Everything You Need to Know for Amana Oktoberfest This Weekend

After a year with no Oktoberfest celebrations anywhere, we're happy to report that one of the biggest and best in the Midwest will return this weekend!

Oktoberfest in the Amana Colonies will officially kick off this Friday morning, October 1st and run through Sunday, October 3rd. You can expect a weekend full of games, food, live entertainment, and lots and lots of BEER. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's event:

Where to Park

There are various lots you can park in throughout the Amana Colonies, but there is also free off-site parking at the Amana RV Park with a shuttle trolley on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

How Much Are Tickets?

Admission to the Festhalle Barn will cost you $10 for a one-day pass or $15 for a two-day pass. Admission is free on Sunday. You can save a few bucks by purchasing your tickets online HERE.

Where Do I Eat?

All over the place! There is a huge food tent with German food next to the Festhalle Barn, Millstream will have various food trucks throughout the weekend, plus there are some amazing restaurants like Ronneburg and Ox Yoke Inn.

What About Drinks?

The Festhalle Barn and Millstream Brewing will have plenty of beer. You can even purchase a souvenir mug to drink it in! If you are more of a wine drinker, Ackerman Winery and Fireside Winery are the places for you. Ackerman will also have margarita wine slushies!

Friday, October 1st

Oktoberfest in the Amana Colonies always begins at Millstream Brewing with the official Oktoberfest Keg Parade. Join the parade down to the Amana Festhalle with Pat the Burgermeister and enjoy the first keg of Oktoberfest FREE!

Live music will begin at the Festhalle Barn at 11:30 a.m. with Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchman and will continue until 11:30 p.m. with groups like Alpensterne (3:30 to 6:30 p.m.), the Amana Colony Folksingers (7 p.m. to 8 p.m.), and Die Tiefen Keller Kinder (7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.). More live music will take place throughout the day at other venues. Hotel Millwright will host Brook Hoover from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Felix & Fingers: Dueling Pianos from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., and Jake Schrodt and The Residuals will be at the Millstream Beer Tent stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, October 2nd

Saturday will kick off with a parade down 220th Trail beginning at 10 a.m., and then the Timber Trek race at the Amana RV Park will start at noon. After that, all the Oktoberfest games will begin! Brezel Schmeissen will start at 12:45 p.m. and the Brat Eating Contest ($20 to participate) will start at 2 p.m. at the Festhalle Barn. Over at the Market Barn, the Keg Toss & Log Sawing Competition will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., as will Nagelhauen, and the Eisenmann Competition will kick off at 4 p.m.

As far as entertainment goes, the Festhalle Barn will once again have live music from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and the UNI Dancers will be out and about at Millstream Brau Haus at 11 p.m., the Visitors Center at 1 p.m., and Amazing Grace Antiques at 2 p.m. Hotel Millwright will feature music throughout the day from Justin Goodchild, Hot Rod Lincoln, and Dogs on Skis. Millstream Brewing will feature The Barry Boyce Band and Airwaves. And from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ronneburg Restaurant will have live music from Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen.

Sunday, October 3rd

The final day of Oktoberfest will include more live music at the Festhalle Barn from noon to 4:30 p.m., plus a performance by the Schmidt Brothers at Hotel Millwright from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and an acoustic show from Nick Stika at Millstream Brewing from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To see the Oktoberfest brochure with additional details, click HERE.

NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids is also hosting their own family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can get more information on that event HERE.