Welcome Fall with Oktoberfest in the Park!

Last updated: May 16, 2023

Crisp, cool weather. Vibrant autumn foliage. Fall is almost here, and with it comes a Mercer County celebration fit for the season.

Bluefield’s third annual Oktoberfest in the Park celebrates fall tradition with craft beer and cider, food trucks, and music at Lotito City Park.

The history of Oktoberfest
What started as a wedding celebration for the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and the Saxon-Hildburghausen Princess Therese has turned into a worldwide event. During the first Oktoberfest in 1810, the citizens of Munich were invited to a five day celebration for the newly married prince and princess in front of the city gates, and the main event was a horse race.

As the years passed, Oktoberfest became increasingly more elaborate, eventually including more entertainment such as agricultural shows, carnival rides, and, you guessed it, beer halls.

While the first Oktoberfest took place on October 12th, the festival was moved to the end of September to allow for better weather conditions.

Beer, bites, and more
Now let’s talk about what this Oktoberfest is all about: the beer! Sample craft beer from breweries across the United States such as Bold Rock Cider, Starr Hill Brewing, Pale Fire, Blue Mountain Brewery, South Street, Devil’s Backbone, and Chaos Mountain.

This year’s event features 8 tents with 16 beer selections and 1 trailer with 5 beer selections. Keep it traditional with Oktoberfest-style lagers from Blue Mountain and Devil’s Backbone, or try something new with Bold Rock’s Blood Orange hard cider. For domestic lovers, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra will also be available. But you won’t have to pick and choose which beers you want to try – tickets include unlimited samples!

There’s no shortage of dining options, either. Food trucks will be serving up delicious meals all evening long. Tantalize your taste buds with authentic German cuisine, burgers, pasta, and much more.

Dance the night away with Sauerkraut Band, a 13-piece band from Roanoke, Virginia that specializes in German music. They’ll perform throughout the event, so you’ll have several opportunities to dance (or just listen).

The details
Oktoberfest in the Park begins at 3 p.m. on September 29. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate and include unlimited tastings, but you must be 21 or older to sample any alcoholic beverages.

If your crew is planning to thoroughly enjoy Oktoberfest, take a shuttle! Shuttles from local hotels will be available throughout the day – call us for the schedule.

What are you most looking forward to about Oktoberfest in the Park? Prost!