One of Fredericksburg's most popular festivals is returning for its 43rd year. Oktoberfest, slated for October 6 - 8, 2023, honors the town's rich German heritage with everything from oompah music, arts and crafts, shopping, a children's area, over 50 varieties of beer and wine, great food and plenty of fun. 

The celebration takes place on Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg Friday through Sunday. Gates are open from 6 p.m.- midnight on Friday, 10 a.m.- midnight on Saturday and from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. 

One of the best local tips for Oktoberfest is to utilize Oktoberfest Park & Ride. The service drops you off right at the gate after you park your car at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds. You can also buy admission tickets and food and drink tickets at the parking location to cut down on your time in line on the festival grounds.


Start planning

Oktoberfest is the largest festival of the year in Fredericksburg, and planning ahead is essential. Fredericksburg has plenty of lodging accommodations to choose from, with more than 1,500 vacation rentals and over 20 hotels and inns to choose from. Book early! 

Hotels & Lodging

Fredericksburg Texas is home to a variety of lodging options. From national hotel chains to locally...

Read More

RV Parks & Camping

Fredericksburg, Texas is home to many RV parks and campgrounds—most within minutes of historic...

Read More

Bed & Breakfasts / Guesthouses

Get ready to be treated to the ultimate in Texas Hill Country hospitality. Fredericksburg has more...

Read More

Hotels & Motels

Looking for hotels or motels for your next visit to Fredericksburg, Texas? From smaller locally...

Read More

Weekend activities

Kids at Marktplatz German Heritage

Oktoberfest weekend is packed with plenty of activities and fun for all ages. Live music will be played throughout the weekend on five separate stages. Schedules are subject to change. 

Friday

Kick off the weekend celebration with OkTUBAfest. The 13th annual event will take place from 5:45-6:15 p.m. inside the front gates. The event features tubas and euphoniums playing traditional German tunes. 

Meet the Shiner Brewmeister with a Keg Tapping at 6 p.m. Local brewery Altstadt Brewery will host a waltz contest at 8:30 p.m. More details to come.

Saturday

Start your morning off burning some calories and participating in the 14th Annual Oktoberfest Kraut Run. Hosted by the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club, the run benefits local literacy programs, and participants are treated to beer and sausage at the end of the race. 

Come shake your tail feathers at the Hauptstrasse Chicken Dance at 9 a.m. Show off your favorite chicken outfit or German costume. Find authentic German clothing and accessories here at these great Fredericksburg shops.

At 1 p.m., test your endurance in the Samuel Adams Stein Hoist. Meet the Altstadt Brewmeister with a Keg Tapping at 4 p.m. 

Sunday

Test your skills in the Real Estate Advisory Team 42 Tournament. Registration begins at noon and play begins at 1 p.m. Gather the family and show off your best Bavarian style in the Family Dirndl and Lederhosen Contest at 2:30 p.m. 

Schedule is subject to change.


Prost to great food!

Otto's German Bistro

Throughout the weekend there are plenty of choices to taste traditional German fare as well as classic Texas favorites. 

Vendors will be set up throughout the festival serving great options including bratwurst, German fried fries, jaeger schnitzel, potato pancakes, sausage wraps, German tacos, Reuben sandwiches and more! 

Fredericksburg is also home to great restaurants featuring everything from Hill Country cuisine, Tex-Mex, barbecue and casual eats. Discover the flavors of Fredericksburg

German

Fredericksburg, Texas is steeped in German history, so it’s no surprise that you can find some...

Read More

BBQ

Looking for legendary Texas bbq? Fredericksburg is home to some of the best bbq restaurants where...

Read More

Tex-Mex / Mexican

Tex-Mex and Mexican food are staples in the Texas Hill Country. From traditional Tex-Mex enchiladas...

Read More

Breakfast / Brunch

Pancakes, omelettes and decadent french toast are just the beginning of breakfast or brunch in...

Read More

Cold brews

				Oktoberfest Beer

Oktoberfest will have over 50 different varieties of domestic, import and Texas craft beer on tap! 

Find your favorite local beers (Altstadt) or Texas favorite Shiner to German imports from Spaten, Warsteiner and Paulaner. For those who like to stick close to home, there will be plenty of domestic imports as well as seasonal Oktoberfest beers.

Fredericksburg isn't just about the great beer, it's also home to Texas Wine Country. The area is home to over 100 wineries, more than 60 of which are located in Fredericksburg. Learn more about all the wineries Fredericksburg has to offer.

Breweries & Distilleries

Fredericksburg's German heritage has inspired a pair of award-winning breweries with the oldest...

Read More

Wineries

The Texas Hill Country is home to over 60 wineries and vineyards and Fredericksburg is the epicenter...

Read More

Urban Wine Trail

With more than 60 wineries in the Fredericksburg area, more than 30 wine tour companies, a wine...

Read More

Tours & Shuttles

Planning your wine tour in Texas Wine Country? No problem, there are more than 20 wine tour...

Read More

Things to do

A family on Fredericksburg, TX Main Street, with son riding a horse amusement ride

From festivals to outdoor excursions to shopping sprees to history, Fredericksburg has a large number of things to see and do. Whether you want to explore the beauty of the Texas Hill Country or get a head start on your holiday shopping, Fredericksburg has something for everyone. 

Can't visit for Oktoberfest? No worries! Fredericksburg is home to several major festivals and events throughout the year, special fall festivals and other holiday events

Outdoors

It’s no wonder people flock to the Texas Hill Country. The rolling hills, colorful wildflowers...

Read More

Shopping

Understandably, shopping is one of the primary reasons that visitors come to Fredericksburg....

Read More

Museums & History

Take a step back in time at one of our museums and historic sites. You can see how early...

Read More

Things To Do With Kids

If you’re visiting with little ones in tow, we’ve got them covered. Many of our parks...

Read More

Make the most of your time

Whether it's your first visit or you come every year, click below to start planning your visit, request free information and more! And, don't forget to start planning future visits. 

Reasons to Visit

Fredericksburg is the same great town at slower pace Sunday through Thursday. Take one midweek visit...

Read More

Visitor Center

When you arrive in Fredericksburg and Gillespie County, we invite you to make our Visitor...

Read More

Newsletter

Subscribe to the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau Monthly Newsletter. 

Read More