Hello everyone, unfortunately, the main event at the annual Helen Oktoberfest event has been cancelled for 2020. There will not be a large Oktoberfest event held in the Helen Festhalle for 2020. According to organizers, there will be some “open air celebrations of Oktoberfest put together by our business members throughout the city”, but there will not be an big indoor celebration in the main festhalle.
Helen Oktoberfest COVID-19 update
The annual Helen Oktoberfest event has been cancelled for 2020. Make plans to attend the 50th Helen Oktoberfest in 2021. This cancellation refers to the big weeks-long main event in the Helen Festhalle. There will be other unaffiliated outdoor Oktoberfest events held by independent businesses / vendors.
Note that the information below shows outdated details for the 2020 event. Stay tuned for updates on the next event which will start in September 2021.
Helen Georgia Oktoberfest
Did you know that the longest running Oktoberfest in the United States happens in Helen in the North Georgia mountains each year?
The annual Helen Oktoberfest will be in it’s 50th year for 2020, and lasts for 8 and a half weeks (from September 10 through November 8)! Make plans now to attend the festivities with the details below.
So what should you expect at the annual Oktoberfest event in Helen?
The alpine mountain town of Helen looks like a Bavarian village all year round, but this small town packs extra oomph during Oktoberfest. In addition to the lively German music and attire, expect to find plenty of beer, wine, and traditional German foods including brats and sauerkraut! Traffic will slow to a crawl for cars during the event, so give yourself extra time for travel.
The weather may still be hot as festivities get started in September — you may even find yourself sweating in your lederhosen! As the event nears it’s close in late October, the weather will be cooler and the Georgia mountains will be bursting with gorgeous fall colors. Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance to ensure your comfort.
The biggest crowds show up for the peak fall colors of the leaves in the mountains — this annual display attracts thousands of people to enjoy the natural beauty. Make certain to book your lodging well in advance for these peak weekend dates in mid to late October.
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Helen Georgia Oktoberfest 2020 Events & Information
You will find that the entire Helen village gets wrapped up in the spirit of Oktoberfest, but the main event happens in the Helen Festhalle at 1074 Edelweiss Strasse. The event is scheduled for long weekends (THU – SUN) from September 10 – 27, then it becomes a daily event starting on October 1st.
There is an Oktoberfest parade to kick things off on the first weekend of the event (Saturday, Sept. 12th at 12:00 p.m.).
2020 Event Dates & Band Schedule
The authentic live German music starts 30 minutes after the doors open. Arrive early for the best seats or spend the entire time doing traditional dances on the dance floor!
- September 10 – 13 with music from Dan Witucki & Sterne and Liab’ und Schneid
- September 17 – 20 with music from The Czechers and Festhaus Music
- September 24 – 27 with music from Prost and Das Polka Stimmung Duo
- October 1 – 4 with music from Pech & Schweifel and Sonnen Schnapps
- October 5 – 11 with music from Squeeze Box featuring Ted Lange & Mollie B. and Sonnen Schnapps
- October 12 – 18 with music from Dan Witucki and Mein Heimatland Musikanten and Alpinedoc Matthias
- October 19 – 25 with music from Alpenmusikanten and The Duncan’s from Prost
- October 26 – November 1 with music from Martin Gross und sein Sonnenschein Express and Herb Albinus
- November 2 – November 8 with music from Europa and Herb Albinus
Admission & Hours
Everyone will have their ID checked upon entrance — make sure to remember to bring your ID!!
Active and Retired Military get FREE ADMISSION with valid Military ID.
- Monday – Thursday (6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.)
- $8.00 ages 13+
- $4.00 ages 6 – 12
- FREE under age 6
- Friday (6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.)
- $8.00 ages 13+
- $4.00 ages 6 – 12
- FREE under age 6
- Saturday (1:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.)
- $10.00 ages 13+
- $5.00 ages 6 – 12
- FREE under age 6
- Sunday (1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
- FREE for everyone!
Kid friendly — the kids even have their own dance floor and kids under age 6 are FREE!
