Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest {Worth the Drive}

Fall is finally upon us, though you might not be able to tell because the great thermostat in the sky hasn’t been lowered enough yet.

But September is behind us, and we are firmly rooted in October, which means (among other things) it’s time for Deutsches Haus’ Oktoberfest. Jillian and I took our little one, along with Jillian’s dad and we had a wonderful time!

What is Oktoberfest?

For those not in the know, Oktoberfest is a celebration of German food, music, beer and culture, and Deutsches Haus does not disappoint. We met with Deutsches Haus president Keith Oldendorf to find out more about the fest. He said one of the missions of Deutsches Haus and their Oktoberfest event is to introduce people German culture, and the fest does a wonderful job.

There are over a dozen different German beers on tap, plus a special brew from Gretna’s 40 Arpent made just for the fest! Keith said he expects to go through over 500 kegs during the three-week celebration. My father-in-law and I both had the Spaten Optimator, and Jillian had the Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen. Both were quite delicious and really got us in the Oktoberfest spirit.

Food at Oktoberfest

There are 3 types of sausages (grilled bratwurst, grilled weisswurst and boiled knackwurst), German-style pizza called flammkuchen, special entrees for each weekend, assorted side dishes and a spiced nuts vendor. A full menu can be found here. We got one of the dinner plates, which includes an entree’, one sausage, two side dishes, bread and butter. For only $14, it’s quite a bit of food that a family could easily share. We also had one of the German pizzas and a couple of warm soft pretzels–something I was looking forward to.

Entertainment at Oktoberfest

And what German festival would be complete without polka/oompapa music and chicken dancing? You can see the complete music schedule here. Even though our little one is just under nine months old, she had a great time “learning” how to do the chicken dance. There was even a big chicken walking around to dance and take pictures with.

Oktoberfest Location and Cost to Get In

Oktoberfest moved around a bit these last few years but they are now happily in their permanent location. They have now moved back to New Orleans as they build a brand-new Deutsches Haus right by Bayou St. John. The address is 1700 Moss Street. 

All in all, Deutsches Haus does a really great job with their Oktoberfest, and for only $10 per person (kids eleven and under get in free) admission it can make for some very reasonably priced fun for the entire family. Note: they only accept cash at the gate. There are ATMs available but I like to be prepared.

There may be some people who are hesitant about making the drive from the Northshore, it really is worth your time to cross the lake and enjoy some wonderful beer and experience some great food that you may not be able to get but once a year. I know we’re glad we did, and I think others will be, too.

Other Fall Fun Ideas

We’ve got a list of pumpkin patches on the Northshore and beyond right here. 

If you’re looking for something a little creepier, we’ve got a list of local haunted houses. 

Or you could always do a ghost tour of New Orleans.

If you’re looking for events, we have a full list of Halloween events here where we cover everything from not-so-spooky story times to adult-only zombie crawls.