Authentic Bavarian and Tulsa Culture

The 2016 Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa celebrates local bier October 20-23

Live music, local beers and authentic cuisine are always cherished features of Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa.

A beloved Tulsa tradition is back for a 38th year. The 2016 Linde Oktoberfest will take place October 20-23. Tulsa’s largest festival is located at River West Festival Park on the west bank of the beautiful Arkansas River, and offers four days of authentic German celebration, including live music, games and, of course, food and drinks, among number other attractions.
Admission is $7 in advance and $10 at the gate for adults and free for children 12 and under. The Autobahn Pass and other ticket packages are available online, allowing patrons to purchase admission and festival money ahead of time and bypass lines. On Family Friday, admission to the festival is free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The carnival offers unlimited rides from noon to 6 p.m. with the purchase of a $20 All-Rides Wristband. Paid parking is available near the festival grounds at $10 and $20, or patrons can ride the free shuttles, which run three routes through downtown, midtown and south Tulsa, near alternative parking areas.
“The sense of community is what Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa is known for,” says Festival Director Tonja Carrigg. At this festival, there are no strangers and every participant can enjoy meeting new friends over good food, drink and entertainment.”
Live music is always a favorite. Festival goers can expect German bands, country-western artists, old-time rock, and dancing as entertainment for the festival. Also making it’s return is the Glockenspiel. The Glockenspiel is a two-story, giant life-sized kuckoo clock. Every hour on the hour, actors come out onto the second floor balcony and perform entertaining skits and then chime in the hour in ways only imaginable by Das Glockenspiel. A bar with adult beverages will also greet customers on the lower level.
New to Oktoberfest is the OK Hoptoberfest Zelt. This tent featuring seven Oklahoma-based breweries is a celebration to local bier.  Brands included in the tent include: Anthem Brewing Company, Hanson Brewing Company, Renaissance Brewing Company, Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing, Nothing’s Left Brewing Co., COOP Ale Works and 405 Brewing Co. Wine, mixed drinks and non-alcoholic beverages also will be served.
The popular commemorative beer stein will be offered again this year. Called the Maßkrug, this one-litre (33.8 fluid ounce) stein is designed to closely resemble the mug frequently used in Bavarian beer gardens and beer halls and is a staple of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
Many local restaurants will be on site with a wide variety of menu choices for all tastes. Some highlights include Siegi’s sausage plate dinner, bratwurst pizza and Lanjaeger (German beef jerky). Ludger’s Wiener Schnitzel sandwich, apple strudel and Bavarian cheesecake will be available for purchase.
The kids’ tent, Das JugendZelt, will offer a variety of entertainment for children each day, including magic shows, circus skills presentations, live music, a science show and more. Authentic and German-inspired games are fun to play and watch.
The Dachshund Dash is a race featuring “wiener dogs.” The Bier Barrel race, Stein Hoisting competition and other participant games will be held during the festival. Full schedule, details and event signup is online.
Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa 2016 times are Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Confirmed sponsors include: Title Sponsor The Linde Group; Official Sponsors Lufthansa Technik , Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Zeeco; North America and Osage Casino; Offical Sponsors and Signature Biers Samuel Adams, Warsteiner, Goose Isalnd Beer Co. and Spaten; Supporting Sponsors Miller Truck Lines, Osage Casino, Siegl’s Sausage Factory, Marshall Brewing Company, Pepsi, Bud Light, EMSA, Coors Light, COOP, Crossland Construction Company, Inc.; Oktoberfest Sponsors German-American Society of Tulsa, PediStat; Official Media Sponsors Tyler Media, Z-104.5 The Edge, iHeartMedia, Cox Media Group Tusla; Hotel sponosrs Hyatt Regency, Holiday Inn, Doubletree by Hilton and Trade  Winds Motor Inn.