Bring on autumn! Oak Park's 32nd annual celebration of fall and all things Oak Park, Oaktoberfest, returns to Marion Street between North Boulevard south of Lake Street. On September 13 from 4 pm to 10 pm and September 14 from 12 pm to 10 pm Oaktoberfest will feature live music MC'd by members of Oak Park's Comedy Plex Comedy Club, local food, craft beer, and a Root Beer Garden for kids with activities including zucchini races, train rides, dance performances, and hands-on art projects.
There is no entry fee to attend Oaktoberfest. Craft beer and wine tickets are cash-only; don't worry, there are ATMs on-site and several banks in the area with ATMs. You can purchase one drink ticket for $10 or three drink tickets (plus a souvenir mug!) for $30.
Ready to learn all about this incredible event? Let’s go!
Great music makes the mood more festive. Bette Smith infuses soul, rock & roll, funk, blues, and gospel music into her sweet and inspirational headliner performance on Friday at 8:30 pm, and the alt-rock band Cracker performs at 8:30 pm on Saturday.
The Staleys, a local favorite, will kick off the event on Friday at 4:30 pm with sweet folk songs, catchy hooks and harmonies, stomp and clap sing-alongs, and big bluesy solos. Nasty Snacks, a 10-piece “funkestra” consisting of vibrant Chicago music scene members, follows at 6:30 pm with their genre-bending blend of funk, R&B, and fusion.
On Saturday, students at The School of Rock in Oak Park will perform from 12:30 pm to 2 pm, followed by Nashville singer-songwriter Reilly Downs with contemporary country hits infused with the artist's Texas Hill Country grit at 2:30. Finom, a brilliant harmonizing Experimental Rock duo from Chicago will shine at 4:30 pm before Altered Five Blues Band, a hip Milwaukee blues quintet known for hard-hitting live shows and barrel-chested frontman Jeff Taylor’s silky smooth voice, takes the stage at 6:30 pm.
Oaktoberfest highlights the seasonal craft beer and ciders from local breweries like Kinslahger and Revolution, Wisconsin-favorite Leinenkugel, and international brews.
Join the fun in the beer garden, an essential part of the Oaktoberfest experience, shouting “Prost!” with friends and neighbors and enjoying cold mugs of Kinslahger Oktoberfest Marzen and Kinslahger Oktoberfest Festbier (brewed right here in Oak Park) or Chicago’s Revolution Brewery’s Anti Hero and Cold Time. Leinenkugel’s traditional Märzen-style Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Weissbier, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA, Pilsner Urquel, and Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest Athletic Brewery’s Upside Dawn non-alcoholic brew will also be available.
Wine lovers won’t feel left out with Domaine de Pouy Cotes de Gascogne 2021, Chartron La Fleur Rouge Bordeaux 2019, and Maris Rouge Blend 2020, all supplied by CarefulPeach Boutique in Oak Park. Other selections include a variety of wines from California, Italy, Portugal, France, and New Zealand.
Craft beer and wine tickets are cash only. Purchase one drink ticket for $10 or three drink tickets plus a souvenir mug for $30.
Local Oak Park and area restaurants will present a variety of seasonal and international favorites. Many vendors offer options for those with specific dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, no sugar added, etc.), and the beer tents will also provide drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that can suit many dietary needs.
