If you are a fan of beer, brats and pretzels dipped in warm creamy delicious beer cheese then you just might want to think about planning a backyard Oktoberfest. An Oktoberfest is a celebration of all things German and is traditionally observed in September or October. These joyous festivals were originally held in Munich, Germany and date back to 1810.
Here are 5 tips to ensure that your Oktoberfest is das beste!
1. Pretzel to Spätzle
The best part of any gathering is great food. The ideal base menus should consist of Bratwursts, warm soft pretzels and potato salad. Baked goods featuring German chocolate make for the perfect dessert.
2. Bier
With so many breweries (domestic and international) offering tasty Oktoberfest and German style beers, I suggest asking your guests to each bring an interesting seasonal 6 pack to the party. This helps stretch your party planning budget and lets you sample a large variety of brews.
3. Dirndl & Lederhosen
Encouraging your party guest to come adorned in traditional German garb will create the perfect European atmosphere and take your get-together to the next level. Lederhosen, Dirndls, and other Oktoberfest themed apparel is readily available on Amazon. I recommend awarding some door prizes for the best dressed.
4. German Themed Cocktail
A German or seasonal cocktail is the perfect party favor to get everyone in the spirit (pun intended.) At our last Oktoberfest we featured a Fireball apple cider Jello shot topped with whipped cream to resemble a small beer. It was sweet and spicy with a lingering hint of smooth whiskey. Needless to say there were no leftovers. Click HERE for this super easy recipe.

5. Hoist a Stein
A traditional stein hoisting competition will be the highlight of your event! Keep the stopwatch rolling as groups of 3 or 4 party goers compete to hold Steins full of beer or water (preferably water, no need to waste beer) on fully extended arms. Make sure you have prizes for the guest with the longest hold time.
If at least 50% of your guests leave the party feeling like they may have torn their rotator cuff then you know that this party game was executed successfully.
Give your basic barbecue das boot! If you are planning a shindig this fall, make it an Oktoberfest! As long as you invite plenty of friends there will be no shortage of good times and laughter at you next Oktoberfest.

-AZ Survival Guide