FAQs & Festival Tips
Oktoberfest. That's in October, right?
The 2023 festival is September 22-24
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 both festhalles, 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. For the first time, we are including gate admission with the purchase of a Ride Bracelet, 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
Under 48" Tall: $4
Gate-only admission tickets are for visitors who want to attend the festival but will not be riding the rides.
Ride Bracelets
48" & Taller: $43.95
Under 48" Tall: $22.95
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.
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 in 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 bucks. At this time we don't offer a full weekend pass, but you're right, we really should. We'll talk about that for 2024!
I'm just here for the beer.
Oaks Park uses event tokens for all alcohol sales in the festhalles. Wanna a beer? Gotta buy tokens. Fancy a cider? That will be one token, please. Wine aficionado? Yeah, token for you too, fancy-pants!
Token prices coming soon.
New this year, you can order your tokens 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!
Cash, cards, and mobile-pay are not accepted as payment at the festhalle bars. Do bring some cash to tip your bartenders because they are 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", both festhalles are under cover, as is the cooking show, craft vendors, Kinderplatz, 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?
Oaks Park now charges a small, daily fee to park in our lot. The parking fee can be paid on-site at parking meters or via the online portal. Only cards are accepted for parking fees. 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.
Parking Fees
FRI: $3
SAT/SUN: $5
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.
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. We are lucky to have Touch of Bavaria at our event. They sell authentic German costumes so if you forget your bundhosen or feathered hat, we've got you covered.
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: $12 per session
Standard skate rental is included or you can bring your own, subject to inspection. Skating admission is sold separately from Oktoberfest gate admission/ Ride Bracelets. The number of tickets available per session is limited and those suckers sell out every weekend 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, on FRI/SAT night those youngins under 18 have to have a chaperone 21+ to enter the rink (1 adult minimum per 6 minors).
When was the last time you had Oktoberfest?
Long, long ago, in a Festhalle far, far away... our last Oktoberfest celebration was in September of 2019. Remember 2019? It was a simpler time. In 2020 we were closed due to COVID for the entire frickin' year. In 2021 the whole season was funky and the COVID situation was still unstable with numbers on the rise. And in 2022, we were playing that fun game called supply-chain issues and staffing shortages. Friends, we have been through it the last few years and we deserve to let loose and party in 2023!
When is next year's festival?
Oktoberfest is a terrific annual tradition to enjoy with your friends and family. The 2024 festival will be September 20-22. 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!
Meet Our Event Partners
Coming Soon!
The Oaks Park Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.