Downtown Bend would like to invite you to their largest fundraiser of the year, Bend Oktoberfest. Bend Oktoberfest is a two-day festival in Downtown Bend, Oregon featuring local beer, wine, and cider, traditional German foods (vendor list here), live music, absurd games, and ridiculous feats of strength.  Bend Oktoberfest is free to attend, and the festival is family friendly with a kid’s zone sponsored by On Point Community Credit Union.  

USA Today rated Bend Oktoberfest as on of the top Oktoberfest’s in the country, and it’s no wonder why.  Bend Oktoberfest’s schedule of events boasts a Chicken Dance Flash Mob (happening at 1pm on Saturday), barrel rolling, a bratwurst toss, tricycle races, the Hammerschlagen, and a stein holding competition – just to name a few.  Of course, you can’t talk about Bend Oktoberfest without talking about the Weiner Dog Races sponsored by Bend Veterinary Clinic and ran by the Humane Society of Central Oregon.  The Weiner Dog races are scheduled for 4pm on Saturday, Sept 21st.  The race can be viewed from the bleachers on Irving Ave next to the track, or from the Large LED Screen, sponsored by Elevate Pro AVL, on Oregon Ave next to the parking garage.  For a full schedule of Bend Oktoberfest events, click here.

With over 16 different beers on tap, 2 ciders and 6 featured German wines – Bend Oktoberfest has something for everyone.  While at Bend Oktoberfest this weekend, you can try unique brews like Holy Schmidt Oktoberfest Lager by Sunriver Brewing, The Iron Cross German Hefeweizen by Spider City Brewing, or Festbier by 10 Barrel Brewing Co.   Bend Oktoberfest beers are local and donated to Bend Oktoberfest by breweries invested in their community’s growth and development.  We applaud these local businesses for their contributions to the historic core of our city, Downtown Bend.  For a full list of beers, click here.

100% of the funds raised at Bend Oktoberfest go directly to keeping Downtown Bend vibrant and thriving!  Bend Oktoberfest is the only festival in downtown Bend that financially contributes to ongoing year-around beautification in our downtown.  Join us to celebrate the heart of our City, Downtown Bend, and come together for music, dancing and community fun!

​Bend Oktoberfest is happening Friday, September 20th from 3pm to 10pm and Saturday, September 21st from 11am to 10pm.  For more information, including the schedule of events, beer list, directions and more – visit www.bendoktoberfest.com

On Sept 21st and 22nd, The 14th Annual Bend Oktoberfest will take over Irving and Oregon Avenue in Downtown Bend for a good cause.  Whether you are a visitor or a local, Downtown Bend grabs a special place in your heart.  With its rich history, unique stores, award-winning restaurants, and dynamic events – Downtown Bend is the heart of Central Oregon.  If you are visiting in the summer, you can relish in the delight of quaint storefronts, overflowing flower baskets, and incredible outdoor dining experiences – in the winter you can sit in one of our cozy cafes, find distinctive gifts, and bask in the magic of our holiday lights & decorations.  This is all possible because of the Downtown Bend Business Association.

The Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA) is a local nonprofit that is dedicated to increasing the vitality of Downtown Bend.  The DBBA provides the cleaning, decorations, flowers, events, banners, marketing, advocacy and growth planning for the Downtown Bend Economic Improvement District (EID).

Our Bend Community loves Downtown with such wholeheartedness, that every year they put on Bend Oktoberfest to raise funds for Downtown Bend.  With donations from all the local breweries, sponsorship from businesses citywide and almost 300 volunteers, Bend Oktoberfest not only raises necessary funds for Downtown Bend – it offers the community a fun way to celebrate together with silly games (like the chicken dance or bratwurst toss), feats of strength (like the hammerschlagen), and (of course) the much anticipated Weiner Dog Race.
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The great news is that you can join the Bend Community in making Bend Oktoberfest a success & raising funds for Downtown Bend.  Here is how: First and foremost, you can attend the event on Sept 21st & 22nd, with the knowledge that every beer you drink or chicken hat that you buy is raising funds for Downtown Bend.  Second, the DBBA is still in need of volunteers for this year’s Bend Oktoberfest.  Each volunteer receives a free Oktoberfest stein, a free beer token, a free bratwurst, and huge thanks from the staff and board at the DBBA.  To learn more about the event, or to sign up to volunteer, visit www.bendoktoberfest.com.