more information, contact www.capitolriverfront.org. For a complete list of places to eat and drink in the area, go here.

Dacha Beer Garden, Navy Yard and Shaw

Ready for a DACHNiK? A DACHNiK is a standard growler filled with fresh Fest Bier (retail value $25), one exclusive Dacha Oktoberfest t-shirt (retail value $25), a signature Das Boot drinking glass (retail value $25), and a complete Dacha Oktoberfest Feast: sausages, pretzels, obatzda, etc. (retail value $100). Delivered to your home through GrubHub and Postmates. Festivities at Dacha Shaw and Dacha Navy Yard beer gardens kicked off last weekend with a traditional cask tapping with Fest Beer from the oldest brewery in the world, Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan.  The Fest Beer will be on tap throughout Dacha’s Oktoberfest celebrations. To order a DACHNiK, go here.

Dacha Beer Garden, 1600 7th St NW, Washington, DC | Dacha Navy Yard, 79 Potomac Ave., SE

The DACHNiK Package, a to-go order from Dacha Beer Garden.

Private cabanas for rent at Wunder Garten in NOMA.

Wunder Garten, NOMA

Wunder Garten in NOMA is holding its 6th annual Oktoberfest will take place through Oct. 18 on the weekends. It’s an experience chock-full of German food, music, contests, décor, and lots of beer. Guests will sip on beers in the Märzen-style hailing from Bavaria as well as the best Oktoberfest brews from local and regional breweries. Award winner, The Federalist Pig, will provide an authentic pig-roast every Friday. A Bavarian delicatessen and Caliburger and La Buena Empanadas, will offer additional fare.

What about Fido? Dogtoberfest returns to the festivities every Sunday from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m. with a guest appearance by Woof Bowl “Food Truck for Dogs” on Sunday, October 11 and October 18. Dogs and (their hoomans) are encouraged to dress up for the events.

The best part? You can rent an adorable cabana for yourself and 5 friends or family members. Go here to make a reservation. Otherwise, all tables will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to 6 people.

Wunder Garten, 1101 First St NE, Washington, DC.

Trummer’s on Main, Clifton, VA

Victoria and Stefan Trummer are happy to welcome guests to their annual TrummerFest Party even though this year it will be a little different and perhaps a little smaller. As always the food will be as delicious as ever served right on your socially distanced table! Due to the limits in tables we recommend reserving now.

The menu includes House Made Pretzels with Liptauer Cheese Spread, Butter Lettuce Salad with Pumpkin Seed Oil and Radish, Your Choice of Entree: Pork Wiener Schnitzel or Braised Beef Goulash both served with cheese spatzle and parsley potatoes. For dessert pastry chef Meagan will be served her Austrian Sachertorte! Austrian Wine and Beer is available to pre-order. Additional drinks can be ordered at the table.

Live accordian music will be played by Austrian native, Silvia Eberly.

Trummer’s on Main, 7134 Main St, Clifton, VA.

Flamant, Annapolis, MD

One of Annapolis’ best restaurants, Flamant, is hosting an outdoor patio Oktoberfest-ival next Wednesday, Sept. 30. Oktoberfest on the Patio, from 4PM-9PM. Bring the entire family to enjoy traditional Oktoberfest flavors like pretzels, sausages, and beer. There will be plenty of seating in the new enclosed patio and in the outside areas. Service is first-come, first-served, no reservations required.

Also, Flamant's Wednesday Night Family Pop Up will be themed with Oktoberfest. With favorites like beer, pretzels, and bratwurst.  Order here, pick up Wednesday at Flamant from 5PM-6PM.

Flamant, 17 Annapolis Street, Annapolis, MD