Black Forest Inn, Minneapolis MN

OKTOBERFEST 2018 IS COMING!

Oktoberfest began as a wedding celebration. In the fall of 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria was married. The celebration continued for two weeks, and the idea of it has lasted for over 200 years!

Oktoberfest 2018 is almost here!
Join in the fun! See your friends, neighbors - maybe even you!

See some of the fun we've had during Oktoberfest over the past few years!
Watch this space - new photos are added every night during Oktoberfest!

View the 2018 slideshow! →

View the 2017 slideshow →

View the 2016 slideshow →

View the 2015 slideshow →

View the 2014 slideshow →

View the 2013 slideshow →

View the 2012 slideshow →

View the 2011 slideshow →

View the 2010 slideshow →

View the 2009 slideshow →

View the 2008 slideshow →

Oktoberfest 2018 Events!

While most people associate Oktoberfest with lots of beer drinking, it's always been a carnival-like celebration in Germany.

There are rides and games, and Munich holds the annual poster contest (an idea we've borrowed!)

» Take a look at our Oktoberfest Specials! «

» See the winning entry from this year's Oktoberfest menu cover contest!

Oktoberfest menu cover contest
» view contest guidelines

» see the previous winners!

The foods that you will see on every corner at Oktoberfest include Roast or Rotisserie Chicken, Pretzels, and of course - sausages! We've got all those foods and great German beer too!

 

» Take a look at this year's Oktoberfest food specials menu!

 

So join in the fun this fall at the Black Forest Inn!
Check back soon for details & schedule of events.

Don't forget to enter our Grand prize drawing! We have a Jägermeister Fire Pit to give away! Wow! Enter throughout Oktoberfest. Grand Prize drawing will be Sunday night, October 7. (Need not be present to win.)

2018 Schedule of events!
September 28 – October 7

Day One: Toast Night!
Friday September 28, 2018
Prost! The best way to start Oktoberfest is with a toast! Celebrate fall, beer and each other with a toast. Standing up to toast is encouraged. Speaking from the heart is essential. Rhyming is optional. Prizes will be awarded for exceptional toasts.

6:00 – 7:30 pm Live music!Alphorns! The Matterhorn Trio plays in the beer garden
7:30 pm Ceremonial keg tapping & restaurant-wide toast in the beer garden
7:30 – 9:30 pm Toasting!
7:30 – 9:30 pm Live music!Jim ten Bensel on horns and Denny Malmberg on accordion

Hacker-Pschorr Night!Buy any Hacker Pschorr beer and get a logo stein for $1! (while supplies last; one per customer)
Toast specials!
Poster and Menu Cover Contest winner unveiled!
Get your picture taken with the giant pretzel!

 

Oktoberfest 2008

Day Two: Tie the Knot Night
Saturday, September 29, 2018
As you know, originally Okotberfest was a wedding celebration. So we're going back to its roots and honoring the original Oktoberfest tonight. Get married! Renew your vows! Celebrate your anniversary! We have all the fixin's: ministers, flowers, bridesmaids, wedding cake and an atmosphere of love.***

***Seriously, you could have your wedding here. Call us.
(And don't forget to get your marriage license seven days in advance!)

6:30 – 9:00 pm Live music!Dan Turpening on accordion
All day weddings & vow renewals

7:00 pm The Wedding - yes! It's real!!
All day weddings & vow renewals

Paulaner Night!Buy any Paulaner and get a logo stein for $1!

 

Day Three: Angela Merkel Night
Sunday, September 30, 2018
The unlikely leader of the free world surely deserves the honor of having her own Oktoberfest night, doesn’t she?

12:00 – 2:30 pm Live music!Matt Meyer on accordion

Ayinger Night!Buy any size Ayinger Oktoberfest and get a glass stein for $1!
Caption this Angela Merkel photo contest!
Photo opportunity with Angela Merkel! Wear your best practical pant suit.

 

Day Four: The Wurst Night of Oktoberfest
Monday, October 1, 2018
We'll celebrate sausages with sausages! The Brat Bar will be open so you can choose your sausages and sides. Swim in sauerkraut! Pile your plate with pickles! Relish some relish! You deserve our best. We'll give you our wurst.

