Island Oktoberfest will be held on the grounds of and streets adjacent to First Lutheran Church, 24th and Winnie – in historic downtown Galveston – and co-sponsored by Del Papa Distributing Company. Admission is FREE. German costumes encouraged! This fun, family weekend will feature continuous live entertainment with music and dancing on two stages! 

In addition to great music and dancing, there will be superb food including smoked sausage, bratwurst, and “Wurstabendessen“– a sausage dinner comprised of German-style and Polish-style Wurst with all the traditional German side dishes. This special German Dinner will be available both Friday evening and on Saturday. 

The historic and beautifully-renovated circa 1860 The Lyceum of Galveston Island will be open Friday evening from 5pm to 9pm and on Saturday 11am to 7pm with vendors showcasing exceptional hand-crafted arts, crafts, and gift items for those festival goers eager to get a head start on holiday shopping. There will also be outside vendors.

Because Island Oktoberfest continues to be one of the vendors’ most enjoyable and popular venues, regular attendees can look forward to shopping at their long-time favorite booths – each featuring holiday and other special gift items. 

Proceeds from Island Oktoberfest will benefit First Lutheran’s community outreach programs – including FeedGalveston and Fanfare! Lutheran Music Academy.

For more information, call 409-762-8477, and follow the festival announcements on Facebook.

The festival is located on 2415 Winnie, Galveston TX (click for Google map) and the event covers 2 blocks from 23rd to 25th streets.

Parking is on the streets surrounding the event, much of which is paid parking. The City of Galveston does enforce parking, so make sure to observe all parking regulations. There are also private parking lots in the vicinity where  you may pay to park.  Also, the DOWNTOWN LOOP of the Galveston Island Trolly passes the entrance to the event on 25th Street. Click here to see the Trolley routes and times!

On Friday at 5:00 p.m. Galveston Oktoberfest officially opens with brief introductions by the committee organizers and the tapping of the keg containing imported German Bier and live music by Die Tubameisters!

The official tapping of the keg will be done by Tessa, the host of Buzz Mornings on 94.5 FM which airs Monday-Friday from 6am to 10am. For those who prefer wine, there will also be a Popping of the Cork!

Festival hours continue with live music on two stages until 10pm. The Arts and Crafts area closes at 9pm.

Sponsored by Judy Regini, Pampered Chef Independent Consultant, our German Chocolate Cake Baking Contest is open to all adults and kids of any age! Prizes are being given by Galveston’s Pampered Chef for First, Second, and Third Place winners! Check-in is between 3pm-5pm at the Sweet Booth in the courtyard on Friday October 25^th. Selected finalists will be notified after a 30-minute judging period which will take place immediately after the tapping of the keg which starts at 5pm. For more information and online registration, please click here!

Color and decorate this unique Oktoberfest coloring page designed and sponsored by Rising Tide New Media and turn it in by October 25th at 11am in church office to be eligible for a prize! You may use kind of art supplies, and page enhancements are allowed. We encourage creativity! Judging will take place on Friday, October 25^th, after the tapping of the keg which starts at 5pm.  Winner does not need to be present to win. Arrangements need to be made to pick up the prizes by 11am Saturday morning, if not the prize will go to the runner up. Click here to download your copy and begin coloring!

Indoor booths are located inside The Lyceum on the corner of 24th and Winnie and will be open from 5pm till 9pm. We have over 20 vendors showcasing exceptional hand-crafted arts, crafts, and gift items for those festival goers eager to get a head start on holiday shopping. There will also be outside vendors!

On Sunday, October 27,2024 all are welcome for 10am worship service inside the First Lutheran sanctuary with TubaMeisters of San Antonio and the The New Braunfels Gemischter Chor Harmonie providing German music! (No festival activities on the outside grounds)