Even if you can’t make it to Munich, you can still celebrate! Plan an Oktoberfest Party at home with these Oktoberfest Theme Party Ideas! All you need is Beer, food music and some fun Oktoberfst party supplies/ decorations to get everyone in the mood!
You can go big… and rent a tent, hire a band, and tap a keg or two…. Or go a little smaller… decorate the patio, put in some CDs and bring in a case of beer. Either way, your guests are sure to appreciate the German Gemuetlichkeit. Traditionally Oktoberfest begins in September and runs the 16 days before the first Sunday in October, but if it’s your party, you can have it any time you want!
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What is Oktoberfest?
A little history first to put the celebration into perspective… In October of 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. All Bavarians were invited to celebrate with Festivities (mostly horse racing) in the Theresenwiese (a meadow renamed for the event). It was so popular, that they celebrated again the next year! and the next…. and the next. (The powers that organize these things made the wise decision to move the event to September, to take advantage of better weather).…. Except for years of War or Global Pandemic, Oktoberfest has been celebrated every year since then. Read more about Oktoberfest HERE
Plan An Oktoberfest Party
Begin by planning out how many people you want to invite. Is it going to be a large party? Or a smaller more intimate gathering of friends? This way you can figure out if you need to rent tables and chairs, set up a tent, or just use the furniture you have. Remember, if you have to rent or buy furniture, you want to have that arranged well in advance! Also, if it’s a bigger party, you may consider hiring some help… either a professional caterer or a few teenagers who need money.
Oktoberfest Theme Party Ideas
An Oktoberfest Arch of Balloons and Bunting is a GREAT way to welcome guests!
This kit comes loaded with LOADS of balloons! Including 2 shiny balloons with beer and pretzel decorations. All of the balloons need inflating, get the The Pretzel Balloons need twisting!!
Bunting and Signs … Balloons and Bunting… These decoration packs are a one stop shop!
Oktoberfest Invitation Ideas
Send out invitations early, these digital downloads make printing up those invites EASY. Get those RSVPs! Let people know what sort of party it is… whether you are inside, or out in a beer garden.
Bier Tent? Biergarten?
If you have the space… and a lot of friends… a Bier Tent might be a fun way to get everyone in the mood (and keep your party from being rained out!). Decorate the tent with Blue and White banners to give it an authentic look. If you don’t want to set up a tent… how about re-creating a Biergarten? Tables with benches on either side make the space feel like Germany. You can cover the tables with a blue and white checked cloth, and even some fun centerpieces.
These tables fold down nicely, so you can pack them away for next year.
Beer (What Many Consider the Centerpiece of all Oktoberfests)
and other Drinks..
In Munich, only beer brewed within the city limits is allowed to be served at Oktoberfest. This limits the offereings to Augustiner, Hacker-schorr, Hofbräu,Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten. Of these, only Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Paulaner and Spaten Oktoberfestbier are shipped to the United States. Now… how authentic you want to be depends on you (and your budget). If there is a brew that you and your friends prefer, by all means, serve it! If you can get a keg… wonderful! But if all you can find are bottles, that’s fine too. (Find out more about Oktoberfest Beer here)
Serve the Beer in liter Steins… or something smaller. This is also a great time to show off your Stein collection. Let people bring their own if they want! Worried about breakage? The 8oz plastic version will keep your fabulous collection safe.
Keep it Cool!!!
Whether you serve beer or soda… you want to keep it cool.
(or you can just fill the inflatable mug with a LOT of beer… and use a straw.)
Don’t forget the Koozies! They keep the beer cool, and the hand dry.
For non-Beer Drinkers, prepare a Bowle or Radler
Germans LOVE to mix up their drinks… yes, they even mix soda or juice with beer! (don’t scoff, it’s delicious!)
Bowle a sort of punch made with wine or beer and fruit.
Radler a mix of soda/lemonade and beer. This refreshing beer mix is perfect for people who aren’t sure they like beer… or maybe they just want to drink their beer half as fast.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Serve Sodas like Fanta or mix up some Apfel Schorle (a carbonated apple juice)
For more German Mixed Drink ideas Click HERE–>German Mixed Drinks
Get some Oktoberfest Food Menu Ideas Here
What are the Traditional foods served at Oktoberfest?
Get free shipping from the Bavarian Pretzel Company when you use the coupon code GGIA
read my review here-> Bavarian Pretzel Company
(click the names to get the recipes!)
