Raise a Stein at Westchester County’s Oktoberfest Celebrations
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tiagozr | Adobestock
Some of the best Oktoberfest festivities are happening right here in Westchester County, and we want to help you celebrate them all.
FYI: You don’t have to go all the way to Bavaria to experience a great Oktoberfest. In Westchester County, plenty of towns, public groups, and even individual businesses are getting their lederhosen on in October. Here are some of our top picks in case you feel like grabbing your stein and joining in on the local fun.
Hoppfest XL
Bedford’s sixth annual “Oktoberfest with a twist” returns in 2021 with seasonal beers from Captain Lawrence and Broken Bow breweries, as well as craft mocktails, wine, tastings, music, pub games, food trucks, fire pits and loads more on the Village Green. Plus, all proceeds benefit the Bedford Historical Society so, really, you’re drinking to help support educational initiatives. That’s civic volunteerism if ever we heard it.
When: Saturday, September 25 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Where: Bedford Village Green, Bedford
Cost: Starting at $125 ($100 for BHS members) — Does not include food trucks
Sleepy Hollow Oktoberfest
More frequented in October for its spooky history, the Village of Sleepy Hollow also has an annual Oktoberfest celebration, hosted at The Kathryn Davis River Walk Center. Classic German food and drink will flow, Bavarian music will sound, and younger kids can enjoy their time in the oh-so-culturally-authentic bouncy castles.
When: Saturday, September 25 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Kingsland Point Park, 299 Palmer Ave, Sleepy Hollow
Cost: Free to enter; Parking: $5
Growler’s Oktoberfest
Growler’s Beer Bistro in Tuckahoe will host its now-traditional October celebration on the second of the month. It will serve up traditional German food (even more than it normally does!) alongside fun and games, live music and entertainment, and—again—plenty of beer. If you’re familiar with Growler’s, you can imagine how delighted your bellies will be, and, if not, then you really do need to come down this year!
When: Saturday, October 2, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Where: 25 Main St, Tuckahoe
Cost: Free to enter
Pound Ridge Harvest Festival
The Pound Ridge Partnership’s ninth annual fall fest is back for another year of food, drink, live music, and family fun. Local eateries and vendors will have plenty on offer, and the drink will flow freely: craft beer for the adults, a “root beer garden” for the kids, and with the musical headliners, Gin Blossoms!
When: Saturday, October 2, 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Pound Ridge Town Park
Cost: Free entry
Oktoberfest in the Park
Westchester’s northern community busts out a full town festival, featuring beer courtesy of Captain Lawrence, unlimited nonalcoholic beverages, barbecue from the Lewisboro Lions Club, warm German pretzels from Idyllwild Bread, arts and crafts, games, live music, and even a pumpkin patch.
When: Saturday, October 16, 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
Where: Lewisboro Town Park, 1079 NY-35, South Salem
Cost: $30 adults; $15 kids ages 3-14
Bonus: Oktoberfest to Go
One of the things we look forward to every year now is the annual Father’s Day/St. Pat’s/Just Because™ collaboration brews between the local hopheads at Captain Lawrence Brewery and Carvel Ice Cream. (Mmm…Fudgie the Beer.) That’s why this year we’re stoked to be able to bring Oktoberfest with us wherever we decide to celebrate, thanks to the brewery’s latest collab with the pretzel gurus themselves, Snyder’s of Hanover. Making slow-baked German style pretzels for more than a century, Snyder’s turns out to be a natural choice for the grain base of the brewing process, creating two new beers we already love: a malty Märzen-style lager and a fruity gose ale adding notes of guava and passion fruit. Both Pretzel Märzen and Pretzel Frücht carry subtle notes of Snyder’s classic mini-pretzels, and pair well with, well, everything (but probably more pretzels).
Grab yourself a four-pack at SnyderBier.com.
Courtesy Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. | Enormous Creative
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