Dog friendly — dogs are welcome in the outside biergarten. Only service dogs are allowed inside. If you are looking for other pet-friendly places in Helen, then check out this list of Pet Friendly Motels & Cabins in Helen and Pet Friendly Restaurants in Helen.
Groups
Group packages are available to groups of 25 or more (advance reservation & prepayment only). Tables will be reserved for groups booking Monday through Thursday, provided they arrive at the Helen Festhalle by 6:30 PM for seating. No reserved tables are available on Saturdays.
- Package 1 (Admission and meal) – $22.00 per person Monday – Friday (Saturday $24.00)
- Package 2 (Admission only) – $8.00 per person Monday – Friday (Saturday $10.00)
- Package 3 (Admission only) – FREE on Sundays!
- Package 4 (Admission and meal) – $15.00 per person Sunday
- Each group will receive 2 complimentary tickets
The German dinner includes one wurst of your choice, sauerkraut, one side (red cabbage or German potato salad), dessert (German Chocolate, cheesecake, or Apple Strudel) and beverage (excluding beer and wine.) Food is served cafeteria style.
Food Menu
Enjoy a full platter or choose your food a la carte at the Helen Oktoberfest. The menu includes traditional German favorites like bratwurst, sauerkraut, leberkase, and German potato salad. Snackable American standards are also available for any picky eaters in your group.
You are welcome to bring a cake if there is a birthday in your party, but no other outside food is allowed.
Lodging
There are lots of different options for lodging during Oktoberfest, but many will be completely full on the busiest weekends. Make your plans in advance and for the best experience, try to find a place within walking distance from the Helen Festhalle. It’s a great time of year to be outside for a walk around town, plus vehicle traffic can be especially busy during Oktoberfest.
Use the map features on these lodging sites to narrow down a place in your preferred location.
VRBO (rentals)
There are many great VRBO vacation rentals available within Helen and also in the surrounding area. Choose from houses, condos, cabins, and cottages. Find pet-friendly options or something big enough for a large group.
Hotels & Motels
Stay with familiar brands and find perks including free breakfast, parking, and internet access. Earn free nights or loyalty points with select rates. Find the best prices and search multiple hotel properties / brands with online travel agencies like Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline, and Booking.com.
Bed and Breakfasts
Enjoy the individual character of a unique room at a bed and breakfast. These memorable locations include an amazing home-cooked meal to start your day.
AirBNB
There are many varieties of AirBNB rentals in downtown Helen that provide a short walk to the Oktoberfest fun (the AirBNB rental featured above is only 0.2 miles from the Helen Festhalle). Rentals can be a single room or an entire cabin. The wide variety of rental options can offer homes with complete privacy or sometimes include a shared meal with your host.
Camping
Get a little closer to nature with a stay at a campground.
Transportation
This popular event sees the small town of Helen (population 543) swell to greet thousands of visitors each year. Traffic can be slow moving on the 2-lane main thoroughfare, and while the mountain roads that approach Helen are beautiful, they are also very twisty. Plan to designate a driver if your group will be drinking or arrange for other transportation like a tour bus or taxi. Keep in mind that the small town’s tranportation resources may be stretched thin during peak times, so these options may be challenging to book when you need them most.
Note that rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber do not officially show Helen as a city that they serve… although, based on internet forums there are often drivers who are availble.
If you’re traveling from the nearby city of Augusta, there is a tour option available for Saturday, October 5th that includes transportation!
- Roundtrip motorcoach transportation from Augusta to Helen including refreshments, games (with prizes), and music
- $75 per person includes a full day at Oktoberfest (admission / ticket included)
- See website for more details and to purchase tickets
Staying Safe
While the festive environment usually brings out the best in people, law enforcement officers will be there to help with crowd control and to make sure that everyone obeys the local laws.
If someone in your group finds themselves needing legal advice or assistance, contact the legal team of Corales & Woody for a free legal consulation. These Georgia lawyers have years of experience and are available to answer your questions over the phone at (678) 961-3999. You may contact them 24 / 7 either via phone, email, or by using their online form.