Pretzels…. Big, thick and delicious Pretzels, perfect for soaking up beer!
Obatzda.… cheese spread
Brathandel/ Roasted Chicken... In Munich you get Half a Chicken! You can cut it smaller
Steckerlfisch… Grilled fish on a stick
Schweinehaxe... Ham Hock
Sausage–Nurenburger Bratwurst, Thuringer, Weisswurst or Knackwurst… easy and delicious! And don’t forget the mustard!
Brat Kartoffel / Fried Potatoes… crispy and good
Knoedel... potato or bread dumplings
Kaese Spaetzele…. a cheesy noodle dish
Kartoffel Salat / German Potato Salad.… cold or warm
Sauerkraut…. perfect with sausages- Don’t just serve it straight from the Jar! Drain it, rinse it a bit, then cook it on the stove top with a little (ok, a lot) of White Wine, bacon and some cloves.
Rotkohl or Blaukraut / Red Cabbage... warm and tangy. You can even make it cold as a salad.
Apfel Strudel…. Apple Streudel
Apfel Kuchen.… Apple Cake
Oktoberfest COOKIES
Don’t forget the Lebkuchen Hearts! These decorated Gingerbread Cookies are not only decorative, they taste good! The decorated sugar cookies make great dessert…and a nice party favor.
For More Recipes-
The Oktoberfest Cookbook is Pure Oktoberfest Cooking…. for a wider range of German Recipes, including many Oktoberfest Foods, check out my Easy German Cookbook.
Oktoberfest Party Supplies/Decorations
Cheap Oktoberfest Decorations-
Oktoberfest is a very Bavarian tradition, so stick with the Blue and White Checkerboard colors. Banners, tablecloths and napkins would set the scene well. You don’t have to break the bank… these cheap Oktoberfest Decorations will make the space look festive at low cost.
German Shop 24 carries decorations, and some delicious German Oktoberfest snacks!
Oktoberfest Music CDs-
Happy German Festival music is ideal for your home Oktoberfest! If your party is big enough, hire a local band to play (but be sure to hire them early, German bands are in high demand this time of year) Otherwise, stock up on a few CDs of party music, both in English and German. Click HERE –> for the Most Popular Oktoberfest Songs
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Don’t forget!!!
Every 30 minutes you want the whole group to stand up and sing “Ein Prosit!” then drink
“Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit.”
“Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit.”
“Oins, zwoi, drei g’suffa!”
“Prost!”
Oktoberfest Party Game Ideas
When hosting your own Oktoberfest, be sure to include fun games and activities… for the kids, and the young at heart.
Standard backyard carnival games are appropriate … especially if you have kids present. Put out a Cornhole game or Ring Toss. We love Indiaca at our house, but it might be too active for drinkers…. (great for kids though)
Some good Oktoberfest contests-
- Line everyone up. Each participant is given a Stein full of beer, and must hold it out straight in front of them. The last one able to hold the beer up (without bending the arm) WINS.
Stein Relay Race
- Set up a race track… maybe add an obstacle or two. Divide the participants into teams. Each team gets a Stein of Beer (or water if you don’t trust them with good beer). This is a relay race, so the first person on each team takes off and goes around the obstacle, while holding the stein. When they come back to the start, the next person on their team goes. The team who goes fastest, but spills the least beer, WINS.
Oktoberfest Trivia and Write in Games
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- Test everyone’s knowledge of Oktoberfest Trivia! Did you know that Oktoberfest started as a wedding party?
- Fun points game for Oktoberfest Party Guests.
- Downloadable PDFs mean you can print these up RIGHT NOW!
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Oktoberfest Photo Booth
An Oktoberfest Photo Booth is an easy thing to set up, and it’s sure to be a hit with the crowd. Just put up an Oktoberfest Photo backdrop, add a few of these props, and let everyone take photos! Order them already printed… or download at the last minute!
In a rush? Print them up yourself!
Oktoberfest Clothes
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Dirndls from Rare Dirndl… in fact I have 4 of them in my closet…
Bavaria Trachten makes Lederhosen for Men AND Women! Plus you get a 10% Discount when you use the coupon code GERMANGIRL!
You could provide hats for guests to wear…. both serious and silly. Beads and Pins make a fun-take home gift for your party.
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Above all… Oktoberfest is meant to be FUN! Have a party that you and your friends enjoy! You don’t have to have the most fabulous space… it doesn’t have to be huge. People love to come together and celebrate…
If you invite them, they will come!
