Oktoberfest celebrations on tap in Dallas-Fort Worth area

Celebrate Oktoberfest with German food, brews and music.

Although the official Oktoberfest in Munich is canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, several events in Dallas-Fort Worth will still feature German food, beer, music and activities. And some local restaurants are offering special menu items in celebration of the fall festival. Check websites for details on health measures that are in place at each location.

Festivals

McKinney Oktober Bier Walk

The walk will feature 20 Oktoberfest beer tastings, the Marketplatz with local vendors and artisans, German-inspired cuisine like brats and potato cakes, and German folk music by strolling accordionists and Brave Combo. Costumes are encouraged. Participants must wear masks when not drinking or eating.

Oct. 3 from noon to 7 p.m. and Oct. 4 from noon to 5 p.m. at Chestnut Square in historic downtown McKinney. $30. Order food packages ($20-$46) by Sept. 25.

People participate in a stein-holding competition at the Dallas Arboretum's Oktoberfest event Oct. 5, 2019. This year's Oktoberfest event will be held Sept. 20, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
People participate in a stein-holding competition at the Dallas Arboretum’s Oktoberfest event Oct. 5, 2019. This year’s Oktoberfest event will be held Sept. 20, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.(Dallas Arboretum)

Oktoberfest at the Dallas Arboretum

The event features complimentary beer samples, local and traditional food vendors and live music. Compete in a pretzel toss and stein-holding competition supported by White Rock Ale House. Monkey Love Band will perform a concert from 2 to 4 p.m. Cafe on the Green’s Oktoberfest menu features various bratwursts, carved pastrami sandwiches, warm apple strudel, Black Forest cake and assorted Oktoberfest beers.

The event is Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Oktoberfest menu is available Sept. 19-Nov. 1. 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. Oktoberfest is included with arboretum admission: $17 for adults, $14 for ages 65 and older, $12 for ages 2-12, free for children under 2. Parking is $10. Under the arboretum’s COVID-19 protocols, tickets and parking must be purchased in advance; see website for details.

Restaurants

Bavarian Grill

Schnitzel and Oktoberfestbier Fest 2020 will be “corona conscious” — masks are required and social distancing will be enforced. There will be live entertainment every night in the dining room and on Fridays and Saturdays in the biergarten. Various Oktoberfest schnitzels and beers will be available. Costumes are encouraged.

Through Oct. 31. 221 W. Parker Road, Plano.

Bowl and Barrel is  offering half-price full-liter steins of beer for Oktoberfest, through Oct. 26.
Bowl and Barrel is offering half-price full-liter steins of beer for Oktoberfest, through Oct. 26.(Chloe Devincenti / Bowl and Barrel)

Bowl and Barrel

The restaurant is offering Oktoberfest deals with special beers — Tupps Oktoberfest, Dallas Blonde and Revolver Blood and Honey — and half-price pretzels, sausages and full-liter steins.

Through Oct. 26. At the Shops at Park Lane, 8084 Park Lane, Dallas.

Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House

Oktoberfest dinner includes three courses of German food paired with Paulaner beers or wine. The dinner includes locally made pretzel bread with Paulaner stone-ground mustard and Black Forest mushroom soup with braised pork belly, caramelized onions and chives. The entree is German smoked Kassler pork chop with smoked bacon, braised red cabbage and German bratwurst, along with Grobe and Weisswurst sausages with port wine-fennel mustard sauce, sour cream and leek potatoes. Dessert is a warm Bavarian apple strudel with brown sugar-cinnamon glazed apples and Calvados brandy caramel sauce. $69 per person.

Sept. 16-17 with two seating times at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. 5330 Belt Line Road, Dallas. chamberlainssteakhouse.com.

Oak Highlands Brewery

The brewery celebrates Oktoberfest for three weekends with live music, German food and brews and traditional games like chug runs on Saturdays at noon. Tickets to a Sept. 19 concert by Brave Combo are $150 per table of eight at prekindle.com. The O’s will perform Sept. 26, and Squeezebox Bandits will perform Oct. 3 ($75 per table at both concerts).

Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 18-Oct. 4. 10484 Brockwood Road, Dallas. facebook.com/oakhighlands.brewery.

Dog Haus is bringing back its Oktoberwurst at Dog Haus locations nationwide from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31, 2020.
Dog Haus is bringing back its Oktoberwurst at Dog Haus locations nationwide from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31, 2020.(Dog Haus / Dog Haus)

Dog Haus

The chain is bringing back its Oktoberwürst: one-third pound of Cajun-spiced, Emmental cheese-stuffed bierwurst, topped with caramelized onions, sauerkraut, mustard aioli and scallions, served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls. The sausage was created by Dog Haus Würstmacher and TV personality Adam Gertler. Dog Haus will donate $1 from every sale of an Oktoberwürst to the restaurant’s national charity partner, No Kid Hungry.

Sept. 19-Oct. 31. Locations in Arlington and Richardson.

Information provided by Dallas News

Audrey Eads

audrey.eads@dallasnews.com @_audreyeads

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