Café Cubano: Cuban Sandwich, Beef Empanada, Cuban Soda
Katy’s Dumplings & Sushi House: Orange Chicken, Shrimp Tempura Roll, Cheng Du Dumplings, and more
Kyuramen: Fried Gyoza Chicken Dumplings, Steamed Pork Bao, Edamame, Lychee Ramune, and more
Khyber Pass: Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Curry, Tandoori Chicken, Channa Masala, Lamb Seikh Kabab, and more
Poke Burrito: Korean Hot Dog, Spicy Poke Bowl, Crunchy California Roll, Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Tapioca, and more
Publican Quality Bread: Braised Beef Sandwich, Publican Chicken Sandwich, Pizza Bread, Sodas
Q BBQ: Pulled Pork Sandwich, Sausage on a Stick, Turkey Leg, Creamy Slaw, Cucumber Tomato Salad
Sweet Dim Sum: Steam Bun with Roasted Pork, Red Bean Paste Bun, Egg Custard Tart, Japanese Tayaki Ice Cream, and more
Tacos El Tio #4: Tacos, Churros, Mexican Coke, Jarritos, and Horchata
Tre Sorelle: Pizza by the slice, Italian Sausage Sandwich, Penne Alla Vodka, Mozzarella Sticks, Gelato, and more
Wells Street Popcorn: Caramel, Cheddar, Chicago Mix, Kettle Corn, Cotton Candy, Nachos with Cheese, Jumbo Soft Pretzel, Ice Cream, and Soda
Cold Stone Creamery (tent in the Kid’s Root Beer Garden, 12 pm to 5 pm Saturday)
The Kids’ Root Beer Garden is a space on Marion Street created especially for the whole family’s enjoyment with lots of activities sponsored by local organizations! The Root Beer Garden will be open on Saturday, September 14, from 12 pm to 5 pm, offering kids a chance to participate in artistic, educational, and hands-on activities.
Highlights include free train rides in Lot 3 (hosted by the Collaboration for Early Childhood), free face painting and balloon twisting, dance performances by TranscenDance Studios, root beer floats from Cold Stone Creamery ($5), and the most anticipated event of Oaktoberfest, the annual Root Beer Garden Zucchini Car Races! Zucchini Car Kits are available for just $5 at the Root Beer Garden. Kids decorate their zucchini race cars and participate in the race, which will be hosted by the OPRF Cheerleaders this year.
At Oaktoberfest, “fun for the whole family” means fun for the WHOLE family. Bring your furry friends to the party, but please keep all dogs on a leash and be mindful that the music can get a bit loud for some dogs!
Just 10 miles from downtown Chicago, Oak Park has history, galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and a calendar of events, including Oaktoberfest, that celebrate this historic village's unique culture and the benefits of living at the gateway to Chicago’s vibrant western suburbs. And, just in case beer, music, food, and family fun aren’t enough to convince you to come, Oak Park is at its most breathtaking peak of beauty during the fall.
It is easy to get to Oak Park, and there are plenty of options for parking — try municipal parking lots and surface lots available in downtown Oak Park — or take public transportation — the event is just off the Green Line and Metra Harlem stop. We love the free bike valet service offered by Wheel and Sprocket at 1118 Westgate Street. Bike to the event and check your bike with them. They’ll keep it safe until you’re ready to go. Wheel and Sprocket Free Bike Valet will be available Friday from 4 pm to 10 pm and Saturday from 12 pm to 10 pm, with final bike pickup between 9 pm and 10 pm.
Oaktoberfest is free for all. Drink ticket sales are available on-site only (remember your ID!), and many ATMs are available at the event and in the area. This is a family festival with an emphasis on family. The Oaktoberfest Kids’ Root Beer Garden is well-regarded for its various activities and options for all ages, including the famous zucchini race!
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of Downtown Oak Park’s annual celebration of fall and all the unique experiences available in this beautiful leafy village. Oaktoberfest will be held on Friday, September 13, from 4 pm to 10 pm. and Saturday, September 14, from noon to 10 pm in Oak Park, south of Lake Street on Marion Street and North Boulevard. Enjoy a wide selection of wine, fall craft beer, ciders from local and international breweries, and delicious food from local restaurants.
The Kids’ Root Beer Garden will be open on Saturday, September 14, from 12 pm to 5 pm, featuring zucchini races, root beer floats, balloon twisting, and other family-friendly activities sponsored by local organizations.
Enjoy live headline performances by soul, rock, and blues artist Bette Smith on Friday and the alt-rock band Cracker on Saturday from 8:30 pm to 10 pm, along with other local and regional favorites on the main stage throughout the festival.
Visit the Oaktoberfest website for more information on live music, craft beer and wine, local food, and family fun, and join us for all the fun on September 13 and 14.