Not everyone can make it out to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. Alpine Helen’s Oktoberfest makes a great alternative. It offers multiple weeks of dancing, food, and beer. Read on to find out what it’s all about.
Why Helen Makes the Perfect Oktoberfest Destination
Helen is considered the Bavarian Village of northeast Georgia. It recreates the feel of a Bavarian village with cobblestone streets and specialty shops offering handmade candles, blown glass items, and traditional cuckoo clocks. It also has many German food eateries.
About Helen Oktoberfest
Helen Oktoberfest has been happening for over 50 years. It is the longest running event of its kind in the United States.
The 2022 festivities will kick off with a parade at noon on Sept. 10 in downtown Helen. The event itself will be held in the city Festhalle Thursday through Sunday and every day from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30. Hours are as follows:
• Weekdays: 6 – 10:30PM
• Friday: 6PM to midnight
• Saturday: 1 PM to midnight
• Sunday: 1-7 PM
Admission is $8 on weekdays, $10 on Saturdays and free on Sundays. Active and retired military get in free with a military ID. Kids under 6 get in free and kids 6-12 get in half price.
There are also special meal packages available Monday through Friday for $22, Saturday for $24, and Sunday for $15.
Entertainment and Activities
Live Music: There will be traditional live music and dance performances happening throughout the festival. Guests are welcome to sing along and join in the fun.
Food and Drink
The food menu includes a variety of traditional items including wurst, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and potato salad. Beverages include domestic beers, wines, soft drinks, and coffees.
If you sign up for the meal package, your meal will include:
• One wurst of your choice
• Sauerkraut
• A side of red cabbage or German potato salad
• A dessert of German chocolate cake, cheesecake, or apple strudel
• A beer or wine beverage
Other Things to Do in Helen
Helen is full of shops and restaurants that offer the perfect complement to your Oktoberfest experience. These include the following:
• Stay in Style: Make the most of the Bavarian village vibe by staying at the Valhalla Resort Hotel or Heidi Motel.
• Eat German Food: The Festhalle will be serving up a variety of traditional foods, but there are plenty of other German eateries in the area to enjoy. These include Hofer’s of Helen, Café International, The Troll Tavern, Bodensee, The Heidelberg German Restaurant, Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant & Lounge, Muller’s Fried Cheese Café and Hofbrauhaus.
• Charlemagne’s Kingdom: Charlemagne’s Kingdom is an Alpine model railroad museum that houses German model railroads set against reproduction of German villages that date back to the rule of Charlemagne.
If you can’t make it out to Germany for Oktoberfest, Helen is the closest you’ll get to the real thing. It offers weeks of festivities and an authentic Bavarian Village vibe. Will you be making reservations for the coming season?
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