Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia
Polka bands, wurst platters and the longest-running Oktoberfest in the U.S.
The complete guide, in short
The 2026 season
| Dates | Open | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 10-13, 17-20, 24-27 | Thursday-Sunday | Past; the opening weekend included the parade on Sept 12 |
| Oct 1 to Nov 1 | Every night | Today's phase: open nightly, including Halloween night (Sat, Oct 31) |
| Day | Hours | Adults | Kids 6-12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Thursday | 6-10 PM | $10 | $5 |
| Friday | 6-11 PM | $15 | $7 |
| Saturday | 1-11 PM | $15 | $7 |
| Friday + Saturday pass | Both nights | $25 | $12 |
| Sunday | 1-7 PM | Free | Free |
Kids under 6 are free. Military members, active or retired, are free with ID; veterans get $3 off. Prices are subject to change. Hours apply to the Festhalle only; bars and restaurants in town keep their own. The Chamber's page is the official source.
Special nights and the parade
The season opened with the parade on Saturday, September 12 at noon. It started on Edelweiss Strasse, turned left onto Chattahoochee Strasse and right onto Main Street, then ended at the Festhalle Biergarten for the official keg tapping, with guests from Fussen, Germany tapping the second keg. See the Chamber's parade page.
Still ahead: the third annual Stein Holding Competition on Saturday, October 10, 6 to 8 PM, where men and women compete to hold a full stein the longest, and the Halloween costume party on Saturday, October 31.
Band schedule
Two bands a week; subject to change
| Week | Bands | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 10-13 | Polka Cola; Festhaus Musig | Played |
| Sept 17-20 | Adlers; Martin Gross & Jimmy Horzen | Played |
| Sept 24-27 | Martin Gross und Sonnenshein Express; Das Haus | Played |
| Oct 1-4 | LynnMarie and the Nashville Polka Guys; John Dietz Band | Played |
| Oct 5-11 | Alex Meixner Band; Aaron Dussing Band | This week |
| Oct 12-18 | Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express; Bavarski | Upcoming |
| Oct 19-25 | AlpenMusikanten; Sonnenschnapps | Upcoming |
| Oct 26-Nov 1 | Europa; Mollie B and Friends | Upcoming |
Source: the Chamber's band schedule.
Food and drink
The Chamber's 2026 Festhalle menu
| Item | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Platter | $16 | Two wursts and one side (sauerkraut, red cabbage, German potato salad, rye bread or dill pickle) |
| Wurst on a roll | $9 | $11 with sauerkraut |
| Wurst alone | $7 | Cheddarwurst, Thuringer brats, Hungarian knockwurst, weisswurst or leberkase |
| Pretzel with beer cheese | $13 | Extra beer cheese $3 |
| Nachos | $6-10 | Cheese $6, chili cheese $8, BBQ $10 |
| Hot dog / chili dog | $7 / $8 | BBQ sandwich $8, chicken fingers $7 |
| Sides and sweets | $1-7 | Sauerkraut, red cabbage or potato salad $2; cookies $2; brownies $3; desserts $7 |
| Drinks | $2-3 | Soda $3, water $2, coffee $3. Beer, wine, wine coolers and cider are sold; no liquor |
Food prices and availability are subject to change; see the Chamber's food menu. Outside food isn't allowed, except a birthday cake approved ahead of time.
House rules
ID check
All adults show ID at the door. Without it, you'll get an under-21 armband and no alcohol.
Pets and smoking
No pets; only approved service dogs, not emotional-support animals. The hall is smoke-free.
Tickets and tables
Pay at the door. Advance tickets and reserved tables are for prepaid groups (25 or more), and no tables are reserved on Saturdays or Sundays.
Rain or shine
It's an indoor hall, so the weather doesn't cancel anything.
How the festival came to be
Helen was a worn-out lumber town in the 1960s. Per the New Georgia Encyclopedia, local merchants took the artist John Kollock's suggestion to recast their storefronts as a Bavarian village, and Pete Hodkinson led the effort. Hodkinson also staged the balloon races and the Oktoberfest that became the town's biggest annual event.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia dates the first one to 1970, though a 1975 National Archives caption calls that fall's festival the fifth, so the date and the count don't quite agree. Today the Chamber runs it at the Festhalle, and it runs far longer than Munich's: about eight weeks, with Thursday-to-Sunday weekends in September and nightly dates in October.
Plan around it
Parking, lodging and the day's other stops are in our guides: where to park downtown, the Festhalle page, and fall color. The Georgia Forestry Commission expects peak color near the end of October into early November. More fall dates are on the fall festivals page.
Frequently asked questions
How long has Helen's Oktoberfest been running?
The Helen Chamber of Commerce calls the 2026 festival the 56th annual and bills it as the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States. The New Georgia Encyclopedia and the White County News date the first one to 1970, though the numbering doesn't line up neatly with that year. The Chamber postponed the 2020 celebration to 2021 because of COVID-19.
What is the best weekend to attend Oktoberfest in Helen?
Any Friday or Saturday in October gives you the full crowd, the full band lineup and a busy downtown. If you'd rather have elbow room, go on a weeknight or on a Sunday, which is free and closes at 7 PM. Saturday, October 31 is the Halloween costume party.
How different is it from Munich?
Helen's runs for about eight weeks, charges admission to the Festhalle, and is smaller. The Festhalle serves wurst, pretzels and German and American beer, and books polka and German-style bands. It's informal and family-friendly.
What beer is served?
The Chamber says the Festhalle has a wide variety of German and American beer, wine, wine coolers and ciders. There is no liquor. It doesn't publish a beer list or beer prices.
How should I dress?
However you like. Plenty of people wear lederhosen or a dirndl, and plenty wear jeans. October evenings average a high near 70°F and a low near 46°F, so bring a jacket and comfortable shoes.
Is the Festhalle kid-friendly?
Yes. Kids under 6 are free, kids 6-12 pay $5 or $7 depending on the day, and Sunday is free. The Chamber calls Oktoberfest a family-friendly event. It's indoors and runs rain or shine.
