{"id":150916,"date":"2026-09-08T22:09:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T02:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=150916"},"modified":"2026-09-08T22:09:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T02:09:26","slug":"oktoberfest-returns-to-steelstacks-for-16th-year-with-new-bourbon-tasting-experience-german-traditions-and-fan-favorite-competitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=150916","title":{"rendered":"Oktoberfest Returns to SteelStacks for 16th Year with New Bourbon Tasting Experience, German Traditions and Fan-Favorite Competitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Free two-weekend festival presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport features steinholding, wiener dog races, live music, four biergartens and more<\/em><\/p>\n

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, September 8, 2026 –\u00a0\u00a0ArtsQuest<\/a>\u00a0today announced Oktoberfest, presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) returns to SteelStacks for its 16th<\/sup>\u00a0year, bringing two weekends of German-inspired food, brews, live music, family-friendly fun, and some of the festival\u2019s most beloved\u2014and unconventional\u2014competitions.<\/p>\n

The seasonal event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4, and returns on Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11. From the official Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships and fan-favorite\u00a0wiener\u00a0dog races to bratwurst eating and a\u00a0brand new\u00a0bourbon tasting experience, Oktoberfest offers plenty of opportunities to get in on the action.<\/p>\n

\u201cOktoberfest remains a must-see event at SteelStacks, bringing our communities together to celebrate the traditions, flavors, and entertainment that make it such a special part of fall in the Lehigh Valley,\u201d said Thomas R. Stoudt, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). \u201cABE is extremely proud of our long-standing partnership with ArtsQuest.\u00a0\u00a0Now entering its 16th<\/em>\u00a0year, Oktoberfest is just one-example of ArtsQuest\u2019s hard work and commitment to\u00a0showcasing\u00a0the people, culture, and experiences that make the Lehigh Valley an amazing place.\u201d<\/p>\n

ACTIVITIES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oktoberfest Bourbon Tasting with Matthew Peters<\/a><\/p>\n

New this year, ArtsQuest is partnering with certified Bourbon Steward Matthew Peters and Levy Restaurants for an elevated bourbon tasting featuring eight uncommon and unique bourbons, with a focus on cask-strength selections, paired with delicious bites from Levy Restaurants Executive Chef Julie Marble. The 21+ experience will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Fliplehem: Oktoberfest Flip Cup Tournament<\/a><\/p>\n

Join us for the second annual Oktoberfest Flip Cup Tournament presented by D.G. Yuengling & Son on October 2 and again on October 9!\u00a0Teams of four will compete in a bracket style tournament to determine a winner.\u00a0Cups will be filled with water, not beer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Only one person needs to register on behalf of your team of four. All participants must be 21+.<\/p>\n

Winners take home a $50 ArtsQuest Gift Card for each team member!<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships<\/u><\/p>\n

ArtsQuest is partnering with the\u00a0US Steinholding Association<\/a>\u00a0(USSA) to once again host the official Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships presented by Samuel Adams on Saturday, October 10 at 6 p.m. This event is 21+. Men and women\u2019s competitions will be held separately, with the champions taking home an official stein, the glory of being able to say\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0Pennsylvania\u2019s best, and a trip to the 2026 Steinholding Nationals provided by the USSA.<\/p>\n

The State Championship Qualifier Competition will take place on October 5 at 6 p.m. in the Oktoberfest Arena, and the participants with the top times will move on to the finals. Register for the free competition\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Karl Ehmer Bratwurst Eating Competition<\/a><\/p>\n

The Karl Ehmer Bratwurst Eating Competition will be on Sunday, October 11 at 5 p.m. in the Yuengling Tent. Contestants, ages 18 and up, will go head-to-head to see who can be the first to finish 10 Karl Ehmer brats (no buns) and keep them down for two minutes, with the winner taking home a $250 prize. Register\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to become the next\u00a0bratwurst\u00a0eating champion.<\/p>\n

