New Free Oktoberfest Festival Debuts at Denver's National Western Center
DENVER, CO — A new Oktoberfest celebration is making its debut in Denver this October, bringing two weekends of Bavarian food, live entertainment, cultural activities, and a 108-foot observation wheel to the National Western Center.
Photo Credit: Brett Sayles
Oktoberfest - The Denver Wiesn officially begins Friday, October 16, and continues through October 18 before returning October 22 through 25. The seven-day festival is free to attend and will take place on the main campus plaza at the National Western Center, located at 5185 National Western Drive. Festival hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
Produced by the Bavarian Guild for Colorado and Wyoming and presented by the National Western Center, the new festival is designed to bring traditional Munich-inspired Oktoberfest celebrations to Denver while creating a family-friendly experience that welcomes visitors of all ages.
One of the festival's largest attractions is a 108-foot-tall observation wheel that will provide views overlooking the National Western Center campus, downtown Denver, and the Rocky Mountains. The observation wheel is a separately ticketed attraction, while general admission to the festival remains free.
Throughout both weekends, visitors can expect live music, traditional Bavarian dancing, cultural performances, artisan vendors, and a variety of activities across the festival grounds. The entertainment lineup includes the Polkanauts, Da Polka Guy, Alpen Auerhahn, Oktoberfest Queen Manuela Horn, and performances by the Denver Kickers Schuhplattlers. Members of the Colorado Symphony are also scheduled to perform on Sunday, October 18.
The festival's opening ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 16, with an appearance by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Native American blessing from Lakota elder Doug Good Feather, and a traditional beer-tapping ceremony presented by Prost Brewery.
On Saturday, October 17, the festival will introduce a Salsa Night celebration featuring Tropical Kaoba performing salsa, merengue, and cumbia music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The evening is intended to bring together Colorado's Latino community and traditional Bavarian celebrations.
Photo Credit: Brett Sayles
Food and beverages will be another major component of the event. Hofbräu München, one of Munich's historic Oktoberfest breweries, is serving as the festival's official brewery. The Hofbräu Beer Hall will offer traditional German beers alongside wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages.
Food vendors include Berliner Haus, Pierogies Factory, 47 Bakery, and Heritage Flame, with offerings ranging from German-inspired street food and pretzels to bratwurst, pierogi, and other festival favorites.
Visitors looking for a more traditional Oktoberfest dining experience can also reserve seating inside the festival hall. The optional VIP experience costs $115 per person, plus tax, and includes a three-hour reservation at a Bavarian long table, dedicated table service, and a family-style meal prepared by Epicurean Catering. Reservations are available for groups of six or eight.
Beyond the food and entertainment, the festival will include an artisan market featuring local and internationally inspired vendors, including Lux + Luca, Parks Art Collection, Switchwood, Wurzpot, and Luma Turkish Towels. Visitors will also be able to purchase traditional Oktoberfest merchandise, collectible steins, clothing, and Bavarian gingerbread hearts.
Family-friendly activities will include face painting, outdoor games, folk dancing, and hands-on programming from CSU Spur, adding another connection between the festival and the larger National Western Center campus.
The Denver Wiesn also represents a new chapter in the relationship between Denver and Munich. The event grew out of the City2City Munich-Denver Economic Partnership, established in November 2024 to strengthen cultural and economic connections between the two cities.
That partnership helped inspire the creation of the Bavarian Guild for Colorado and Wyoming, which is now working to establish The Denver Wiesn as an annual cultural tradition.
The festival also reflects the National Western Center's continued evolution into a year-round destination for cultural programming, public gatherings, and major community events beyond the annual National Western Stock Show.
Organizers hope the new celebration will eventually become one of the largest annual events hosted at the campus, drawing visitors from across Colorado and beyond.
Admission to Oktoberfest - The Denver Wiesn is free, although food, beverages, merchandise, the observation wheel, and reserved dining experiences require separate purchases.
Parking at the National Western Center costs $15 per vehicle. Visitors can also reach the campus using RTD's N Line, with the 48th & Brighton at National Western Center station located one stop from Union Station.
The inaugural festival runs October 16 through 18 and October 22 through 25, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Additional event information, entertainment schedules, and reservations are available at www.denverwiesn.com.
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6 minute read • Denver Wiesn brings a new free Oktoberfest festival to the National Western Center October 16–18 and 22–25, featuring food, live music, and a 108-foot observation wheel.