WILMINGTON — It’s the time of year when it’s acceptable to party in lederhosen overalls and 19th-century Bavarian felt hats while chugging German lagers from giant mugs.
And, as a beer-loving city, Wilmington takes Oktoberfest seriously.
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Festivities kick off Saturday in a large tent outside Waterline Brewing Company for the fourth annual Oktoberfest Under the Bridge. Brand manager Mark Anthony Mueller said they’ve brewed 30 barrels of their Oktoberfest beer in preparation, and the Harbourtown Fest band will be playing Oompah music on their usual October travels around the region playing for beer and donations.
Mueller said the stein-holding competition is one of the festival’s most popular attractions, starring a few of his teammates from the Cape Fear Rugby Club and a downtown restaurant owner.
“The Stein Holding Contest continues to grow every year,” Mueller said. “Last year it came down to a few Cape Fear Rugby players and Wes, the monster of a man that is owner of Rebellion, NC.”
One of Mueller’s favorites is the Best Stein competition, where contestants stand up on the brew stand overlooking the brewhouse and tell stories of how they came across their favorite stein mug.
“One of our favorite winners was an older gentleman who had an authentic German ceramic stein with an engraving of a woman at the bottom waiting for the drinker to finish up,” Mueller said.
The true two-week Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Germany every year and runs from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. But as is common in American renditions of the enormous festival (in 2010, an estimated 6.4 million visitors drank 7 million liters of beer), most Oktoberfest parties in Wilmington are held throughout the month of October.
Following Saturday’s event, the Ogden Tap Room will host the Wilmington Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 19 and then Edward Teach will host the Halfway There Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 21.
The events will feature stein-holding competitions, grain sack throwing contests, drinking games, wiener dog races, costume competitions, and obviously plenty of Oktoberfest beer consumption. More details of each event can be found below.
Oktoberfest Under the Bridge
- When: Saturday, October 5 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Where: Waterline Brewing Company (721 Surry St.)
- Details: Facebook event page
The Fourth Annual Oktoberfest Under the Bridge will feature an Oompah band, games (including a Stein Holding Competition, Most Festively Dressed, Best Home Brought Beerstein, Fizzy Bat, and Flip Cup), and food trucks serving German food throughout the day.
The food truck lineup includes: 2 Bros Coastal Cuisine (1 p.m.), A&M’s Red (1 p.m.), Little Chef (1 p.m.), Cofton’s Pretzels (1 p.m.), and Bill’s (6 p.m.).
The Harbour Towne Fest Band will play from 1 to 6 p.m.
Wilmington Oktoberfest at the Ogden Tap Room
- When: Saturday, October 19 from 11 a.m. — 11 p.m.
- Where: Ogden Tap Room (7324 Market St.)
- Details: Facebook event page
The 18th Annual Wilmington Oktoberfest will be hosted again at the Ogden Tap Room with authentic German beer and brats, live music from the Harboure Towne Fest Band, bouncy houses for the kids, and the popular Wiener dog races.
Wilmington Oktoberfest at the Palate
- When: Saturday, October 12 from noon to 8 p.m.
- Where: Palate (1007 N. 4th St.)
- Details: Facebook event page
The Third Annual Wilmington Oktoberfest at Palate will include German food, liters of Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, and the 17-piece Little German Band & Dancers.