Brat Bar buffet includes: Handmade bratwurst, handmade chicken curry sausage, handmade weisswurst, Polish sausage, fried peppers, fried onions, sauerkraut, homemade Bavarian Sweet-style mustard, homemade celery relish, homemade horsey sauce, homemade curry ketchup, our famous potato salad, house made sweet and sour red cabbage, homemade dill pickles, and our signature deli rye bread. All that sausagey goodness for $17.75.
Also included: Unterberg! (because you might need a digestive after all that sausage-y goodness!)

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Brat Bar Is open!
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Live Music!Mark Stillman on accordion!
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Schells games & prizes
Schells Night!Buy any Schells or Grain Belt beer and get a logo glass for $1
Tuba Night!Bring your tuba and get a free beer! You may be asked to play your tuba.

 

Day Five: Schnapps Night
Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Schnapps as aperitif, or as dessert. Schnapps to settle your stomach or schnapps to make your eyes water. Pick your poison. Who's your meister?

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Brat Bar Is open!
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Live Music!TBA
Schnapps tongue twisters! Master them and win schnapps swag! Try saying that ten times fast.
Schnapps samplers! Try itty bitty shots of several types of schnapps: Fruity ones, Bracing ones, Medicinal? Schnapps, and... Wait, what kind of Schnapps?

 

Day Six: Reunification Day
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
This is a real German holiday – celebrating the return to one unified Germany. In honor of Reunification Day, we are helping to foster other, smaller reunifications. We'll have cards and envelopes for you to address to a long lost relative, an old friend, a seldom seem neighbor or anyone else. The card says "Let’s Reunify!" and enclosed is a five dollar gift certificate to the Black Forest Inn, good for one year. Plenty of time to plan your reunification!

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Brat Bar Is open!
All day! Reunification cards available
6:30 – 9:00 Live music!Andy McCormick on accordion
Weihenstephaner Night! Buy a Weihenstephaner Fest beer and get a logo boot for $1!
Prizes! Win a piece of the Berlin Wall!
We pushed the tables together. Get it? We re-unified them!

 

Day Seven: Dumpling Night
Thursday, October 4, 2018
The universe of dumplings is vast, one night won't do it justice. So forget justice! Let's eat dumplings! We've got floaters and sinkers, meaty and meatless, saucy and dry. In other words, we've got the stuff.

6:30 – 9:00 pm Live music!Andy McCormick on accordion
Dumpling sampler special!
Dumplin' chunkin'! Win Summit prizes at Dumpling Pong!
Summit Night! Summit samples! Buy any Summit beer and get a logo Pilsner glass for $1.
Summit prizes!
Beer and dumplings, a timeless combination.

 

Day Eight: Grimm Night
Friday, October 5, 2018
In our Forest, we have good food and beer. In other forests, magic and mystery lurk…

6:30 – 9:00 pm Live music! Dan Turpening on accordion
Dry ice in the fountain!
Surly Night!Win tickets to Surly Fest! Try Surly samples! Buy any size Surly Oktoberfest and get a logo glass for $1.
Costumes! Come dressed as your favorite Grimm character!

 

Day Nine: Berliner Night
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Berlin in the '20s was the capital of the Weimar Republic, and it was home to the artistic avant-garde of Europe. As the world slowly sank into darkness, Berlin lit up the night with cabarets, concerts, performances and parties. If you have a hard time imagining Germans having that much fun, you need to come to Berliner night!

6:30 – 9:00 pm Live music!Andy McCormick on accordion!
8:30 – 11:00 pm Krautrock in banquet space by Zodiak Berlin!
Utepils Night!Win Utepils prizes! Drink Utepils in the banquet space while listening to Krautrock!
Berliners!

 

Day Ten: Drain the Keg Night
Sunday, October 7, 2018
We don't want to lug any barrels home with us after the party, so we're going to start dropping the price of beer at 2 pm, and keep dropping it until the beer is gone. Seriously.

2:00 pm – 8:00 pm Price on ½ liters of beer drops 25¢ per hour
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Live music!Mark Stillman on accordion!
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Price on ½ liters of beer drops 50¢ per hour
When the keg blows, the boot (or glass or t-shirt or mug) goes!

Prizes for the person who ordered the beer that blew the keg!! – any keg, all kegs! There’s 18 beers on tap, folks!

 

Congratulations to our 2017 Drawing winners!

Thanks to everyone who participated in last year's Oktoberfest!
See you again this year!