FAQs, Festival Tips, and Event Policies
Oktoberfest. That's in October, right?
The 2026 festival is September 25-27
The origin of the festival dates to October 1810 during the celebration of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen (say that 5 times fast). While their wedding did happen in October, Germany was very smart and thought, hey, weather in October... cold and dreary; weather in September... perfect for outdoor beer drinking. And so they expanded the anniversary festivities, now celebrated worldwide, to start in September when you can enjoy polka dancing without traipsing through puddles. Good job, Germany. Festival hours are as follows:
Festival Hours
FRI: 4-10 PM
SAT: 11 AM-10 PM
SUN: 11 AM-7 PM
The midway, including the rides, mini golf, and games, is open at slightly different hours than the overall festival hours.
Ride Hours
FRI: 5-9 PM
SAT: 12-9 PM
SUN: 12-6 PM
Keep reading for roller skating information.
Gate-only admission tickets are for visitors who only want to attend the festival and don't want to ride the rides (though it is more fun if you ride, you know you want to).
Do I have to pay to get into the park during Oktoberfest?
While we do not charge entrance fees on regular operating days (you're welcome), Oktoberfest is a special event that does require a fee to enter the park. It is one of the most affordable festivals you're going to find anywhere. For the small admission fee, you get all-day access to all the Oktoberfest entertainment - access to the Main Festhalle, the Biergarten, the Kinderplatz activities, the Vendor Village, the cooking shows, the doggy races... all the good stuff throughout the entire Oktoberfest venue as well as the fun and fanfare of the Oaks Park midway. Ride bracelets now include gate admission, so it is more affordable than ever to take part in all the fun! Admission prices are based on guests' height. There are two admission options:
Gate-Only Admission Tickets
48" & Taller: $7.50
Under 48" Tall: $4.50
Gate-only admission tickets are for visitors who want to attend the festival but will not be riding the rides.
Gate Admission + Rides
48" & Taller: $44.45
Under 48" Tall: $23.45
When you buy a Ride Bracelet you do not need to purchase a separate gate admission ticket; the festival admission is included with the bracelet purchase.
During this special event, everyone 3 and older must have either a gate-only admission ticket or a Ride Bracelet in order to enter the park. Infants 2 and under are free because babies are adorable. The number of tickets/bracelets available each day is limited, so purchase your tickets/bracelets online in advance to guarantee you'll have access to all the beer-drinking-sausage-eating-chicken-dancing hoopla.
Mini golf, games, roller skating, food and beverages, souvenirs and merch, etc., are sold separately.
Hold up... is something different here?
Yes! We are in the midst of a major construction project with an awesome new entertainment zone opening in 2027! That entertainment zone? You guessed it. It is being built, as we speak, right where Oktoberfest used to be. The festival has shifted slightly further south than in previous years, using the south parking lot for the big Main Festhalle tent, while utilizing Picnic Areas 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14 for other festival activities. When you arrive for the party, you'll still enter at the main gate, then just turn south on the midway and head towards Adrenaline Peak Roller Coaster. From there, you can't miss all the fun! We know change is hard, but together, we'll get through.
I hear you don't accept cash anymore {eyes narrowed}.
Well, not exactly. To improve transaction times and our worker's experience, we no longer accept cash at registers throughout the park, but we accept cash at our ReadyCard machine, a reverse ATM that loads your cash to a card that you can use all throughout the park (and anywhere else in the U.S.A. that accepts Mastercard). Please do also plan to bring some cash along to tip your bartenders!
Tell me about this ReadyCard thing...
- ReadyCard cash-to-card machines are available to convert cash to a prepaid card. Cards can be loaded with $1-$500. ReadyCards cannot be reloaded.
- ReadyCards are not refundable and cannot be converted back to cash, but if you do not use all of your preloaded funds during your visit, you can use the remaining balance on your card offsite anywhere in the U.S. that Mastercard is accepted.
- ReadyCard machines are located near Guest Services, near the shooting gallery in the historic Blue Streak building, and in the Roller Rink lobby.
- You can check your card balance at the onsite kiosk, by calling the number on the back of the card, or by visiting rcbalance.com.
- Keep your ReadyCard receipt. If you have issues with your card, you can call the number printed on it, and if you have your receipt, a representative from the card company will be able to help you. Unfortunately, if you do not have your receipt, there's nothing we can do.
If I leave, can I come back?
Just like that girlfriend our mother warned us about, we'll totally take you back. If you need to leave for a while and come back later on the same day, that's cool. Make sure you get a hand stamp at the entrance gate before you leave; just flash that bad boy when you get back, and you're in!
Can I come back tomorrow?
The admission fee is charged for each day of the festival so if you come one day and love it so much that you want to come back the next day (which you will) you can party hardy for the low, low price of another $7.50. At this time, we don't offer a full weekend pass.
I'm just here for the beer.
Oaks Park uses event tokens for all alcohol sales in the Oktoberfest venue. Wanna a beer? Gotta buy tokens. Fancy a cider? That will be one token, please. Wine aficionado? Yeah, token for you too, fancy pants!
Tokens = $7.50 each
To purchase tokens onsite, just visit the Token/Dessert booth located at Picnic Area 14, just northeast of the Main Festhalle. Cards and Apple/Android Pay are accepted for the purchase of tokens.