Oktoberfest Hot Glass Experience<\/a><\/p>\n

Work one on one with a hot glass instructor to create your own piece of art from molten glass \u2013 choose between a pumpkin or a sleeping kitty. Ages 6 and up, no experience\u00a0necessary. Pieces need\u00a048 hours\u00a0to cool, and participants need to return to the festival to pick up their work or to have it shipped directly, pay a shipping charge.<\/p>\n

20-minute time slots are available every day of Oktoberfest starting at 5 p.m. on Fridays and noon Saturdays and Sundays. Please arrive 10 minutes before your time slot.\u00a0Register here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Yuengling Oktoberfest 5k<\/a><\/p>\n

The annual race for beer is on! The Yuengling Oktoberfest 5k, in partnership with Run Lehigh Valley, returns for the 12th<\/sup>\u00a0year on Sunday, October 4 at 10:30 AM. Runners will be welcomed at the finish line with a\u00a022 oz. mug of delicious Yuengling Oktoberfest or root beer\u00a0Pre-registration<\/a>\u00a0is required.<\/p>\n

Wiener Dog Races<\/a><\/p>\n

On your bark! Get set! Register! The annual running of the wiener dogs is back at Oktoberfest.\u00a0Join in\u00a0the festivities at the Oktoberfest Arena by registering your fast, four-legged friends in the unforgettable Wiener Dog races. Purebreds, Dachshund\u00a0mixes\u00a0and wiener dogs at heart under 25 lbs. are welcome. Races are held both weekends, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays with an additional race on Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. Register your pup\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Oktoberfest Pup Parades<\/a><\/p>\n

The festival will host a parade every Saturday and Sunday. Pups of all kinds are invited to don their favorite costume or simply trot at\u00a0they\u00a0vie for the chance to be elected President or Chancellor of the Oktoberfest Pup Parade! There will be prizes and there will be adorableness. The parade is free to participate in, and no pre-registration is required. You can sign your dog up on the day of the parade beginning at 12 p.m. at the Oktoberfest Arena.<\/p>\n

SPECIALTY FOOD\/BEVERAGE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yuengling Beer Dinner<\/a><\/p>\n

ArtsQuest, Levy Restaurants and D.G. Yuengling & Son have partnered to put together another delicious Oktoberfest beer dinner on Saturday, October 3 at 5 p.m. in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room in the ArtsQuest Center! This is a 21+ event. We have four courses paired with\u00a06 oz. pours of four different Yuengling beers. A Yuengling brewer will be talking about the brewing process and each beer as we go through the dinner. And each patron will get a special Yuengling pint glass! Purchase your tickets\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/u><\/p>\n

OKTOBERFEST FOOD VENDORS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Enjoy a bite from some festival favorites! From German sausages and hand-rolled pretzels to smoked BBQ, sliders and ice cream, there are too many delicious options that you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want to miss.<\/p>\n

Aw Shucks<\/a><\/p>\n

Bacon on a Stick<\/a><\/p>\n

Dinky\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

Karl Ehmer<\/a><\/p>\n

Heaven on a Bun<\/a><\/p>\n

MMG Concessions<\/a><\/p>\n

Grumpy\u2019s BBQ<\/a><\/p>\n

Island Expressions \/ Heidi\u2019s Strudel<\/a><\/p>\n

Humpty\u2019s Dumplings<\/a>\u00a0(10\/3-10\/4 only)<\/p>\n

Slide On By<\/a>\u00a0(10\/10-10\/11 only)<\/p>\n

Be sure to visit all four of our biergartens where\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0find Hofbr\u00e4u, Samuel Adams, Dogfish Head, Spaten and Yuengling on tap and more. (Feel free to bring your Musikfest Mug or purchase an official Oktoberfest\u00a0Mug).<\/p>\n

RETAILERS\/CRAFTERS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remi Threadz<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunflower Trading Company<\/a><\/p>\n

