Brisbaneโs Oktoberfest is a fun-filled festival of food, entertainment, rides, stalls and more for all the family to enjoy!
In Germany, Oktoberfest is a long-running tradition dating back to a wedding celebration in Bavaria in 1810. In the last decade, Oktoberfest Brisbane has grown and grown, and is now Australiaโs largest German Festival, with more than 40,000 visitors attending every year to experience the best of German culture and traditions.
This year, we visited Oktoberfest in Brisbane to see what all the fuss was about. What we discovered was that the Germans certainly know how to celebrate! In this authentic Bavarian and German celebration, you can expect delicious food, great family entertainment, thrilling rides and an awesome festival atmosphere. Read on to find out what you can see, taste and experience at this yearโs Oktoberfest, which runs on Friday 5thโSunday 7th & Friday 12thโSunday 14th October 2018.
The Food and Drinks
When we think of Oktoberfest, one of the first things that comes to mind is the unique foods and drinks on offer. This yearโs Oktoberfest does not disappoint. You will find a huge range of the finest, authentic German food and drinks on offer.
Of course, you will find all of the expected German specialities, such as schnitzel, bratwursts and sauerkraut. You can also sample long-time favourites like pork knuckle, hot potato dishes and freshly baked pretzels.
For something less well-known, you must try the German afternoon tea of โkaffee und kuchenโ (coffee and cake), consisting of coffee or tea and traditional German desserts such as apple strudel, bee sting cake, black forest gateau and chocolate tart. Delicious!
We also found great food stalls selling yummy treats like sugared nuts and waffles. Plus while adults may enjoy a trip to the Biergarten for the hand-crafted beers, there are also plenty of family-friendly drinks to enjoy, like soft drinks and refreshing iced teas.
(Note: All food stalls only accept wristband payment, so top off before you get too hungry!)
The Entertainment
There is a full program of entertainment on offer at Oktoberfest to keep everyone happy. You can check out the full schedule for each day of Oktoberfest here.
The Main Stage
On the Main Stage, you could see a Bavarian Oompah band, listen to a traditional yodeller, or see some spectacular traditional dancing with shoe-slapping and cowbell ringing aplenty. There is also the Beardmeister challenge for those with great facial hair, a Bavarian Strongmen challenge, German fashion parade and lovely choir performance.
The KinderStage
The KinderStage is the place to go for all the best kidsโ entertainment. You can see a FREE traditional German puppet theatre performance. There is also a reptile show and an acrobatic performance. Young children will love to sit and listen to the traditional German nursery rhymes and songs. And for kids aged around 2โ7, there is a great, interactive German workshop, where they can learn some basic German language skills.
Best of all, is the afternoon KinderDisco โโ a fun disco where kids can dance along to German hits and tunes, which is suitable for kids of all ages (and adults!) to get up and have a boogie.
The KinderZone
In the KinderZone, we found loads of fun things for kids to enjoy. There was a petting zoo with super cute baby animals to stroke. Thereโs a colouring corner. Nearby, youโll also find a Go-for-goal soccer challenge known as โTorwandschiessenโ, as well as face painting.
The Rides
Of course, one of the main attractions for kids at Oktoberfest is the rides! With FREE rides for everyone all day on the Fridays, and FREE rides for kids on the Sundays, this is an attraction not to be missed!
Our highlights were the dodgem cars, the jumping castle and the giant slide. For bigger kids, there is also the 360 Dance Party โ a brand new swing and spin thrill-ride. Another great ride is Flashdance, which is a high-speed track ride that is great for older kids and adults.
The Stalls
We discovered loads of great stalls at this yearโs Oktoberfest, selling a wide range of amazing German fare. As well as all of the food stalls, you can find traditional dress stalls, ice cones, iced teas, unique handcrafted goods, and a wide range of hats.
There is even a stall selling beautiful Christmas trinkets!
Oktoberfest is a cashless event, so just set up your digital wallet before you go, and it gets linked to your wristband on entry. Then all you have to do it tap and pay!
Oktoberfest Brisbane โ Our verdict
Oktoberfest Brisbane is definitely more than a beer festival for adults. It is also a fun day out for the whole family. You can watch shows, use up some energy with fun-filled rides, do some shopping and fuel up on amazing authentic German food. Kids will love all the sights and sounds of this fun festival, and will get to experience a different culture right here on their doorstep.
More Information
Oktoberfest Brisbane is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds from 5thโ7th October and 12thโ14th October 2018. It has the following operating hours:
- Friday 5th and 12th October: 4pm- midnight
- Saturday 6th and 13th October: 11am โ midnight
- Sunday 7th and 14th October : 11am โ 8pm
If visiting as a family, itโs great to get there first thing and enjoy shorter queues and a quieter atmosphere.
You can park at the showgrounds for $13 per day.
You can find out more about Oktoberfest Brisbane, and book your tickets at http://bit.ly/2N93fXo.
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