Milwaukee-area Oktoberfest celebrations roll out the barrel in September and October

In a town full of taprooms, we like to get a head start on Oktoberfest in Milwaukee. The annual 2024 festival in Munich, Germany will be held over a two-week period starting Sept. 21. But in Milwaukee, the entire month of September is that wunderbar time of year to drink our hops and hop-step to some polka music. Here is a sampling of some parties and places to raise your stein and say, prost!

Milwaukee's Original Oktoberfest

The Bavarian Bierhaus in Heidelberg Park is open from Tuesday through Sunday year-round and celebrates over 60 years of serving authentic German beverages and food, including Usinger's sausage, Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel and spanferkel. The Bierhall seats over 400 guests, with outdoor seating as well, but the Oktoberfest party is held on the weekends with live bands performing and a midway for kids. Admission is $5 on Fridays, $10 on Saturdays, with free admission on Sundays. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dates are Sept. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29, Oct. 4-6. 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale. For table reservations, visit  thebavarianbierhaus.com .

School Sisters of St. Francis Oktoberfest

Beer and root beer will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 14 in a commemorative glass stein honoring the sisters' 150th anniversary of service. Craft beers from Lakefront Brewery will be available, including Ale Mary, a classic lager; the Our Lager amber; and a special German Oktoberfest lager. Your first glass stein beverage purchase is $14; refills are $7. Root beer on tap, wine, water and food also will be available for purchase. Try a German-style bratwurst plate ($10), the BBQ chicken sandwich plate ($10), or a Bavarian pretzel ($6) with your drinks. Play a game of cornhole, giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, Hammerschlagen, or dance to the music of Vern & The Originals. Oktoberfest is held on the grounds of the St. Joseph Center; enter the beer garden at 29th and Orchard Street.  sssf.org

Component Brewing Company Oktoberfest

The taproom's Oktoberfest party is from 1 to 8 p.m. Sept. 14, with live music by Carl Erikstrup and The Hey! Fevers. Food from K&L's BBQ, stein-holding contests, and specials on all German-style draft beers. 2018 S. 1st St.  componentbrewing.com

MobCraft Mobtoberfest

Doors open at 11 a.m. Sept. 21 at the Walker's Point taproom for the annual celebration of German-inspired food, the Oktoberfest-style lager Mobtoberfest and the classic pilsner Pils to Pay the Bills. Everybody polka from noon to 7 p.m. with live music by The Mike Schneider Band, followed by Accordion Gal, and Chad Przybylski and His Polka Rhythms. 505 S. 5th St.  mobcraftbeer.com

Ope! Brewing Co. Opetoberfest

Drop by the West Allis brewery from noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 21 for their Opetoberfest lager. Music by the Brewhaus Polka Kings from 1 to 3 p.m., and the Steve Shultz Band from 5 to 7 p.m. 6751 W. National Ave., West Allis.  opebrewingco.com

Shorewood Foundation Oktoberfest

All are welcome to the Hubbard Park Beer Garden for the 60th Anniversary Oktoberfest held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 27. The event is free to attend, and children 12 and under eat free. Please send an RSVP email with the size of your party (adults and children) to  theshorewoodfoundation@gmail.com  Adults are encouraged to pre-order an Oktoberfest adult meal ($10) which includes a brat, chips and beer or soda in a commemorative mug. 3565 N. Morris Blvd., Shorewood. Order online at  shorewoodfoundation.org/oktoberfest2024 .

The Explorium Brewpub Oktoberfest

German food specials will be available from noon to close Sept. 28, and the official Oktoberfest firkin tapping will be at 3 p.m. with free beer. Live music by the Polish Moon Polka Trio from 5 to 8 p.m. 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale. exploriumbrew.com

Greendale Oktoberfest

Enjoy a full day of activities from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 28 on Broad Street beginning at the Greendale Downtown Market with an expanded Makers Market, and live musical performances well into the evening. There will be bingo for all ages, and bounce houses and face painting for children. German and pub fare will be plentiful, with beverages at The Explorium Brewpub Biergarten in Gazebo Park. Contests have been added to the event this year, such as beer stein holding, giant pretzel eating, and beer boot challenges. 5710 Broad St., Greendale.  greendale.org

Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest

The Germantown Historical Society will host its annual party at Dheinsville Historic Park in Germantown from noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 28 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 29. Admission and parking is free, with German entertainment, music and dancing. The park is on Holy Hill Road, at Highway 145 and Maple Road, Germantown.  germantownhistoricalsociety.org/oktoberfest

St. Augustine of Hippo Oktoberfest

The southside parish will host its 14th annual Oktoberfest from noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 29 with a beer blessing at 12:15 p.m. and ongoing music by Jeff Winard's Polka Party band, and The Natural Talent Polka Band. The biergarten will have three Oktoberfest beers on tap and a traditional German menu featuring a beef rouladen dinner with spätzle and red cabbage, sauerbraten pulled pork sandwiches, bratwurst and franks, kartoffelsalat (German potato salad), Bavarian pretzels, an Oktoberfest breakfast sandwich, and apple streusel. 2530 S. Howell Ave.  staugies.org/oktoberfest

Milwaukee Oktoberfest

The grounds open at 4 p.m. Oct. 4 with beer and music by Carol and the Keynotes and Copper Box until 10 p.m. in Cathedral Square Park. The party continues from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 5 and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6. The festival is free to attend, but if you choose to consume alcohol, there is a $2 wristband fee that supports local non-profits. You may bring your own stein, but no food or alcohol carry-ins are allowed. German food is provided by Kegel's Inn, with pretzels from Milwaukee Pretzel Company, and additional food items from Pig Tailz food cart and Smokin Jacks BBQ. Try your hand at stein hoisting, cornhole, or watch the 2024 Miss Oktoberfest contest, brat eating competition, or wiener dog pageant. 520 E. Wells St.  milwaukeeoktoberfest.com

Cedarburg Oktoberfest

Polka on the wooden dance floor under the tent in downtown Cedarburg from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6. Featured performers include the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers, the D'Lustig'n Wendlstoana Dancers, River City Blaskepelle, Schnapps und Tanz Band, the Milwaukee Liederkranz Chorus, 2/5ths Party Band and the Cedarburg Civic Band. Head over to the City Hall lawn for the Foxtown Brewing Bier Garten serving Oktoberfest, Munich Dunkel, Breakwater Light Lager and Hefe Weiss. Authentic German dinners such as sauerbraten, wiener schnitzel, and a German sausage platter will be served up by the Milwaukee Glockenspiel Group; the Cedarburg Lions will offer bratwurst, currywurst, burgers, hot dogs and turkey legs; Ben's Pretzels food truck will be on site with warm pretzels; and Delicately Delicious bakery will provide German sweet treats. Contests are always part of the fun and new this year are best braids (adult and youth), best mustache, best yodeling, best stein, most collectible pins, and pretzel eating. Plenty of additional games, activities, a live glockenspiel show and a shopping marketplace will provide amusement for all ages. Community Center parking lot, W63 N641 Washington Ave.  cedarburgfestival.org/octoberfest

Urban Harvest Brewing Co. OktoHarvest Blocktoberfest

Join the south-side street party from 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 for the release of the Oktoberfest brew and live music by the Polish Moon Polka Trio. The bonus beer release will be the return of the Pilsen Schmilsen, featuring pilsen malt and saaz hops. Rot's Hots food truck will be dishing up their menu of sausage and tots to complement the brews. 1024 S. 5th St.  urbanharvestbrewing.com

Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest

Bring your dancing shoes to Oktoberfest from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 12, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13. Play a game of sheepshead, and enjoy live music by Ed Hause Polka Band, The Squeezettes, and Dino the Lounge Lizard and The Yankovic Tradition. Beyond the beverages, the Beer Garden menu will have brats, Rupena's pulled pork sandwiches, sarma, hot dogs, and vegetarian soup. Finish your meal with tortes, warm apple strudel, and cookies at the Black Forest Cafe. Oktoberfest includes an Artisan Fair on Oct. 12 and 13 featuring hand-crafted art for sale by the artists. 3722 S. 58th St.  ololmke.org/oktoberfest

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oktoberfest events in the Milwaukee area for 2024