Page 3 - Oktoberfest Guide-2026

beer and food included, rules. But dancing is defi- families attending the festiv-
people can also walk in just nitely part of the fun. ities together.
to observe and stand inside. He also recalls the elabo- That’s part of the joy for
Each tent has at least one Ed Arnold, a partner and
rate way in which the tents
band performing throughout board member at Hofbrau-
are decorated.
the day, all day, playing both “My favorite is one of the haus in Buffalo.
traditional German songs and breweries in Munich called Oktoberfest is “a family
more widely known songs Hacker and their tent, they time of the year,” he says. “I
from artists ranging from see the kids dancing with
call it the sky of Bavaria. The
Neil Diamond to Bruce their parents, especially the
German word is Himmel,
Springsteen. which also means heaven. It little kids running around and
Paul Jones had similar just looks like a bright beau- enjoying the German music
experiences when he went to tiful sky with clouds. It’s and the environment. It
Munich, in 2012 and 2018, reminds me of when I was a
really something to see,”
marveling at the size of the kid and we used to go with
Jones says.
celebration. From Munich my grandparents to, I think
“There’s a whole area of for three weeks, it’s easy to experience, it was prohibited to Buffalo with love it was called the German
town where these structures see how Oktoberfest is con- to dance on top of the table Both Jones and Dickinson House, and we would listen
get erected for Oktoberfest sidered the largest festival in itself. He saw one man said it was wonderful to see to German music and I
and then it comes back down the world. Plus, some people attempt to ignore this rule; he Continued on page 4
until next year. Most brewer- might have an early reserva- was allowed to finish his
ies have more than one tent tion in one tent and an dance and his beer and then
and each tent holds maybe evening reservation in was escorted out of the tent.
4,000 people inside,” he another to make the most of When Dickinson went in
says, in addition to an their experience. 2025, she said she saw
outdoor beer garden that’s People are encouraged to people dancing on tables and
roughly the same size. stand up on the long wooden no one batted an eye; it’s
By his count there were benches inside the tent to possible different tents and
20 tents the last time he went, sing along with the band and breweries have different
and with two seatings a day dance, Jones says, but in his