What to Take
Everyone is going to be asked for ID, so be sure to take yours with you to the Helen Festhalle.
Take some cash, because even though most places do accept credit cards, some of the parking lots do not. You may also want cash available to tip your servers.
Although dressing up for Oktoberfest is not required, you may find that it helps you to enjoy yourself just a little more. Checkered trachten shirts are traditional and festive, but they are also something that you will be able to continue to wear year round.
Many people do choose to fully immerse themselves in the traditional attire, so expect to see many, many men in lederhosen. Formerly, lederhosen were worn for hard physical work, as the leather material was more durable than a fabric garment. Today, they are mostly worn as leisurewear and common at Oktoberfest events.
The traditional dress for women is the dirndl. Women should be aware that the how you tie the knot on the dirndl may signify your relationship status: a knot on the left means you are single, a knot on the right means you are taken, a knot in the center may signify virginity, and a knot in the back can indicate a widow or a waitress.
Since dogs are also welcome at the outdoor biergarten, you may also want to let your dog dress up for the occasion. There are many fun costumes available for dogs of all sizes!
Live Web Cam
Finally, if you can’t attend in person but would still like to experience the sights and sounds of the Helen Festhalle during Oktoberfest, then tune in anytime for a live view on the Helen Festhalle live web cam!
Note that you can also bring the same affordable technology to your own home or business with a highly rated indoor or outdoor Nest Security Camera!
Additional Resources & Links
The official event happens at the Helen Festhalle at 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, GA.
For more information, visit these additional links:
- Oktoberfest / Alpine Helen Chamber of Commerce
- Oktoberfest website and Facebook page (Oktoberfest Festhalle Friends, Helen Georgia)
- Alpine Helen Convention & Visitors Bureau / HelenGa.org
- Helen, GA brochure
- Helen, GA on TripAdvisor
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Have you been to one of the annual Helen Oktoberfest events? What are you looking most forward to this year?
Hello dear, thanks for sharing the information with us. It’s helpful to know this information — especially where to find legal advice for the local area should one need it (hopefully not, but better to be prepared). I’m also glad that you shared some ideas for what to wear to Oktoberfest. I don’t think I’m all in for the lederhosen, but a blue Trachten shirt will be just right! Thanks!
Wearing Trachten shirts for Oktoberfest is a great way to show spirit while enjoying the unique German food and music!
Heloo over there, thanks for sharing all the details about the Helen Oktoberfest for 2020. I am very happy to see the band schedule with links to some of the band websites. It’s great to listen to the Oktoberfest bands online to help me get excited and in the Oktoberfest mood while I plan the details of the trip. Thanks for the links to the cabins and also for the ideas about what to wear to Oktoberfest… it’s not often that lederhosen are a wardrobe option!!
Nice! It’s great that you’re enjoying the Oktoberfest spirit while planning out the details of the trip!! I’m glad you enjoyed the tips and links for what to wear to Oktoberfest. You can obviously wear anything you like (no special attire is required), but it’s much more fun to dress more authentic and show a little more spirit!
Hi there thanks for the review. The Oktoberfest Celebration in Helen, GA is One of the Best in the U.S. Oktoberfest is a German tradition celebrated around the world, dating back to the early 1800s to celebrate the marriage of a prince and princess. I was privileged to be in the fest last year and I can tell you I had a great time because there was lots of activities
It’s great to hear that you had such a great time as a participant in Oktoberfest last year!
Excellent website that covers almost everything you need to know to have an enjoyable visit to this replica Bavarian town . From lodging, food, local transportation, map identifying everything,activities for Children and Adults, what to bring and not to bring and clothing that can be purchased for the atmosphere of the visit. There is a list of expected weather in the Georgia mountains at that time of year. Unforeseen conditions are provided for emergency services and Police will be evident throughout to make sure that it is an enjoyable occurrence for everybody. I do have one question and that is; what is the nearest major airport if sombody is coming from a distance that they could fly into?
