The Helen, Georgia Oktoberfest Adventures is known far and wide as one of the longest and largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States. Oktoberfest festivities aren’t limited to individual restaurants or bars; the festivities spill into the street, enveloping the entire town in German culture and cuisine.
Family fun in Helen during Oktoberfest is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. More than forty percent of Americans are of German descent; more than any other single ethnic group. Running annually from mid-September until the end of October, you can enjoy Helen’s authentic Bavarian German Oktoberfest with your family and friends.
There are many other adventures you can take while visiting Helen during Oktoberfest and that is what we want to share with you here!
A Few German Phrases
Before we share places you can adventure, here are a few phrases to help you brush up on your German. This brief lesson will help you prepare for Helen Georgia’s Oktoberfest celebration.
“Hier kommt die parade!”(Here comes the parade!)
“Bringt mir einen anderen Bratwurst” (Bring me another bratwurst!)
“Dieses Bier ist lecker!” (This beer is delicious!)
“Ich wünschte, ich hätte meine Tuba!” (I wish I had my tuba!)
On To The Adventures!
Experience The Many Colors of Fall
Each year, thousands of visitors flock to the Helen vacation cabins during the fall to enjoy the gorgeous leaves as they change color. Believe us when we say that Helen and its surrounding cities do not leave guests unsatisfied.
Take a Trip to Burt’s Pumpkin Farm
Fall is a great time to take an adventure to Burt’s Pumpkin Patch. This farm is one of the best places for enjoyment for the whole family. Aside from experiencing the beautiful, abounding fall foliage, Burt’s grows thousands of pumpkins of every shape and kind, which will delight your family as you choose your favorite ones to take home with you. At Burt’s, your kids can see pumpkins as big as 150 pounds and can learn how they grow!
Burt’s also has all kinds of winter squash, gourds, Indian corn, and other types of fall decorations. The highlight of most family visits, however, is the Hayride in a wagon pulled by a John Deer tractor. You can top off your stay with a trip to Burt’s barn where you can enjoy some fall treats like candied popcorn, pumpkin pie, or pumpkin roll.
Oktoberfest Celebration
Oktoberfest in Helen, GA is one of the alpine village’s most celebrated events, and you can expect loads of fun from the festival. The festivities kick off annually in mid-September and run through the end of October. You’ll have a blast as you dig into authentic Bavarian food favorites like hot pretzels, schnitzel, brats, and more – all while sipping on a cold beer.
Each year, on the first Saturday in October, a festive parade kicks off the Helen, Georgia Oktoberfest celebration. It is a must-see event filled with floats, bands, and German music. Your children will love the beautiful horses and the participants dressed in authentic Bavarian attire. This alpine village parade has a unique flair that appeals to all ages. Live polka music and other entertainment are featured in numerous participating restaurants and taverns, as well as at the beloved Festhalle.
Helen Arts & Crafts Festival
Whether you’re crafty or just enjoy admiring the handiwork of others, Helen is the place to be. At the same time the dramatic color change begins in the mountains, the Helen Arts and Crafts Festival is rolling into town. Located at Unicoi Hill Top Park, you’re sure to have an incredible day of taking in the scenic views while browsing the many booths set up by the talented vendors participating in the show. Every item is hand-crafted, making this the perfect spot for finding unique decor for your home, or an individual holiday gift for your nearest and dearest.
Indian Cultural Festival
During October, Helen is usually swarming with people looking to embrace the Bavarian German Culture, but on one particular day, Helen embraces another distinctive culture. During Oktoberfest, you can drop by Helen Riverside Park to celebrate the Vedic culture of India. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to introduce something new to your taste buds with Indian vegetarian cuisine as you enjoy both traditional and contemporary Indian music, view live demonstrations, and more.
This is a free event open to the public.
Scarecrow Trail, Pumpkin Fest, and Pumpkin Smashin’ at North Georgia Zoo
Be sure to visit the North Georgia Zoo to enjoy the Scarecrow Trail and Pumpkin Fest in Cleveland on the weekends in October. Here, you can check out all of the themed scarecrows, take a hayride, make crafts, visit the animals, and pick out a pumpkin to carve back at the cabin. Come back in November to throw and smash those pumpkins to turn them into a feast for the animals!
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
If you are in Helen in mid-October, be sure to drive to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in nearby Hiawassee for the fall festival. You’ll enjoy craft vendors, demonstrations, a flower show, live music and performances from talented local artists, mouth-watering food, and so much more. There is an admission for people 12 and over.
