Tulsa Oktoberfest

Overpriced event that does not have much to offer. Everything is costly, from parking to admissions without any part of the ticket presented as consumables. Food prices double the price you usually pay in a big theme park!

Probably the craziest time I have had in Tulsa thus far in life. I did not know what to expect seeing as last year was my first Oktoberfest. I signed up to volunteer a few days so I could get in free and drink some beer. I actually got lucky and got put in the VIP area which was super fun!!! The dancing, penny throwing and just downright insanity was more than I could have imagined. I LOVED It and literally plan my schedule around when Oktoberfest will be in town! SO many laugh and good food! Music was awesome too! If you have never been YOU. MUST. GO!

Gutentag!
I’ve actually been to a German-​speaking country (Austria) and although this event in no way reminds me of my time in that place, I really, really, really love Oktoberfest. It’s an interesting blend of culture and cold beer.
In 2013, the Oktoberfest pitcher was retired. This was a controversy that challenged the Tulsa community. How could we Tulsans possibly continue this fine tradition without our pitchers? Meet the stein. For the past two years, you could buy a refillable plastic stein. Buy tickets, redeem beer, drink beer, repeat. After it’s over, you have a great souvenir.
Yet, Oktoberfest offers so much more than a delicious collection of beers. There are carnival rides, live music, and lots of food. Every year I taste the apple sauce and potato pancakes. It’s an Oktoberfest classic.
There are many tents. Some are selling crafts or food, while the rest have stages with bands. Regardless of the band, about every other song is the chicken dance. I’ve rarely seen people as excited as they get when the chicken dance comes on.
In summary, you can drink, dance, shop, eat, and so much more at Oktoberfest. Plus, it shows a different side of Tulsa (with a beautiful view of downtown Tulsa). There are plenty of shuttles to the event from different venues in Tulsa; I usually take the Fassler Hall shuttle.
Go to Oktoberfest. It’s awesome.

One of the best Oktoberfests in the nation (Yes, in Tulsa) — need I say more?
I don’t drink, so I was weary of going. Let me tell you, though, there ARE things to do if you don’t drink. There’s a ton of carnival rides, food and shopping booths, and dance floors with different bands playing. The food booths only take tickets, which got extremely annoying. You have to line up to buy tickets, then line up to buy food, but before you do all that, you have to remember the cost of how much all the food you want is, so you can buy the right amount of tickets.
Oktoberfest can get kind of pricey — $ 6 admission + fair-​priced food and games.
I used the shuttle this year from Fassler Hall and it wasn’t bad at all. The shuttles ran smoothly, the wait was short (less than 10 minutes), and you got dropped off right at the Oktoberfest gates. Only bad thing is if you can’t find free parking on the streets of downtown… Fassler Hall charges you to park in their lot. You might as well pay to park right at Oktoberfest if that’s the case.
Tip: Go during the day if you want more of a family environment. Go at night if you want to see all the drunks.

I had a blast both Friday and Saturday night at Oktoberfest. The drinks seemed expensive upfront but it all ended up being pretty reasonable. I wasn’t a fan of having to purchase the mug to get the larger beer. $ 6 for entry, $ 4 for a mug, $ 10 to fill up the mug, $ 7 for a pint in a disposable cup. It adds up but the atmosphere was worth it. Everyone was nice, there was a lot to do and great food trucks were brought in. The beer lines got very long sometimes and the portopoties definitely needed more frequent cleanings. Also, I live next door and the streets and parking were all well maintained during the event so it wasn’t a hassle for me as a resident.

Tulsa Oktoberfest is a great way to get immersed in German culture. It happens annually every third weekend in October on the river from Thursday night to Sunday.
My cousin and I visited yesterday on free admission day. There were the usual vendors there such as the German American Society of Tulsa, but also Andolini’s Pizza has a food truck presence there as well.
We saw many German dishes offered at the food stands such bratwurst and Sauerbraten.
There were several tents to visit where local vendors all over Oklahoma sold their products.
We were happy to see some new rides, but also old favorites like the Scrambler that harken back to the good old days of Bell’s Amusement Park.
The music was good too and it was fun to see people get picked out of the audience to dance on stage. We got to see the chicken do the chicken dance, which always draws a crowd.
My family have been coming to Tulsa Oktoberfest since I studied German at The University of Tulsa in 1999. We will continue to do so for many years. Prost!!!

Looking for the perfect venue to showcase your killer chicken dance? Look no further than Tulsa Oktoberfest — one of my top 5 favorite events in Tulsa!
The festival is recognized as one of the best Oktoberfests in the nation and here’s why I think that is:
— It’s located in the fair field across from the river — the perfect venue. It’s a central location for residents of Tulsa, parking is abundant (though I recommend riding a bike or getting a cab if you can), and it never feels overly crowded but maintains intimacy.
— The people. Friendly and charismatic are the qualities that stand out to me among the staff and vendors. It radiates to guests and makes you feel like you are everyone’s close friend.
— The food. Guys, don’t count calories here — rather count the moments of «oh my gosh this is so good!!!» You can kind me getting and order of fries and and a fried onion… all to myself.
— The beer. Really. Truly authentic German beer. Lots of variety for dark and light beer lovers alike. Make sure you note some have much higher alcohol content.
— The safety. Cops and security are all around but not in an intimidating way. Don’t you dare drive drunk or buzzed. Find a designated driver or use a cab.
— Variety! Make sure you visit all of the tents and all of the performers in each. My favorite is the large tent with the dance floor that plays all sorts of music! ***No drinks are allowed on the dance floor.
–There are carnival rides. Guys, take your ladies for a perfect date night.
I recommend all out of town visitors to come during Oktoberfest — it’s such a great way to show off how fun the Tulsa community is!
PROTIP: Bring cash and be conservative when buying tickets for food and drink at first. You can always go back for more!

They are getting ride of the pitchers hiking the prices and telling volunteers to F** off. Thanks Oktoberfest way to ruin a good thing!

One of the biggest and best Oktoberfest festivals in the country. This gets bigger, and bigger every year, with 5 tents now and way more vendors, there is plenty to see and do. This place is packed with traditional German food, bands, and crafts. As well as the keg race, wiener dog race, and a ton of activities for the kids, with some rides.
There is a wide selection of German beer, and all the American favorites, for those that have less adventurous taste buds. Expect typical festival prices, so bring pockets of cash. Pints start at $ 6 — $ 8 and a pitcher starts at $ 16 — $ 19. You will need to buy beer vouchers that are only good for the day of purchase, as they will not except cash at the bars. to save some money, buy the pitcher, and it cost less to refill, and you get a pitcher to keep.
They have free shuttles running all day from the Hyatt, and holiday inn, in downtown Tulsa. If you want to drive and park down by the festival… Well have fun with that one, the traffic is terrible, and parking can be a nightmare as it gets later in the day.
1 piece of advice, due to the unpredictable Oklahoma weather, bring a rain jacket, and spare socks. You never know when the weather might change. And practice up of your chicken dance, it will be a great time.