Hi Edward,
Helen is located in the Northeastern Georgia mountains, and is about a 1.5 – 2.0 hour drive to three major airports: Atlanta, GA (ATL), Chattanooga, TN (CHA), and Greenville, SC (GSP).
There are a few other small regional airports in the area for those who are flying in with their own aircraft (these smaller airports do not have commercial passenger service).
I have never heard about Helen Georgia Octoberfest before. It sounds a lot of fun and a wonderful way to meet new people from all around the world. VRBO vacation rentals looks like a wonderful opportunity to rent a cozy wooden cabin. It sounds like a thing I have to explore some time!
Thanks for sharing this awsome guide with us! It makes it much easier to plan the Octoberfest!
Al tthe best,
Fred.
Oktoberfest is a wonderful time to visit the Georgia mountains, and Helen is full of people celebrating the event everywhere.
Having a place to stay in town is the best way to wander around and take in all of the spirit. It’s a great time to plan for this right now as lodging usually gets filled up on the busiest weekends in October / November. VRBO has a great selection of unique owner-leased cabins to choose from!
This is amazing because I love Oktoberfest and I never knew this place existed in Georgia about an hour and a half northeast of where my sister lives in Alpharetta. I will not be able to make it this year but I will definitely make it a point to get there next year. Being so close, I will be able to save money and not need lodging.
I really like the architecture of the town. I find it interesting as to why it all looks like a Bavarian town in the Appalachian Mountains of a southern U.S. state. The prices for admission are very reasonable and the food and drink menu items is making me hungry right now. It’s great how long it runs. Something to look forward to on the weekends.
How cool that you have family so close and that you’ll be able to check it out in 2020. That will be the 50th anniversary of the event so I’m betting it will be even more fun during that milestone!
Oh My Goodness! If I didn’t know any better I would think this was in the heart of Bavaria! Oktoberfest in Helen makes our local Oktoberfest (that lasts only 3 or 4 days) look like a half-baked cake walk.
This destination in definitely going on my future road-trip itinerary.
Thank you for including links to purchase authentic clothing (for people AND pets!) The web cam is a brilliant idea – a majority of us are so visual, this added dimension is a great motivator to visit the Georgia mountains and attend this awesome festival!
Now, back to the web cam!
I’m glad you enjoyed the Oktoberfest clothing links… I figure it’s easier to share a few ideas / options for everyone than to start looking from scratch!
I’ve been enjoying the webcam as well, although it’s too bad it only shows a small area of the overall Oktoberfest festival. When the weather is so nice, most people will stay outside near the Chattahoochee River and move inside later when things cool off.
Hi,
Excellent article about alpine fun at the annual Helen ga Octoberfest. I really enjoyed this post. Although, I don’t tour that much my nephew is a world tour person. Whenever he gets the time and any occasion, he will never miss anything. So I am going to share with him and I am sure he will definitely this post helpful, as you explain everything from accommodation, food everything. Thanks a lot.
Thank you for sharing! One of the best parts of Oktoberfest is getting to meet the wide variety of people who travel from all over the world!!
Oh my goodness I just happened to run accross this and glad I did. This brought back a few memories, I am so glad to see the Oktoberfest is still going strong in Helen. I have been to a few of them over 20 years ago when I was a young un LOL . Boy it has also grown and become quite a festival it looks like. Makes me miss the Ga mountains.
The Georgia mountains have always been beautiful, but they have definitely seen growth in the last 20 years. In addition to the long running Helen Oktoberfest, there are now dozens of vineyards and lots of new, unique attractions to enjoy. I hope you can make it back for a visit soon!!
Oktoberfest is one of my all-time favorite festivals and I’m always looking for great places outside of Munich to visit and celebrate. As such I’m thrilled to come across your post here. That Helen Oktoberfest is in it’s 49th year is really outstanding. Not only does Helen look like an amazing place to visit throughout the year, it’s looks especially inviting during Oktoberfest. The foliage sounds fantastic. I will save your post and try my best to get to Helen this year, but if not definitely next year!