What Is Oktoberfest Without A Beer Adventure?
Beer is an integral part of German culture and is brewed for hundreds of years by a strict German law (Reinheitsgebot) that limits ingredients to only water, malt, and hops. These limitations have created a distinctive taste that many German beers possess and make them easily identifiable as a German brew. Helen is proud to be a Bavarian town in the North Georgia mountains, and many dining establishments have created beer gardens and special menus to cater to beer lovers.
King Ludwig’s Beer Garden specializes in casual German fare near the city center. It is located on one of the prime commercial strips in Helen and is sure to offer every guest a fun time. The open-air garden seating adds to the genuine German atmosphere.
Troll Tavern is located “under the bridge, on the river” in the heart of Helen, the Troll Tavern is known far and wide for its lively Oktoberfest celebrations. There are many draught beers on tap, both import and domestic, and German beers such as Erdinger Weissbier Dark and Paulaner Oktoberfest are featured. The bar also boasts a full line of bottled craft and import beers.
The Wunderbar at the Hofbrauhaus specializes in German draught beer, including Weizen Hefe and Pilsner Urquell. You can also choose from German wines such as Liebfraumilch, Zeller Sschwarze Katz, and Pouilly Fuise and nearly 100 imported and domestic liquors. Hofbrauhaus also features a full German menu to accompany the delicious beer varieties.
Take A Food Adventure
One staple of any authentic Oktoberfest celebration is plenty of hearty German food. From pretzels to bratwurst, schnitzel to weisswurst, you will find more delicious dishes that you’ll be able to eat! Many fantastic restaurants prepare all year for the annual Helen, Georgia Oktoberfest!
Hofer’s of Helen Bakery and Cafe Open since 1991, Hofer’s of Helen has become one of the premier German bakeries in North America. The bakery is famous for its German treats such as Bavarian pretzels, bratäpfel (baked apples), kaiserschmarren (small, caramelized pancakes), and rote grutze (sweet fruit dessert). Hofer’s also specializes in a wide variety of bread. Many kinds of bread are available for purchase in frozen dough form to take home and bake later.
Mullers Famous Cafe is located just two minutes from Main Street in Helen, and they specialize in authentic German cuisine using only the freshest ingredients. Many of the recipes were perfected over the years and are unique to Mullers. Specialties include Hungarian goulash, pork or chicken schnitzel steaks, bratwurst with homemade sauerkraut, and fried cheese steak.
Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant is not just a restaurant; the Old Bavarian Inn also specializes in stein and custom leiderhosen sales. The menu features unique Eastern European dishes such as debrecena dog, wurst sausage sandwich, leberkäse (liver cheese), and sauerbraten (German pot roast). Also on the menu are delicious German desserts including apple strudel and black forest cake.
There are many other adventures in and around Helen where you can create memories with your family and friends while at Oktoberfest.
Cedar Creek Cabin Rentals Make A Great Place To Rest!
Cedar Creek Cabin Rentals has a portfolio of cabins in and around the city of Helen Georgia. Take your next trip up a notch with one of our luxury stays. Click here to view our cabins, availability, and pricing.
Our Additional Oktoberfest Content
In our Oktoberfest resource center, you’ll find articles, videos, and graphics to help make your Oktoberfest vacation wonderful. Here is a list of the blog posts you’ll find there.
This Year’s Oktoberfest Schedule Of Events (Helen Georgia)
What Is The Big Deal About Oktoberfest In Helen Georgia?
How To Plan Your Trip To Oktoberfest In Helen Georgia
The Best Places To Eat Like A German During Oktoberfest In Helen Georgia
5 Ways You Can Experience German Influence in Helen GA
These Four Things Are Why Helen Is THE Place To Be For Oktoberfest
Top 5 Places To Stay During Oktoberfest in Helen
The Music Of Oktoberfest – Folk, Polka, Schlager and more!
Do You Know Answers To These Ten Oktoberfest Questions?
Fun Family Things to Do While In Helen At Oktoberfest
Visit Scarecrow Trail And Other Halloween Attractions While In Helen Georgia
Have A Wonderful Fall Celebration!
They say all good things must come to an end, but that isn’t true with Oktoberfest in Helen GA. We have a new beginning every year in September!
What is your favorite Oktoberfest Adventure in Helen, Georgia?
Share in the comments below.
