Saint Alphonsus Oktoberfest

I go every year live music and fun staff love this place go you will have a blast.
Beast place ever

It was the best of times, it was the wurst of times. Lakeview Oktoberfest marks the end of the festival season. This ale sale takes place in front of and benefits St. Alphonsus church, where your $ 5 entry fee goes towards. This is one of few German churches in Chicago and you know its a German church because you pray your «Sieg Hail Mary’s» and at Christmas they sing «O Little Town of Dusseldorf.» This is also the first time I’ve been near a church since mine hosted a 1^st century Roman themed fitness class designed to build strength and improve flexibility («Pontius Pilates»).
The German beer selection is limited to Hoffbrau and some wheat beer named «Oktoberfest» (both $ 7 a plastic cup). Luckily, there are plenty of other local and domestic beers to get you haused. Yup, I felt like a proctologist, because the whole night I was yelling «Bottoms up!» If you’re planning on münchen on some fine German cuisine, its like finding a schitzel in a großen heuhaufen! Sure, you can find a brat for $ 6, but little other food like you’d find in an authentic German restaurant, like «Hindenburger King» or the East German chain themed after Karl Marx — «Karl’s Jr.» (everything is free but the food is poorly constructed and of low quality). There are a number of vendors there that have nothing to do with Oktoberfest, like FM 104.3, Enterprise, and some guitar shop. No All-​State? At least they have the appropriate slogan when they market in Germany («You’re in good Hans.»)
As entertainment goes, there is a kids area with a bouncing castle near the big tent in back. But if you brought kids to an event dedicated to beer, you’re probably also the kind of parent who brings beer to an event dedicated to kids. There’s fun for you Al Bundees too, though. The Friday of the festival featured two stages — the main one with the cover band «Wedding Banned,» whose covers in no way related to Germany or beer. Seriously you guys, you couldn’t have done cherished covers, like «Alvida Sein in the Membrane» or «I Saw the Stein?»

Definitely do the Brewmaster package if you plan on drinking more than one beer. It’ll save you a ton of money.
$ 5 cash admission to get in.
There’s one main stage for music during the day, extra stages at night. Rodd Tuffcurls played this year, yesss!
Get there early in the day if you want a more laid back experience. Or come at night for a crowded party experience. The Polkaholics played both during the day and at night this year, so you can go either way. Protip: drink whenever the Polkaholics say «polka» for a rousing Oktoberfest time. Prost!

I hate to be the downer here, but this was hardly an «Oktoberfest» — unless you consider girls dressing in semi-​scandalous German outfits an Oktoberfest celebration, and hey! some people may.
I thought the food stands were disappointing. It was just your typical «fair foods,» definitely not what I expected. The beer was decent, but OVERPRICED. I mean, I burned through some big bucks here pretty quick. I also had to pay admission each day I went… That was pretty irritating.
The plus sides were that it was pretty decently sized — 2 stages 1 big and 1 pretty small one in the back. The bands were fun — there were a lot of cool and nice people there as well. It did get pretty jammed, which made for a not so pleasant experience when trying to carry beers.
Overall it was just ok.

One of the smaller festivals that I’ve been to this year, but fun enough. The live bands are great and so are the beer and food. A must go-​to event with friends and family to kick off Fall. Bring cash! It’s a $ 5 admission fee.

First time at Saint Alphonsus, the church is spectacular, the Oktoberfest was amazing. I was there a short time but it was a lot of fun. I met some great people and witnessed a new friend chug from a stein. Polkaholics put on a great show and the food was reasonably priced for a church fair. But it all went to a good cause. Next year I will attend again but get the Brewmaster package. You get admission for 4 people, $ 30 worth of brewer bucks and a 1L Oktoberfest stein that you can fill for the same price as a 12 oz beer.

So much fun! Great bands, great beer, great food. It can get a little pricey, so I recommend the Brewmaster package. You get admission for 4 people, $ 30 worth of brewer bucks and a 1L Oktoberfest stein that you can fill for the same price as a 12 oz beer. You definitely get your money’s worth!

Best one so far. It’s tiny. Reminded me of a bar/​club with barely enough room to even move but outside. Well, what’s not to like? Ok than.
Best part. As I was inching along with my company, I heard and saw crowds being affected by the music. It was kinda like when you see people passing that friendly cigarette around. Good mood. Very social. Careless singing everywhere to their favorites Bön Jovi, Billy Joel and others the band picked.
80s?! Looked good. Felt proud as I chomped on my favorite, ah cheese curd.
Seriously, I had fun and was worth a trip. Not a spot for an Oktoberfest purist.

Great festival. It’s not a authentic German Oktoberfest, but more of a traditional Chicago Street festival with a German twist. Mixture of German and American beers combined with partial selection of German and typical street fest fare. So minus points for that, but bonus points in that it is more affordable than the Oktoberfest in Lincoln Square and the bands, vendors, and beer tents have grown and improved in quality each year. It is extremely crowded during peak times (Saturday night), but so is every other popular street festival. Also, it’s completely run by church volunteers and the money goes to great causes… so kudos to that. It’s very family friendly during the day time… LOTS of babies.