It’s Oktoberfest season and it’s not hard to find a festival if you are looking for one.
But not Oktoberfests are created equally
Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest, held each year in Newark, has been honored in the USA TODAY 10BEST Reader’s Choice Awards as one of the top Oktoberfests in the nation.
All the fall festivals on the 10BEST list were nominated by an expert panel and voted on by USATODAY readers.
Readers chose Saengerbund as the fourth best Oktoberfest in the country.
To see the rest of the festivals that made the list, visit 10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-oktoberfest/
What is an Oktoberfest?
Held in early fall, Oktoberfests are events that celebrate the season with a style of beer of the same name brewed for the occasion, as well as a whole lot of festival fun.
The concept originated in Munich, Germany, where the world’s largest Oktoberfest is still held every year.
Traditionally, Oktoberfests are held from mid-September to the first Sunday in October, though the beers that bear that name may appear on taps sooner. Oktoberfest brews usually begin to make way for winter ales and other seasonals by Halloween.
USA TODAY 10Best judges say of the Newark event: “The Delaware Saengerbund invites you to their weekend celebration of Bavarian culture, food, and — of course — beer.
“The festival opens on a Friday with the traditional parade and tapping of the first keg ceremony. Be sure to bring your appetite and feast on traditional German festival food while enjoying performances by the Saengerbund’s award winning Enzian Volkstanzgruppe (the in-house Bavarian dance group). Dance the night away to tunes by local German bands, and round out your festival thrills with midway games and unlimited amusement rides.”
More fall fun: 11 tasty Delaware food & beer festivals for fall 2025
When is Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest?
Revelers will get their fix of bratwurst and potato pancakes at Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest, the state’s premier Oktoberfest event. It runs Sept. 19 to 21.
The three-day event opens with a parade at 7 p.m. Other festivities over the weekend include German cuisine like Weisswurst (veal sausage), potato salad, Rollmops (marinated herring serving with bread), plum cake and other dishes.
There will be amusement rides (admission into the fest gives unlimited rides), Bavarian dance group the Enzian Volkstanzgruppe, imported gifts and souvenirs for purchase, and more fun at Oktoberfest.