As the aspens surrounding Breckenridge begin their transition from green to gold, the town is busily preparing for one of its premier fall celebrations: Oktoberfest.

In its 29th year, Breckenridge Oktoberfest is a fan-favorite event for visitors and locals alike. This year’s event will specifically take place from Friday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 14, and will once again feature beer, German food, live music and classic festival fare. 

The annual event will begin on Friday afternoon with the event’s Locals Day. In its fourth year, the resident-focused day will feature family-friendly activities and a headline performance from local favorites Los Otros at 5 p.m.

Additionally, attendees can support the Family & Intercultural Resource Center by donating five non-perishable food items in exchange for a free stein. This year, the event is placing a focus on high-protein, high-fiber and nutrient-dense foods. Items like canned chicken, tuna, salmon, beans, lentils and other shelf-safe proteins are appreciated. 

Prior to Los Otros’ set, a stein-hoisting contest will take place on stage from 4:30 to 5 p.m.  

While Friday is jam packed with a variety of Oktoberfest events, Saturday, Sept. 13, offers a full-day of fun. Gora Gora Orkestar will begin the festivities on the Main Stage before the official tapping of the keg takes place at 11 a.m.

With the beer now fully flowing, attendees can enjoy a variety of German dishes, themed games and family-friendly activities. This year, Breckenridge Oktoberfest will feature an expanded kid’s zone at the south end of Main Street. The kid’s zone will be open all three days and will include a bounce house, face paintings and more. 

Live music will be played throughout the day on Saturday. After performing on Friday, Neue Polka and The Polkanauts will both return to the stage in the late morning to early afternoon. The day will conclude with Those Austrian Guys and a stein-hoisting competition on the Main Stage. 

The festival will conclude on Sunday with more live music, food and beer. Throughout the final day, Gora Gora Orkestar, Denver’s Thirsty Five, Those Austrian Guys and DJ DC will perform. The day will also be spearheaded by several competitions including the kid’s costume contest and the baby Bjorn stein-hoisting competition. 

This year’s Oktoberfest will include seasonal favorites from Breckenridge Brewery including its toasty Oktoberfest lager and easy-drinking Funslinger. 

The event will also have refreshing pours from Launch Pad Brewery, crisp, gluten-free cider from Incline Cider Company and imported classics from Paulaner Munchen. The beers from Paulaner Munchen will only be available on Saturday and Sunday.

For the second-consecutive year, all beer, wine and cider will be served to guests in r.Cups. The reusable cup eliminates single-use plastic and waste since guests can return cups to collection bins when finished. All attendees are also encouraged to refill reusable water bottles at water stations.

All drink purchases can be made at a beer tent by credit card instead of tokens. Beer and beverage tents will open at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Authentic German steins will be available for purchase in advance and on-site. Only steins that are purchased ahead of the event will be eligible for a complimentary first pour. 

Outside of drinking beer and indulging in German grub, attendees can compete in the Oktoberfest 5K Trail Run on Saturday morning. The fun run is capped at 300 participants and will take runners on a scenic journey through some of Breckenridge’s finest trails. The race is expected to begin at 10:30 a.m. To register, visit EnduranceCui.active.com.

Similar to previous years, Breckenridge Oktoberfest will shut down several streets throughout the town core. From Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 a.m., through Sunday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m., Main Street (Lincoln/Ski Hill to South Park Avenue) and adjacent side streets will be closed to vehicles. The Horseshoe/employee parking area of the Tiger Dredge Lot will also be closed for the event. 

All attendees are encouraged to plan ahead and to use public transit like Summit Stage or BreckFreeRide. Dogs should be left at home. 

For more information, visit GoBreck.com/event/Breckenridge-Oktoberfest.