Finally it's that time again and it's Oktoberfest time ! Just because you might not be in Munich right now doesn't mean you can't celebrate this festival natively! Americans love this German culture and New York has several Oktoberfest parties on offer. Almost every German bar and restaurant has special Oktoberfest offers at this time with freshly tapped German beer, pretzels and whatever else goes with it. Below we will introduce you to two great and well-known places in New York where you can celebrate Oktoberfest very nicely. In addition to the Oktoberfest beer, you will also find many people wearing traditional Bavarian costumes in the form of dirndls or lederhosen .
Oktoberfest NY – Watermark Bar
One of the most famous and popular events takes place outdoors and not, as one might expect, in a restaurant or bar. It is a festival called “ OktoberFest NYC ”. It takes place every weekend from September 15th to October 2nd. The organizer is the “ Watermark Bar ”, which provides many great events for the whole family. In addition to the traditional Oktoberfest music and the delicious Bavarian food, there is always a beer stein lifting competition. As already said, you are very welcome to wear your dirndle or your lederhosen here. The festival address is: Pier 15 at 78th South Street, New York, NY 10038 . You can order tickets online in advance. This is highly recommended as the event is usually fully booked. The tickets are free, although you can also order them directly with drinks and food packages, which then incur a corresponding fee. You should reserve a table in advance. In addition to the great Oktoberfest atmosphere, you can also enjoy a great view of the city here. Try it out. :)
Zum Schneider—The Munich on the East River
Zum Schneider - This is probably the most famous German beer garden, which operates two different locations in New York. The Manhattan address is: 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East New York, NY 10010 . The second location is on Long Island in the Hamptons and can only be reached from Manhattan by several hours by train or car. The “ Zum Schneider ” is run by Germans and is considered the most authentic Oktoberfest in New York. On Saturday, September 23rd, the warm-up party for Oktoberfest will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Entry is free and as already described there are many Bavarian imports, such as the delicious Oktoberfest beer.
The big Oktoberfest events will take place here from September 29th, 2017 to October 8th, 2017. A large tent has been set up next to the actual beer garden for this time. During the week the party takes place there from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., although you can take part in the “after show party” in the restaurant afterwards. On weekends the party starts at 12:00 noon and goes until 10:00 p.m. and on Sundays until 8:00 p.m. However, on these weekends you have to pay entrance fee for the tent. Prices range from $28 to $100 and you'll need to budget extra money for food and drinks. Here too, tickets often sell out quickly. Wearing a dirndl or lederhosen is an absolute must at these events.
A video so you can get some impressions of the Oktoberfest from “Zum Schneider's”. :)
A few more notes:
- It is not permitted to bring a large backpack or other large bags
- If you reserve a table on the weekend, this is possible at two times: 12:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and from 5:15 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reservations are taken very strictly and you will be asked to leave the table once you have reserved the first time.
- Once you leave the festival grounds , you won't be able to get back in
- Smoking is not permitted in the tent.
One last tip: If you like our suggestions but are unfortunately already fully booked for the period you want, then enter your New York zip code, “ German Bar ” and “ Oktoberfest ” into Google. With the help of Yelp, you can find many more events to celebrate this festival here.
We wish you a great Oktoberfest time! :)