Wonderful – please let me know if I can answer any questions about Helen or the North Georgia Mountains for you as you plan for your trip!
This is one of the longest period of celebration I have ever seen or heard in my entire life and it sounds like fun for me. I would really love to experience this Oktoberfest because of the love I have for German food and eventually they’re would be bear also. I hardly attend festivals or large gatherings like this but with the awesomeness of this colourful festival as described above, I can’t wait to be a part of it. Thanks for this nice article.
The Helen Oktoberfest is definitely a fun event – it’s just started but will continue throughout October so there is still plenty of time to enjoy the festivities!
Hello; Alpine Fun at the Annual Helen “Octoberfest” seems to be very attractive to people from all walks of life. I would like to join in the Fun. Looking at the Cabin image helps me to imagine what fun must be included in the event. I would not mind walking around as much as I can — mostly due to the vehicular traffic.
It would help me to know Helen much better. as also allows me to interact with some local village folks.
Dorcas
Oktoberfest is one of the best times to visit Helen and meet the locals and tourists from all over as well!
Hello,
It’s been some time since I’ve been to an Oktoberfest. I really appreciate the time and effort you’ve put forth here.
I’ll be honest here, I’m not much of a beer guy but I am all about food.
Sadly, this is a bit last-minute for me but I’m seeing what I can find in VRBO and AirBNB and hope to make it work this year. If not, I’ll have to make advanced plans for next year and live vicariously through the live webcam!
Thanks again,
Scott
Hi Scott, the Helen Oktoberfest just kicked off yesterday but continues throughout the month of October. It may be challenging to find lodging in town if you want to stay overnight, but the other nearby towns should still have rooms available. And of course, there is always next year!
WOW this is such an informative article, it has everything we need when planning to go for such a big festivity. Now I wish I live in the US.
Personally I think the Alpine countries are just magnificent, in fact Germany and Switzerland are my dream countries, not only do they have awesome food and beer, their abundant history and culture are absolutely fascinating. I hope one day I can visit those countries and have the real experience of their festivities!
Thanks for sharing this and keep up the great work!
The alpine countries are certainly beautiful — it’s fun that we get to have a little slice of them in the states with the town of Helen and the annual Oktoberfest!
I had no idea that Helen has one of the oldest October Fests in the world. I was surprised to read that it runs for such a long time. We have one in our city, but it only runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October once a year. I never go because it is just too crowded, and I think that if they had to run it for a bit longer, then everyone could go at their leisure and it wouldn’t get so crowded that it becomes uncomfortable.
This one looks like the one to attend if you are in that part of the world though. I love that the people even dress the part. You have been a great help to find both costumes and accommodation for the event for those of us who would love to try out this novel experience.
Hi Michel, I hope you are able to attend at some point. It is a fun event to get wrapped up in with food, drink, and costumes!
Wow! This site has it all and it is put in a fun “gotta go there” format. So much to see and do. And all the details are there. No one should have a problem finding the info they want to be aware of what is available and how to prepare. Even the weather report is on the page! Whether it is accommodations or food or what is in the area, I found it all on this site! Great job. I wanna go!
Thanks Jack – I hope you find a way to make it to Helen and enjoy all the fun and spirit of the annual Oktoberfest!
There are so many to choose from on the kind and type of restaurants. The first thing to know is food. Is it delicious and since we are on the physical atraction I listed down ut i will you which one I want. Milton Park at Lake Burton I like the farm to table concept a genuinely fresh and organic dishes on my table with a priceless view fill the tummy and the soul feasting the eyes and detoxifying my lungs in the fresh air and the soft breeze from the lake
The crisp mountain air is always a great reason for a trip to the Georgia mountains! I hope you enjoy your trip!!
It looks and it sounds fun!
I haven’t been to such festivities in the US but I imagine our celebrations back home which are small time but quite similar, are times where families gather together and go back to be with one another, from wherever they reside now.
