Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia

oktoberfest helen georgiaSeptember - October 

Helen Festhalle
1074 Edelweiss Dr, Helen, Ga
(706) 878-1908
 

The Longest Running Oktoberfest!

Beer, brats, bands and Lederhosen - the Helen Oktoberfest has them all.  Join the longest running Oktoberfest in the United States!  There’s beer, delicious German food, dancing and lots of fun activities to indulge in - the Oktoberfest parade, tour groups and games and activities for the entire family - but the highlight is music, which includes enjoyable performances by German bands from around the country and around the world for your listening and viewing pleasure.  Sponsored by the Helen Chamber of Commerce.


Schedule of Events

The 2023 Oktoberfest Parade will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023. The parade starts at 12:00 PM. Immediatley following the parade is the Tapping of the Keg, opening the celebration for the following weeks! The Helen Festhalle is host to the Oktoberfest festivities, complete with music, food and drink, and the beloved "chicken dance" that typically happens after consuming a bit of Oktoberfest beer.  The Festhalle will be open Thursdays - Sunday in September and open daily through October until the end of Oktoberfest.  Enjoy authentic live German bands at the Festhalle that start after the doors open each day.  There is also the opportunity to hear great live bands at each of the venues throughout Helen.  Saturday afternoons during the first 5 weekends of Oktoberfest feature Keg Tapping events throughout Helen. The Helen Arts and Crafts Festival will be held at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center located in downtown Helen. The festival features handcrafted arts and crafts available for purchase from local artisans.
 

Friends lifting glasses of beer in a toast.

What to do at Oktoberfest?

Great food, awesome drinks. It isn’t an Oktoberfest without lots of food, wine, and beer! Wait until you get your hands on some roast pork or roast chicken and gravy. Traditional Oktoberfest food includes a variety of delicious meats, sweet apples, bratwurst, yeast dumplings in vanilla sauce, and jumbo pretzels! 

traditional German food and snacks

Beer

One of the favorite reasons to attend the Helen Oktoberfest is the beer. On the first day, attend the “Tapping of the Keg” that announces the beginning of the festivities. Enjoy traditional German beers such as the popular Munich Beer that are a little stronger and a little tastier than the American beers. You can also enjoy craft brews from local breweries

Oktoberfest waiter with armful of beer steins.

Music

If you have never experienced Bavarian-style beer hall music, you are in for a treat. During Oktoberfest, traditional German bands from all over, including Stratton Mountain Boys and the Alpen Musikanten will head to Helen in name of the celebration. Get ready for the most jubilant dancing to the most contagious music!

History of Oktoberfest

The original Oktoberfest was actually a two week long party celebrating the royal wedding of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese in Munich, Germany, way back in the day of 1810. Celebrating the last few weeks of September, all the citizens of Munich came out to the festivities including amusement rides, horse racing, games, and of course lots of food, wine and beer. How did this come to Helen? Helen was transformed into a little German town in 1969 in an effort to revitalize the town. In 1970, the first Oktoberfest Festival in Helen was held. Today, thousands of people from across America and the world come to Helen to participate in the German tradition each year.
 

Celebrate Oktoberfest and experience the gorgeous Fall colors of the Appalachian Mountains

Fall Color at Anna Ruby Falls.

There are several outstanding waterfalls in and around the Helen area, and Helen is surrounded by pristine State Parks and National Forests offering you the perfect opportunity to to get out into our beautiful mountains and experience the wonders of nature.


Children visiting a pumpkin patch.

Don’t forget to pick your pumpkins while you are in town! Stop by one of the various local pumpkin patches for a locally grown Georgia pumpkin.

 

The entry to Big SkyOktoberfest Accommodations at Pinnacle Cabin Rentals


One of the best places to stay for Oktoberfest is at one of our beautiful vacation cabin rentals in Helen. Throughout the year, people from across the globe come to Helen for a relaxing and adventurous vacation, and they typically select a gorgeous vacation cabin in Helen or close by Sautee Nacoochee. Especially for the Oktoberfest, the townspeople open up their hearts to travelers and visitors in providing them the best vacation experience possible. And one of the best ways to make the Oktoberfest the best road trip or vacation of a long time is to stay in one of the beautiful Helen vacation cabin rentals provided by Pinnacle Cabin Rentals.  We offer in-town cabins within walking distance of Oktoberfest, mountain view cabins, dog friendly vacation cabins, luxury cabin rentals, cabin rentals next to creeks, rivers, lakes, and cabins secluded in the woods
Come to Helen anytime of the year, but don't miss out on our Oktoberfest accommodations!