Prost to polka dancing, party bands,
Bavarian treats and more

Addison, Texas – Addison Oktoberfest, presented by Paulaner, puts a purely Texan twist on a traditional Oktoberfest celebration and will bring approximately 50,000 fans together in Addison Circle Park from Sept. 17-20 to revel in German culture, food, music and bier.

Entertainment spread across four stages throughout the festival grounds will offer something for every musical taste. The main action takes place in the 30,000-square-foot open-air Partyhalle tent. The Partyhalle stage will feature the best national and regional polka party bands along with friendly competitions throughout the weekend. The dance floor offers plenty of space to show off your best chicken dance, and there’s ample seating for over 1,000 guests to kick back and enjoy a cold bier. Partyhalle entertainers include traditional tunes by Auf Geht’s and live shows by five-time Grammy-nominated artist LynnMarie & The Nashville Polka Guys.

The reimagined Party Zelt tent will host several bands, including AlpenMusikanten, playing polka combined with heavy rock, and Graceland Ninjaz, blending five decades of the greatest party hits. 

Polka music’s influence on other musical genres is celebrated in the Texas Zwei Step area of the park on the Texas Prost Stage. Los Gran Reyes is a cumbia band with an accordion; Two Bit Swing Band brings western swing to the stage; North Texas Tornados perform conjunto (European polka meets Mexican folk music); and Metalachi puts on a showstopping performance as the world’s first and only heavy metal mariachi band. Each of these high-energy genres is influenced by the rhythms and tempo of polka. Traditional polka dance troupe TSV D’Holzar Dancers will take over the Party Zelt dance floor and Texas Prost Stage with performances at various times throughout the weekend. 

A stage in the air-conditioned Kleinhalle will give revelers who aren’t into polka a respite with performances by singer-songwriters like Quentin Moore, a chart-topping neo-retro soul musician. The facade of The Addison Performing Arts Centre will be transformed into a Glockenspiel Clock complete with bells that chime, signifying it’s time for a small skit on the balcony and a group prost, y’all!

In addition to performances by nearly 30 musicians and groups, there is interactive entertainment around every corner for guests of all ages to enjoy. Entering the festival, you’ll be greeted by an eye-catching carousel that offers free rides for young kids and serves as a fun photo backdrop. Nearby, the Kidsgarten will be home to arts and crafts, airbrush tattoos, a Root Biergarten and even a Mini Masskrug competition for kids 12 and younger.

One of the festival’s newest hotspots is the Stiefel Studio – a silent disco with beats spun by a live DJ for those ready to dance like no one’s watching. The Karneval will return with a variety of festival-favorite games and rides, including a ferris wheel. At the Marktplatz, guests can pick the perfect keepsake and shop for unique gifts of the German and not-so-German varieties, including authentic dirndls, Alpine hats and steins. Inside The Addison Performing Arts Centre lobby, Biercadia will turn back time to the days of Space Invaders, Frogger and Guitar Hero with free-play retro arcade games. 

For competitive fun, head to Bierspiele Stadium, home to the official Addison Oktoberfest Bier Games. The Bier Maiden Stein Carrying contests offer a fast-paced glimpse into the life of a Munich Oktoberfest waitress, while Bier Barrel Rolling tests stability and teamwork.

If you’re feeling lucky, grab a card and try your hand at Biergarten Bingo. Masskrugstemmen competitions, stein-hoisting contests testing strength and concentration, will take place in the Partyhalle and Party Zelt tents. New this year is a Police vs. Fire Masskrugstemmen held daily Friday-Sunday. Oktoberfest guests can cheer on Addison’s police officers and firefighters as they face off in a little friendly competition! Whether you compete or spectate, there’s sure to be plenty of laughs shared and memories made.

A cherished Addison Oktoberfest tradition, Sunday Hund-Day sponsored by Texans Credit Union, is a dog lover’s dream. On Sunday, Sept. 20, all dogs (on a leash) are invited to join the party! Bonus points if your dog is dressed for the occasion. In fact, dogs in their Oktoberfest best can strut their stuff in the Pet Parade. There will be prizes for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd best-dressed; no preregistration required. Speaking of prizes, there is none more coveted than the Golden Dachshund – the 1^st place trophy for the Dachshund Dash. In this highly anticipated annual event sponsored by Pappy’s Pet Lodge, 100 dogs will compete, but only one will be crowned supreme. Advanced online registration is required for the race.

Food is a major part of any culture, and at Addison Oktoberfest there is no shortage of options. German fare with a side of Texas flair is served alongside bier brewed by Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, two of the six German breweries permitted to serve bier at the Munich Oktoberfest. Varieties include Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen, Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, Paulaner Pils, Paulaner Grapefruit-Radler, Paulaner Munich Lager, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen and Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold. As part of the Texas spin, the Texas Zwei Step area will feature select Oktoberfest pours from Texas craft breweries. New this year, bier aficionados are invited to cast their vote for their favorite Texas craft bier, and one brewery will win the Golden Stein. For those seeking an alcohol-free alternative, Beyond the Bar will run a pop-up dry bar serving refreshing zero-proof beverages.

On the menu for those seeking Bavarian bites: sausage plates, brats with loads of toppings, schnitzel, strudel, Oktoberfest Beer Glazed Bacon and much more. Kaffee and Kuchen in the Stone Cottage will feature an array of German sweets, such as Black Forest Cake and Lebkuchenherz – heart-shaped gingerbread cookies iced with sweet sayings, traditionally worn around the neck as a decoration. Texas twists on food are also plenty, with corndogs, funnel cakes, ice cream and sweet tea.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to addisonoktoberfest.com.