The Helen Oktoberfest is one event that my family and I would consider going to sometime.
Thanks for sharing all these important information.
Marita
The Helen Oktoberfest is definitely a great family-friendly event!
7.5 weeks of celebration? That’s amazing! I really enjoyed learning about the Alpine Fun! You presented terrific details about the event – for all of the duration of it! Well done! It’s definitely a great one-stop-shop for those interested in planning their trip to the event! You have literally thought of everything: weather, food, events, transportation, lodging, shopping, maps, etc. I’m impressed with the amount of knowledge in one place!
Here’s to not sweating in lederhosen! 🙂 GREAT POST! I want to attend!
Depending on the time of your trip to Oktoberfest, those lederhosen may be the perfect attire to keep you warm on a cool Autumn day! 🙂
I can only imagine the explosion of people in this quiet little town. The crowds must be HUGE! I just love Oktoberfest and if I lived anywhere near there, wild horses wouldn’t prevent me from going. Your article covers absolutely everything needed for a person or party to have a great time! I especially didn’t know the tying of the dirndl! That is just precious! Thank you for such an excellently worded article!
I agree, the details when wearing the dirndl to an Oktoberfest event seem pretty important, as you want to make sure you’re sending the right signals! 🙂
I’ve been looking into attending Oktoberfest but wasn’t sure of what arrangements could be made. I figured it would be busy so I was thinking about using either public transportation or Uber. I’m pretty surprised that Uber and Lyft don’t officially service Helen especially since this festival is a pretty big deal. But it is nice to know that drivers are willing to drive there. Thanks for the information, I will be saving it and sharing it with my friends who will be attending.
Hi Marlinda, Helen is usually a very small town with restaurants and lodging all within walking distance, so there probably isn’t much of a need for Lyft / Uber during the rest of the year. It definitely gets busy during Oktoberfest though!!
What a fabulous way to celebrate Oktoberfest in the US! Also an excellent excuse to party for the whole almost 2 months if that’s your thing lol! Gosh, that’s a long time to celebrate Oktoberfest, and a great tourist drawcard! Your post gives plenty of warning for the need to book in advance, and provided heaps of valuable info on what to expect. The food looks amazing and I love that Sundays are free, but I bet it’s also the busiest day too. You’ve created a great collation of what to expect as well as showing what is on offer at this time of year in Helen Georgia.
Hi Kat, you are right, Sundays are the busiest day and it’s likely due to the free admission!
Oh this looks like fun and festive! I really want to go there, but unfortunately I have plan at other country in October 🙁 Is this held annually? If so, I want to bring my family to this event next year while visiting our cousin. Oh, we can bring our little Pom and book a pet friendly hotel near the festival. Thank you so much for the information.
Hi Alblue, The Helen Oktoberfest is an annual event that happens in both September and October each year. I hope that you’re able to visit soon!
Howdy – your review of Oktoberfest really sheds light on the subject! It seems like a really fun and festive time..I think it’s something I would enjoy. I absolutely love to see mountains full of color. It’s one of the most pleasing things about nature to me. I live in the northeast so I can plan for this next fall. It’s a little too late now. I’m sure everything’s booked up.
many thanks for this review!
Hi Nathaniel, There are a number of places that are already booked up for Oktoberfest, but also still many great places are available. The leaves should peak a little later in Georgia than they do in the Northeast… with any luck you can see the peak fall colors both at home and a week or 2 later in the Georgia mountains!about:blank#blocked
I had no idea they celebrated ‘In the German Way’ in the US – how long exactly has this been going on?
I actually attended a similar festival in Germany (outside Dortmund) about twenty years ago now, we were over there for a football match and got roped into the whole festival thing…had a great couple of days in the end though (from what I can remember!!).
Haha… I’m sure you remember all the good stuff! Would you believe that the Helen Oktoberfest is having it’s 49th annual event this year?? It’s a long-running popular event!