Take advantage of a fantastic deal and order your token bundles in advance online! Buying tokens online will help shorten transaction times, which means less time in line, more time drinking and dancing for everyone. Be a good neighbor and help keep the fun flowing, plus save $1 per drink when you buy the online tokens bundle - it's a win-win!
Cash, cards, and mobile pay are not accepted as payment at the Oktoberfest bars. Do bring some cash to tip your bartenders because they work hecka hard to make it an amazing party!
Tokens are not accepted by food vendors or craft vendors, at Oaks Park's concession stands (except for alcohol purchases), or for attractions. Got it? Tokens are just for alcohol. Now let's get going, it's party time!
What happens if it's raining?
This is Portland, Oregon - if you can't do it in the rain, you can't do it at all. The party is on, rain or shine. Historically, we've been lucky and had gorgeous fall weather for our festival, but for those odd years where we get the NW's famous "liquid sunshine", the Main Festhalle is under cover, as is the cooking show, craft vendors, Kinderplatz, Biergarten seating, and more. So pop on your galoshes and get to the bar!
You don't know where Oaks Park is?
Oh, you must have just moved here from California, bless your heart. Oaks Amusement Park is located in SE Portland's charming and historic Sellwood neighborhood, just about 10 minutes from downtown. Our address is:
7805 SE Oaks Park Way
Portland, OR 97202
Dude, Where's my Car?
A daily parking fee of $4 applies during Oktoberfest. The parking fee can be paid onsite at parking meters or via the online portal. Only cards are accepted at the meters. Do not purchase parking until you arrive on-site ; while we have a lot of parking spaces, Oktoberfest is rightly popular, and our lots do fill up. Purchasing parking in advance does not guarantee you a spot, and parking fees are non-refundable, no exceptions. Arriving early in the day will give you your best shot at getting a spot in the lot, as well as more time to play... win-win.
Portland grew up around us (hey, we were here first!), so here's the situation - we have one lane in, we have one lane out. We love our darling Sellwood neighborhood, but streets around here get hecka congested. The heaviest influx of incoming traffic is between 5 and 7 PM on FRI/SAT and between 1 and 3 PM on SUN. Things get crammed again around 10 PM on FRI/SAT and 6 PM on SUN as the event ends. Be prepared for delays in the neighborhood.
These days, there are such better options than driving to a festival of this nature; Uber, Lyft, Tri-Met, Taxi - there are lots of ways to get here that will allow you to get home safely after enjoying the party to the fullest. Use 'em! The address to use for your rideshare pickup is 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202.
If you are not up to driving home, don't worry - safety first, friends! Cars left overnight will not be ticketed as long as they are picked up by 10:45 AM the next day, so get a responsible ride home, sleep it off, and we'll see you in the morning! The one thing you can't do is sleep here in your car overnight, so make sure you have those ride-share apps loaded to your phone before the party starts!
Not to sound too high school, but what are you wearing to the party?
An important principle to learn now... dirndls and lederhosen make everyone look gooooooood! If "dirndl" looks like a Scrabble queue to you, we recommend a look at this Guide to Dressing for Oktoberfest to familiarize yourself with the "in" fashions of the weekend. If it is good enough for Munich, it is good enough for us.
While thematic dress is fun for some, you are, of course, welcome to wear what makes you comfortable. And remember, this is a family event with lots of kiddos, so please, keep it proper, people.
What if I just want to go roller skating? Let the people skate!
See, you kept reading, and, as promised, it paid off. We know our skaters love their rink time, so new this year, we will not charge gate admission for guests who are only going to the Roller Rink. A controlled entrance point will be set up at the walkway on the south side of the building (where the archway facing the parking lot says Roller Skating Rink). Skaters may only enter the rink without purchasing gate admission at that monitored access point.
Open Skate Hours
FRI: 1-5 PM & 7-10:30 PM
SAT: 1-5 PM & 7-10:30 PM
SUN: 1-5 & 7-9:30 PM
Admission Tickets: $13 per session
Standard skate rental with online tickets, or you can bring your own, subject to inspection. At the door, skate rental is $1-$5. Skating admission is sold separately from Oktoberfest gate admission/ Ride Bracelets. The number of tickets available per session is limited, so purchase tickets online in advance to guarantee that you get to get your roll on. The FRI/SAT sessions feature a DJ playing top-40s and retro hits. The live pipe organ is played at both sessions on SUN. And don't forget, waivers are now required for all skaters, and the waiver must be filled out by a parent/guardian for any minor who will be skating.
When is next year's festival?
Oktoberfest is a terrific annual tradition to enjoy with your friends and family. The 2027 festival will be September 24-26. It pays to plan ahead, so mark it on your calendar now, you party animal, you.
The More You Know...
Want to bring your pooch? Need ADA info? Need to step out for a smoke? Please take a look at our general Guest Guidelines for more info about the rules and regs when visiting Oaks Park.
Festival Basics
Get a snapshot of the event hours, admission fees, parking info, and driving directions.
Food & Drink
Beers and brats abound, plus wine, cider, seltzers, strudel, schnitzel, and more!
Performers
Traditional music on dancing by local performers from throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Activities
Festhalle games, kids' crafts, cooking shows, and wiener dog races are just the start!