Scentsy<\/a><\/p>\n

Peppers of Key West<\/a><\/p>\n

Laura\u2019s Raw Honey<\/a><\/p>\n

Chocolate Moonshine Company<\/a><\/p>\n

True Honey Teas<\/a><\/p>\n

Pittston Popcorn Co.<\/a><\/p>\n

Keystone Farms Cheese<\/a><\/p>\n

Hillbillys Jerky<\/a><\/p>\n

Hometown Spark Permanent<\/a>\u00a0Jewelry<\/u><\/p>\n

Celtic Vibe<\/p>\n

Whisker Biscuits<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0be an ArtsQuest event without live music! Between our four biergartens – Hofbr\u00e4u Biergarten, Samuel Adams\/Dogfish Head Biergarten, Spaten Biergarten and Yuengling Biergarten \u2013 we\u2019re hosting can\u2019t miss performances from bands Fritz\u2019s Polka Band, Polkadelphia, South Penn Dixie Trio, Zaire, Sam Houseal Band, Bavarian Kings,\u00a0Sch\u00fctzengiggles\u00a0Oompah Band\u00a0and many more. Not to mention the Schuhplattler performances by GTV Almrausch, GTEV D\u2019Lustigen Isartaler and Almrausch Altoona. For a comprehensive lineup, visit\u00a0Oktoberfest Biergarten Schedule – ArtsQuest<\/a><\/p>\n

Oktoberfest Karaoke with Notorious S.Y.D<\/a><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t\u00a0miss the karaoke fun at Oktoberfest! You can sing your heart out on Friday, October 2 and Friday, October 9 at 8 p.m. \u2013 10 p.m. with the Notorious S.Y.D.!<\/p>\n

Dragtoberfest<\/a><\/p>\n

This 18+ event is hosted by former Miss Gay Pennsylvania Elektra Fearce St. James, back to direct one of our most enduring Oktoberfest traditions: Dragtoberfest!\u00a0She\u2019ll\u00a0have a cast full of the region\u2019s most talented queens ready to serve you with jaw-dropping performances on both Saturdays, October\u00a03\u00a0and October 10, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n

This FREE show fills up quickly, so come early to grab your spot!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About ArtsQuest<\/strong><\/p>\n

ArtsQuest’s<\/a>\u00a0<\/u>mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic,\u00a0cultural\u00a0and educational experiences, using arts and culture as drivers of economic development in our urban communities. ArtsQuest supports this mission through performing and visual arts, film, arts education and outreach, youth programming and a wide range of cultural events, anchored by signature venues and initiatives including its flagship event,\u00a0Musikfest<\/a>; the\u00a0ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL<\/a>, a centerpiece for the Valley’s artistic communities; the ArtsQuest Center at\u00a0SteelStacks<\/a>;<\/u>\u00a0and the\u00a0LVHN, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop<\/a>,<\/u>\u00a0an adaptive reuse project expanding space for programming, festivals, private events and nationally touring exhibits. ArtsQuest welcomes more than\u00a02 million people\u00a0annually, with\u00a0nearly 40 percent\u00a0of its programs free to attend, generating a regional economic impact of close to $193 million in 2025. ArtsQuest’s\u00a0Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign<\/a>\u00a0<\/u>supports the continued growth of its mission to make the arts accessible for all.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Information provided to TVL by:
\nTehani Boyer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Free two-weekend festival presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport features steinholding, wiener dog races, live music, four biergartens and more Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, September 8, 2026 –\u00a0\u00a0ArtsQuest\u00a0today announced Oktoberfest, presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) returns to SteelStacks for its 16th\u00a0year, bringing two weekends of German-inspired food, brews, live music, family-friendly fun, and … Continue reading Oktoberfest Returns to SteelStacks for 16th Year with New Bourbon Tasting Experience, German Traditions and Fan-Favorite Competitions<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":150917,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\r\n\r\n{excerpt}\r\n\r\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[69,482],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-150916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-valley","category-press-release-2"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ARTSQUEST-26.jpg?fit=672%2C372&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=150916"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150918,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150916\/revisions\/150918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/150917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=150916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=150916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=150916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}