Delaware Oktoberfest Named
2nd Best in Nation by USA Today

September 16, 2026

By Ryan Cormier

We always knew the annual Oktoberfest celebration held at the 173-year-old Delaware Saengerbund in Ogletown was special.

And now the rest of the country knows.

The First State’s biggest Oktoberfest was named the second-best Oktoberfest in the country by the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards on Sept. 16. (It was named the fourth best in 2025.)

The 47th annual Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest, which runs Sept. 18 to 20 at 49 Salem Church Road, off Route 4, is about as authentic as you can get without being in Germany: oompa bands brought in from Bavaria, German foods made by the members of the Saengerbund club and endless kegs of German beers.

Throw in plenty of people dancing in traditional lederhosen and dirndl and others hoisting massive glass steins under the big, white tent, and you have what we’ve already known: One of the best Oktoberfests in the country can be found right here in the First State.

Some would be happy with a ranking second best, but not the Delaware Saengerbund, which is powered by 700 volunteers.

“We don’t consider ourselves second best; we consider ourselves the best because we’re authentic: under a big tent, with imported beer and Bavarian dancers,” Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest chairman Don Sturmfels said in reaction to the ranking. “There are so many little wrinkles that we have that many of these big industrial Oktoberfests don’t have.”

So which Oktoberfest beat us out? Readers chose the Zeeco Oktoberfest Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rounding out the top five was Cleveland Oktoberfest in Cleveland, Ohio at No. 3; Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest in Reading, Pennsylvania, at No. 4, and New Ulm Oktoberfest in New Ulm, Minnesota, at No. 5.

The other Oktoberfests to get noticed were No. 6 Oktoberfest Fredericksburg in Fredericksburg, Texas; No. 7 Denver Oktoberfest in Denver; No. 8 Oktoberfest at Snowbird in Snowbird, Utah; No. 9 New Glarus Oktoberfest in New Glarus, Wisconsin; and No. 10 Columbus Oktoberfest in Columbus, Ohio.

10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards recognize standout destinations, businesses and experiences across travel, food + drink, and lifestyle. A panel of experts makes nominations, 10BEST editors vet them, and the public votes.

The annual three-day beer ‘n’ brats festival, which has drawn about 20,000 in years past, kicks off Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. It runs until 11 p.m. Hours for Sept. 19 are noon to 11 p.m., and on Sept. 20 the gates open at noon and close at 6 p.m. (Bars close one hour earlier.)

More than 100 beers will be up for grabs, along with an assortment of German delicacies like bratwurst, weisswurst, potato pancakes, pretzels, and rollmops, which is marinated herring served with rye bread. Potato salad and sauerkraut are made daily in the Delaware Saengerbund kitchen, with a variety of tortes and traditional plum cakes available.

And there also will be amusement park rides, Bavarian bands, folk dancing, and most likely a hangover or two, of course.

Admission is $10, which includes unlimited amusement rides. Admission is charged for ages 3 and older.

Remote parking is at Christiana High School (190 Salem Church Road, Ogletown), less than a mile south of the festival site.

It costs $5 on Friday and Saturday, is free on Sunday, and includes a free shuttle to and from the Oktoberfest entrance gate.

The opening parade will be held on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., featuring the Münchner Kindl, Munich Child, symbol of the city of Munich, which also leads the opening parade of the Munich Oktoberfest.

The Delaware Saengerbund was founded in 1853 as a German-American singing society and became an important social club for newly arriving German immigrants and remains so.

• Bratwurst: This delicately seasoned pork sausage is one of the most popular types of sausages in Germany (also gluten-free).
• Weisswurst: A Bavarian specialty made from lean cuts of veal and pork, with mild seasoning and a hint of lemon.
• Bauernwurst: The farmers’ sausage is a German favorite made from beef and pork. It has a coarse texture, with garlic and pepper seasoning providing a spicy flavor.
• Hungarian sausage: Smoked spicy sausage with garlic and paprika.
• Currywurst: Grilled Weisswurst served in a curry sauce.
• German potato salad: Made fresh daily using our secret recipe.
• Sauerkraut: Seasoned with pork and special ingredients.
• Roll mops: Herring and onion marinated in vinegar, served with rye bread and butter.
• Landjäger: All-beef, hickory-smoked, the outdoorsman’s special!
• Kartoffelpuffer: Traditional potato pancakes served with sour cream or applesauce.

Note: Bars stop serving one hour before closing time

Friday: 8:30 p.m.

Saturday: 1:30, 2:45, 4, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday: 1:30, 2:45 and 4 p.m.