WALNUT CREEK, CA — The steins are coming back to Civic Park. Walnut Creek Oktoberfest returns for its annual two-day takeover Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, and this year the Walnut Creek Downtown Association is going bigger than ever.
The festival planted itself at Civic Park East a few years back and never looked back. What started as a one-day affair has ballooned into a full weekend of lederhosen, bratwurst, and the kind of oompah-band energy that makes you forget you’re standing 15 minutes from a Tesla charging station.
Here is what to expect: a biergarten stocked with German imports alongside local craft pours, food vendors slinging pretzels the size of your face and schnitzel that actually has a decent crust on it, and live music on multiple stages running from traditional polka to local bands that probably own at least one accordion.
The Kinder Karneval is back too, which is good news for anyone trying to sell this outing as a “family event” when really you just want an excuse to day-drink in a park. Inflatables, games, activities — the kids get wristbands and their own zone while the adults handle the important business of comparing Oktoberfest lagers.
An artisan market joins the lineup this year too, a sprawl of local makers and crafters selling everything from handmade jewelry to the kind of ceramic steins that look authentic enough to fool your friends who have actually been to Munich. The vendor lineup changes year to year, but the Downtown Association has a knack for curating booths that make you stop walking.
And look, the entry is free. That’s worth repeating. Free admission with an RSVP. You can walk from Walnut Creek BART, you can bike (there’s free valet bike parking), or you can drive and pay for on-site parking like a normal person. If you RSVP ahead of time, you get complimentary Oktoberfest swag at the Info Booth while supplies last, which is a nice touch.
The whole thing runs Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. That Saturday window is the sweet spot — roll in around 2, stake out a picnic spot near the biergarten, and let the afternoon sun turn into the kind of golden-hour evening that Civic Park does better than any lawn in the Tri-Valley.
The Walnut Creek Downtown Association puts this on every year as part of its mission to keep the city core lively. Judging by the crowds, it’s working. For more on what is happening around town, check out our roundup of things to do in Walnut Creek or take a stroll through the history of how downtown became what it is today.
