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Oktoberfest celebrations in Helen, Georgia, have been going on for more than 50 years. The celebrations involve multiple weeks of traditional dancing, food and beer. Festhalle is the permanent home of the Oktoberfest festivities. This is the longest running celebration of its kind in the U.S.
The 2024 Oktoberfest Parade will be happening on Saturday, September 7, 2024, beginning at 12 pm. The tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest will follow at the Fussen Biergarten at the Helen Festhalle, the official place for Oktoberfest celebrations.
Their Oktoberfest will run from Thursday through Sunday in September and will run daily from September 26 to October 27, 2024. Revelers dress in traditional German attire, dirndls and lederhosen, and dancing the polka is a popular activity.
If you’d like to attend Oktoberfest and look the part, check out the German clothes here for women.
And here for men.
The weekday celebrations are very different from the weekend celebrations. Weekends attract tour groups and college groups. The weekdays are more family friendly. The festivities are open to all ages.
Oktoberfest has a rotating group of musical acts playing traditional German music as well as modern favorites. Dance the polka and sing along with songs like “Ein Prosit.”
Oktoberfest Entertainment Schedule
- September 5-8
- Proust
- Festhaus Musig
- September 12-15
- Martin Gross und Sonnenschein Express
- Autoban Karl
- September 19-22
- Polka Cola
- Duo Alpen Echo
- September 26-29
- Europa
- Das Haus
- September 30-October 6
- Zweifel Brothers
- Duo Haus
- October 7-13
- Alex Meixner Band
- Duncan Schoen
- October 14-20
- Alpenmusikanten
- Mollie B. Trio
- October 21-27
- Europa
- Das Haus
The Festhalle has the ceremonial tapping of the keg like you’d see in Germany. There are tents with a selection of American and German beer for sale to people 21+.
German Cuisine
And while you’re in Helen for Oktoberfest, you should try some German food. Try one of the 10 Best German Restaurants in Helen as chosen by the users of TripAdvisor.
- Bodensee Restaurant
- Hofer’s of Helen
- Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe
- Old Bavarian Inn Restaurant
- Hofbrauhaus Restaurant & Pub
- Old Heidelberg German Restaurant & Pub
- Cafe International
- The Troll Tavern
- Das Ice Cream Cafe
- Christoff’s at Seventy-Six
If you liked the German food and want to learn more about German cooking, try these cookbooks. Use our links to see how you can save money on each of them.
- German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook by Gerhild Fulsom
- The New German Cookbook: More Than 230 Contemporary and Traditional Recipes by Jean Anderson and Hedy Wurz
- Das Cookbook: German Cooking by Hans Rockenwagner and Jean Garbee
Accommodations
Hotels in Helen will quickly fill up during Oktoberfest, so plan ahead. Green Vacation Deals can recommend the following hotels. They are giving discounted rates which can save you money on your stay.
- Quality Inn Warren Road — 21% Discount
- Quality Inn Downtown Helen — 21% Discount
- Comfort Inn & Suites University Area — 15% Discount
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Helen, Ga — 7% Discount
- Comfort Inn Fisher Street — 7% Discount
Many people like to go to festivals in an RV. It has its advantages. You don’t have an RV? Then you can rent one and Green Vacation Deals recommends RVShare.
Helen, Georgia, is within 16 miles of Yonah, Demorest, Cleveland, Young Harris, Hiawassee, Clarkesville and Blairsville. Helen is 64 miles from Athens and 76 miles from Atlanta.