2026 Dates, Times & Location
Thursday, October 1 5 to 11 p.m.
Friday, October 2 5 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, October 3 12 noon to 11 p.m.
Thursday, October 8 5 to 11 p.m.
Friday, October 9 5 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, October 10 12 noon to 11 p.m.
The Great Northwest Oktoberfest is set to return to Depot Park in beautiful downtown Whitefish, with plenty of free parking available in-and-around the downtown area!
Admission
2026 INFORMATION TO BE CONFIRMED. Visit https://www.whitefishoktoberfest.com/festivalinfo this FALL FOR MORE DETAILS!
Admission is $10; and kids 12 and under are free when accompanied by a parent. Tickets are available only at the gate, but have no fear … there’s plenty of room for all!
Get ready for authentic German beer, food, music and dancing. Entertainment will be provided by Europa — one of America’s most sought-after Oktoberfest bands — as well polkas, oom-pahs and more. And on Saturday afternoons, it’s the Flathead’s own German orchestra, the Bavarian Echoes!
Then it’s time for you to get into the act by entering one of our nightly stein-holding or log-sawing contests, hurling kegs on Saturday evening, putting together a team for the Beer Barrel Races, or doing the chicken dance! And don’t forget …
Thursday, Oct. 1 is “Locals Night” — Flathead County residents (with valid ID) get in free of charge for our Opening Night extravaganza!
Saturday, Oct. 3 is “Family Day” — Kids 12 and under (with parents) get in free for a full afternoon of festivities outdoors in the Oktoberfest Beer Garden.
Contests & Activities
2026 INFORMATION TO BE CONFIRMED. Visit https://www.whitefishoktoberfest.com/festivalinfo this FALL FOR MORE DETAILS!
Oktoberfest is chock full of fun contests & activities on both weekends!
Contests:
There are tons of crazy contests to participate in or to just watch from the sidelines, cheering your favorite contestant on to victory! We'll have:
Stein Holding (Mens' & Womens')
Keg Hurling
Log Sawing
Kid's Chicken Dance Contests [Saturdays at 2:45pm]
There’s no entry fee, and participants can sign up 1/2 hour before each contest at the table to the left of the Oktoberfest stage. (No sign up necessary for the Chicken Dance Contest.)
Special Competitions:
Oct. 7-8 — The 2026 Oktoberfest Hop Queen Pageant
Join us at Grouse Mountain Lodge (located at #2 Fairway Drive) from 6–8 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 8 for the “Hop Queen Qualifier,” to meet the Hop Queen candidates and enjoy music by The Europa Band. Then be under the Bigtop on Thursday Oct. 9 to cast your vote, and see who wins the crown!
Oct. 10 — Montana State Stein-Holding Championships
Be in front of the Main Stage at 9 p.m. sharp, when the top stein-holders from across the Big Sky State square-off for the first-ever “State Championships” … and a trip to the U.S. Steinholding Association’s National Championships in November!
General
(but important!)
Info
Leave Fido at home: Sorry, no pets allowed at Oktoberfest.
Parking: Due to parking availability (& to save gas!) we recommend carpooling to Oktoberfest.
ATM: Cash is King at Oktoberfest … so we’ll have ATM machines available on-premises for festival-goers.
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