Photo courtesy of Swarmm Events
Stein hoisting contest- Milwaukee Oktoberfest
A stein hosting contest at Milwaukee Oktoberfest
In the '60s it took a mayor a plane across the ocean. This year it takes you $7.
Milwaukee Oktoberfest didn't start in a beer tent. It started when Mayor Henry Maier flew to Munich, drank and ate with strangers across long wooden tables, and came home determined to build a similar event in his city, Milwaukee. That place is the lakefront festival park that now carries his name — and on October 2–4, 2026, it becomes the closest thing to Bavaria on this side of the Atlantic.
Kegel's Inn, the West Allis landmark pouring and plating German hospitality since 1924, runs the kitchen. Swarmm Events, which has been producing this event in Milwaukee since 2010 runs the bar that includes Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner, imported from Munich. Brass bands, stein hoisting, and a wiener dog pageant handle everything else. Last year's crowd put away over 4,500 sausages and 1,800 pretzels, so Kegel's Inn and Swarmm Events have expanded the grounds this year — more food, more bars, more seating, more room at the table.
Mayor Maier needed a passport. You need a ticket.
Milwaukee Oktoberfest. October 2–4 at Henry Maier Festival Park. $7 advance, kids 10 and under free. VIP and table packages available.
What to Expect on the Lakefront
Photo courtesy Swarmm Events
Wiener Dog Beauty Contest - Milwaukee Oktoberfest
An entrant to Milwaukee Oktoberfest's wiener dog beauty contest
Last year's move to Henry Maier Festival Park drew a record crowd, so this year the festival gets bigger: a wider footprint, more seating, and more room to gather.
- Two stages, all weekend. Live music and dancing across the Mid Gate area at the Leinenkugel's Main Stage and the Gruber Law Stage — brass bands, folk dancers, and German cultural performances from open to close.
- Beer from Munich and from down the street. Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, and Paulaner on the tap lines, alongside Kegel-Brau, Leinenkugel's, and German styles from local breweries. Also German wines, Old Fashioneds, Jägermeister, and plenty of non-alcoholic options.
- Kegel's Inn in the kitchen. Currywurst, goulash, sauerbraten, pork shanks, pretzels, and desserts — the recipes a West Allis family has been serving since 1924.
- Contests worth entering. Stein hoisting, Miss Oktoberfest, and the wiener dog beauty pageant.
- A marketplace to wander. Local makers, German goods, and cultural performances throughout the grounds.
- Room for the whole family. The Northwestern Mutual Children's Playground, interactive music activities, and food that even picky eaters will eat. Kids 10 and under get in free.
Getting In
General admission is $7 online through September 30, or $12 at the gate. VIP packages and reserved pavilion tables are available separately in advance. Kids 10 and under are free all weekend. Seniors 65+ and veterans get in free before 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with ID, and the gates are open to everyone at no charge from 11 a.m. to noon on both days — walk in free, stay as long as you like.
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A Festival for Everyone
"This festival belongs to Milwaukee," said Julian Kegel of Kegel's Inn. "For more than a century, our family has shared German hospitality from our home in West Allis. Now we're taking that spirit to the lakefront, where generations can raise a stein together. Authentic beer, timeless traditions, and Milwaukee hospitality — everyone is welcome at this table."
Plan Your Oktoberfest
Milwaukee Oktoberfest runs October 2–4, 2026 at Henry Maier Festival Park.
- Friday 4–10 p.m. ·
- Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. ·
- Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
The grounds are cashless; cards only, with cash-to-gift-card conversion on site.
Tickets, vendor applications, and volunteer opportunities: milwaukeeoktoberfest.com
