Oktoberfest Celebrations in Full Swing This Weekend
This weekend is a big one for Oktoberfest celebrations and parties all across Western New York. Eli Fish’s Oktoberfest takes place Sept. 19 with steinholding, cornhole, Knoggle, a German Spelling Bee, musical chairs, pong, live German music, traditional food, beer, dancing, prizes and more. The event is free and open to the public. Also on Sept. 19, Belt Line will host their Oktoberfest, featuring the release of their Oktoberfest, a traditional German Marzen, and German food specials, Mystic Hills’ Oktoberfest event (11 am, free) features an Oktoberfest beer tapping (1 pm), stein hoisting competitions (3 pm, 6 pm), food (Snowy Brook Farm, Meet & Eat Charcuterie, Under Fire Pizza) and readings from Kristin Quattlebaum and Gowanda Brewing’s Oktoberfest (4 pm) features live music by Hocus Polkas, German food and beer, games, prizes, hair braiding and more ($6 entry or $16 with commemorative glass, kids enter free). Gene McCarthy’s Harvest March & Oktoberfest Celebration takes place Sept. 20 with a 4-block march to Gene’s, blessing of the beer, release of O-Fest, German food, live music from The Polka Boyz and more. The event is free and open to the public.
Local Hollow Brewing to Celebrate Grand Opening
Local Hollow Brewing will celebrate its grand opening Sept. 17–19 at 10737 Main Street in Clarence Hollow. Events begin Thursday, Sept. 17, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Buffalo Bills watch party. On Friday, Sept. 18, the Clarence Youth Bureau will provide games and face painting during Family Night. An outdoor Family Movie Night begins at 8 p.m. The celebration continues Saturday, Sept. 19, from noon to 10 p.m., with outdoor activities, local food trucks, New York State winery and distillery tastings, and live music by Justin Rizzo from 6 to 9 p.m. Located in the former Shalooby Loofer Brewing space, Local Hollow opened under new local ownership this summer.
Oktoberfest Beers Hit Taps and Shelves Around Western New York
Fall and Oktoberfest-style beers are out in full force all across Western New York. Among the new beer to fill your steins with are New York Beer Project has tapped a new Coffee Cake Stout at all locations (draft only, brown sugar and spice aromas, notes of cinnamon), Eli Fish Brewing has released cans of Oktoberfest (5.6% Amber German Lager), Festbier (5.8% Blonde German Lager) and Schwarzenpumpernickelroggenhaus (5.3% Dark Rye Ale), Hamburg Brewing has released a Pumpkin Spice Cider on draft and in cans (notes of apples, warm spices and bright, fruit-forward flavor), and BriarBrothers has a trio of beers – AuktoBrofest 2026 (Märzen collaboration with Autark Brewhouse), Dandy (Munich Dunkel collab with Autark) and Trinity Festbier. Southern Tier has a new Nitro version of their Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout and BlackBird Cider Works has a new Ghost Lantern Variety Pack, featuring the original Ghost Lantern, Hawaiian Ghost Lantern and Hot Honey Mango Ghost Lantern.
Bottle Rocket Beer Mile Back For 2026
Bottle Rocket’s annual Beer Mile returns on Oct. 11. What is a beer mile? It’s pretty simple – drink 4 beers and run 4 laps in alternating fashion as quickly as you can. It’s a 1-mile drinking event that combines running and speed drinking. It will take place on a 1/4 mile course surrounding Bottle Rocket. Space is limited and participation costs $30.26 (tax and fees included). There are three heats – 10 am, 10:30 am and 11 am. Beer served during the event will be Genesee Cream Ale. You can sign up for the Beer Mile here. The event is limited to a total of 90 participants. The overall male and female winners will win new gear from Brooks Running.
Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).