Thanks for this post. I came across your site because I am headed to Georgia in the Fall to visit some friends and was doing some research as to some fun events that we could all attend while there. This Oktoberfest looks like a lot of fun and really inexpensive. Your information about nearby accommodations was also very helpful. I am definitely going to suggest this event to the group. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for sharing! I hope you all have a wonderful visit to the North Georgia mountains!
What?! Are you telling me that there is an awesome Oktoberfest in Georgia? That is awesome! I went to one when I visited my German friend in Munich it is so much fun but I do not think I can afford to do that again any time soon. I have been celebrating in NYC beer houses, not that bad close enough. I love it that the event runs just like in Germany (IT is called Oktoberfest but they celebrate it in September) This looks like a fun domestic to do. I love it already. Gotta have to tell my husband about it. Thanks for the review! I am so excited.
Hi Nuttanee, Helen’s Oktoberfest is a very popular local event and it’s impossible to not get caught up in the fun spirit! Enjoy!!
Great article and very informative guide to Helen GA Oktoberfest,A friend of mine told me of this and I’ve been longing to experience this great festival,and other friends of mine would be there also,your write-up has opened our eyes to many event concerning this festival,talking of the breakfast,lodge and other necessary information needed to be known,I was told its always fun and interesting.My activities has to be scheduled properly to accommodate this,thanks for sharing.
Your friend told you right — it’s a great time for everyone!
Wow, what perfect timing for me to have read your article! An Oktoberfest in Georgia, U.S.A.?! I was not aware of that and I live in South Carolina. I’ve been to the Smokey Mountain to view the autumn leaves but I did not know there was an annual Oktoberfest so close, and at the same times as the changing leaves. My husband will be happy to go just for the beer and the food!
Thanks so much for all the valuable information regarding the trip. It will be easy to pick out a few days to spend there considering how long the festival is, and with all your useful info, we don’t have to leave anything to chance. Great idea to put the cute German costume on your site. This looks like so much fun…Thanks for sharing!
Sue
Hi Sue, SC is a very close neighbor to Helen (it’s only 35 miles to the SC border), so it’s great that you now know about this fun festival and extra excuse to travel to the mountains for the pretty fall colors!
Any celebration that lasts 7 and a half weeks has to be a good one! Being of half German heritage, this even sounds absolutely amazing! You cannot go wrong with beer, bratwurst, and sauerkraut!
Thank you for including prices as well as the reminder to book lodging within walking distance. This is often an aspect of any festivity that I forget.
I am thinking this may very well be a great vacation and an opportunity to get all dressed up. We tend to get some strange looks when we wear our lederhosen and dirndl dresses! LOL …..
Oktoberfest is defintely a great time to get dressed up — especially if you already have the traditional attire!
Wow this seem like so much fun all in one trip. I’ve been so so many festivals and I still feel something is missing. From your description I’d love to have such experience. I’m glad you gave a detailed information about the festival, the food, clothes, where to stay. This is an opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss out on. I’ll be coming with my family and would inform my friends as well.
Thanks so much for sharing! It’s definitely more fun when you can get a group of friends to all go together. Hopefully you can all find a large cabin to share too! Have a great trip!!
Oh wow! The Oktoberfest in Helen, GA sounds like a lot of fun. I haven’t been to an Oktoberfest event since I lived in Germany. It was a lot of fun. So, I thought that I would try one here in the United States this year.
Based on your suggestions, I think I will try to time it so that I can also enjoy the fall colors. Do the leaves change reliably at the same time every year in Georgia? Or should I wait until towards the end of the Oktoberfest or earlier so that I don’t miss them?
By the way, thanks for the Amazon links that show were to find fun outfits to wear to the fest.
Here in the Southeastern US, the leaves tend to peak later than the mountains in the North. The peak season for the best fall colors in the Helen, GA area is mid to late October (according to https://weather.com/maps/fall-foliage), so you will probably see more vivid colors if you time your trip toward the end of the Helen Oktoberfest.
This is such an informative guide to Helen GA Oktoberfest, and I love it! I always want to join Oktoberfest for a long while. When the time is approaching this year, your article just jumped out from my search on google. And I think it’s time!!!
