September and October mean it’s time for Oktoberfest! If you like themed festivals, beer, German food and fun, you should check out one of the fun Oktoberfests happening at the family-friendly breweries around the area.
These breweries all kid-friendly, with lots of space to run or play areas.
Since this is a celebration that features a lot of beer, make sure you have your designated driver figured out before you go!
In This Post
Austin Oktoberfests on September 20-22
Live Oak Brewing
Friday 9/20 at 5 pm – Sunday 9/22 at 10 pm
Live Oak is holding its 27th annual Oaktoberfest this year! They have an awesome German food truck year round, so you know the Oktoberfest food will be great. There’s steinhoisting and live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday (9/20-9/22).
This brewery is a favorite for meeting our group of friends. There’s room for the kids to run around, shade trees, and a popular disc golf course.
Fitzhugh Brewing
Saturday 9/21
Enjoy fun, music and games on Saturday, September 21. There will be stein holding, keg rolling and pretzel eating contests with prizes, and the Austin Polka Band will be playing from 2-4 pm.
The kids can run around and play on Fitzhugh’s cute playscape with climbing and slides.
Vista Brewing
Saturday 9/21
Vista’s got a five-beer Oktoberfest flight plus a German menu to go with it. There are men, women and children’s steinholding categories (and you can qualify for the Texas Steinholding State Championship Finals at Wurstfest) — must pre-register. You can also play hammerschlagen where you can compete with others to drive nails into a barrel.
Free entry. Family and dog friendly. Vista has a nice treehouse playground (and it’s in a separate area from the main area of the brewery so kids can have fun without disturbing non-kid groups!).
Austin Oktoberfests on September 27-29
Frontyard Brewing
Saturday 9/28 – Sunday 9/29
Two weekends of Oktoberfest at Frontyard Brewing! Head to Spicewood for games, live music, limited-edition beer, and open area for the kids to run around. I love the view out at Frontyard too.
Meanwhile Brewing
Polka bands, Oktoberfest lager, games and food! Head to Meanwhile for a weekend of Oktoberfest fun and limited merch.
Meanwhile of course has lots of shade from the cedar trees, a soccer field, and a playground!
Day 1 schedule | Day 2 schedule | Day 3 schedule
St. Elmo Brewing
St. Elmo South is hosting an Oktoberfest party from 12-8 pm on September 28, with live polka music, German-inspired food from their food trucks, and steinhoisting.
St. Elmo has a play area with an former Fortlandia fort to climb on.
Suds Monkey Brewing
Oktoberfest kicks off on Friday night with a petting zoo, visit from the fire department, live music and stein holding! Saturday has more music and steinholding, plus painting with goats and music bingo.
Suds Monkey has a playscape with balance beams, a little jeep and more.
The Good Lot
We always have the best time at The Good Lot — turf, shade trees, and a fun playscape. Oktoberfest features live music, steinholding and food specials.
12 Fox Brewing
Head out to the Hill Country for two weekends of Oktoberfest at 12 Fox! There’s a costume contest for your authentic German wear, artisan market, and German food.
12 Fox has a big castle-like playscape and space to run.
Austin Oktoberfests on October 5-6
Frontyard Brewing
The second weekend of Oktoberfest at Frontyard Brewing! Head to Spicewood for games, live music, limited-edition beer, and open area for the kids to run around.
Ghost Note Brewing
Take a trip out to Ghost Note for Oktoberfest food, beer, music and games! Test out your steinholding skills in the competition, which is a US Steinholding qualifier.
Ghost Note has a ton of space and a playscape made by the brewery-playground guy Chris Levack.
12 Fox Brewing
Head out to the Hill Country for two weekends of Oktoberfest at 12 Fox! There’s a costume contest for your authentic German wear, artisan market, and German food.
12 Fox has a big castle-like playscape and space to run.
Austin Oktoberfest on October 12
Slackers Brewing
If it’s still hot out, you might like an Oktoberfest at an indoor brewery (with an indoor play area for the kids, and plenty of board games). Check out Slacktoberfest for a chill place to celebrate. There will be coloring sheets, paint your own pumpkin, steinholding and polka music.
These aren’t the only breweries with playgrounds in town; Austin has a ton!
If Oktoberfest isn’t your kind of fall activity, check out the other fall events happening around town.