Friday Activities

Opening Parade
St. Paul Oktoberfest begins with a horse-drawn beer wagon parade (der Festzug) to the festival grounds followed by a keg tapping ceremony (der Anstich) to officially kick off Oktoberfest. Check back soon for more details!

​Beer Hall Contests (Friday and Saturday)
Held on our main stage.

• Beer mug holding contest
• Beer chug
• Yodeling contest
• “Wiener dog” limbo

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Nails and Ales Benefit (Friday and Saturday)
​Saint Paul Fire Local 21 will host a game of Nails and Ales – a game of hitting a nail on a stump. Who can hammer the nail in one strike? A friendly competition for a good cause — $2 per nail goes to Operation Warm, a charity that buys new coats for St. Paul and Minneapolis students.

Saturday Activities

Steinheben Competition 
Strongmen and women compete to see how high they can lift 508 pound concrete “stone”. The first competition of its kind in the U.S.! Qualifying rounds, competition, and awards ceremony all on the Main Stage.

Dachshund Races
Watch dachshunds and dachshund mixed-breeds compete in hurdles and dashes. Adorable to look at, this surprisingly bold and tenacious breed was developed to flush badgers out of their burrows. Check back soon for registration. 

Bed Races 
Assemble a team of at least four people (one per bed post) and race our official bed at the 19th Annual Bed Races. The races will take place with multiple heats so everyone can participate and race for fun prizes. Check back soon for registration. 

Oktoberfest Wedding
The original Oktoberfest in Munich celebrated a historic royal wedding, which inspired us to wed and crown our own king and queen. Attend the wedding to find out who will be crowned!


Kinderland Kids’ Carnival 
A kid-friendly carnival, complete with classic games and attractions.  Bring the whole family!