I have some question about the lodgement for Oktoberfest. I will be glad you could answer all my concerns:
01. I love to stay in Helen Festhalle, is there any tiny pests that I should be prepared for?
02. I love the trachten shirt and wondering is there any options for my dog too?
Love to see your reply, Matt
Hi Matt, Hope this can help with your questions… The Helen Festhalle is an event venue, so you can’t actually “stay” inside it. There are still lots of great places nearby available though! I haven’t heard of any issues with pests, but you can always check the online ratings for each option you’re considering.
I love the idea of getting your dog into the festive spirit!! I just checked and there are some really cute costumes available for dogs! Stay tuned and I’ll include a link to some options for dogs this afternoon. 🙂
Which festival can be full of fun than oktoberfest that is not only kids friendly but also pet friendly. Missing this event is like a carryover course. Unfortunately, my summer holiday has been scheduled to visit mount Georgia before I encounter this review. I will definitely inform my friends about this Oktoberfest if they will have interest in it. This review has given alot of information about their Lodge,breakfast and the traffic palava that might arise as a result of this event. It’s going to be full of fun I guess. I will know how to plan my next summer break.
Hi Stella, This is an annual event and as next year (2020) will be the 50th Helen Oktoberfest, I imagine there might be some extra special events to mark the occasion. It does help to plan early to find the best accomodations, so it’s good that you are thinking ahead and planning in advance. I hope you have a great trip!
Thanks for this informative article, I’ve always wanted to experience the feeling of Gemütlichkeit, the atmosphere of the community ofHelen’s Festhalle which is the prime location for enjoyment of dining and refreshments I also love the shoe slapping dances and Polka music. I’m presently going to make a reservation for semptember because I wouldn’t miss it this time around.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the great polka music and dances during the event! Have a wonderful trip!!
Hi
This festival seems perfect. Thank you for all the program of Oktoberfest. You also provide all the information about groups, food menu, accommodation. The important is that there is a Live WebCam if you want to watch the experience, for those who can,t attend. The prices seem reasonable. Thank you for the very informative topic.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the information. The price is definitely right… it’s hard to be a FREE event (admission is free each Sunday) that includes music and dancing for the whole family!!
I have heard more than a lot concerning the annual Oktoberfest from my wife. She has been pestering me for some years to attend but due to work and stress we have never had the time to attend but this year my annual leave is coming by September to October so, it would be just perfect to visit this Oktoberfest. I like everything i read about here. Seriously, this is more fun than I thought it would be. Definitely I’m going this year. Thanks
Awesome, the Helen Oktoberfest is sure to be a fun time and a memorable experience for you and your wife! I hope you both have a great time!!
Hi
Thanks for sharing such an amazing and informative post about Alpine Fun At The Annual Helen Oktoberfest with us. By reading your post we have known about such a great festival of the Alpine mountain. The foods and the hool arrangements are really Awesome of Oktoberfest. This festival is also very colourful and attractive. It drew my attention and I will definitely go there with my friends and family.
Thanks again. I’ll share this post with my friends and family so that they also can get this amazing informations.
Thanks so much for sharing with your family and friends!!
Helen must really be buzzing with this festival. It looks like one that will flourish with music and a great amount of colour. I think I should let my family see this and decide if we want to attend. It’s a very long one I must say with so many actually to get involved in. It’s good that there’s a webcam for those that cannot attend seeing that the city will be sparsely populated.
The Oktoberfest webcam is a great way to enjoy the fun from a distance. It’s a very nice idea for the Helen Festhalle to share that with the world!!
Thank you for this article. It sounds like fun to go to this Festival. I will show my friends this article and maybe we will go as a group. I would like to stay in a nice cabin. Thanks for the heads-up about the traffic, that is good to know. If I can’t make it then maybe I will look at it on the webcam. Thanks for this great article And teaching me about Georgia.
Oktoberfest in Helen is definitely a good time — hopefully your group finds a great cabin for your trip!