Break out your German lederhosen or dirndl dress: One of fall’s most beloved celebrations, Red Rocks Oktoberfest, is returning. Festival-goers can head to Posse Grounds ballfields on Oct. 26 from 3 to 8 p.m. to enjoy beer, brats and red rock views. Hosted by Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks, look forward to trying out local brewers. Sedona’s Oak Brewery, Cottonwood’s THAT Brewery and Flagstaff’s Wanderlust Brewery and Historic Brewing Company will all be pouring suds. Historic has even created a special lager exclusively for the festival.
“It’s a festival environment. Lots of food. Lots of beer,” says Rick Wesselhoff, the “bier meister” or “beer master” in German and person responsible for organizing Oktoberfest. “The weather’s going to be fantastic. For six years in a row, we’ve had clear blue skies and 82-degree weather.”
Besides the beer, attendees can look forward to live music and food vendors. Anticipate a total of 12 food trucks. In addition to authentic German food, dig into delights from food trucks including 3’s in the Trees, Dough Bros pizza, Sally’s BBQ, Yaquis Taqueria, Farm-A-Go-Go, Korean fare from Momo’s Kitchen, Canyon Jack’s and Down by the Bayou.
As attendees stroll around Posse Grounds, they also can enjoy live music. Entertainment will feature yodeling and the oopmah sounds of the Polka Katzen, straight from Flagstaff from 3 to 5 p.m. Another live band will take the stage from 6 to 8 p.m.
Presale tickets cost $25 per person and include the following: entry, a half-liter glass souvenir mug and two beer tokens. Tickets purchased on the day of the event cost $30 each.
A few other things to note about the festival: Pets are not allowed. A free shuttle courtesy of Red Rock Magic Trolley will transport festival-goers from certain hotels throughout Sedona. Check the festival’s website for more detailed information. Kids under 21 are allowed entry as long as they’re with their guardians or parents. The festival is rain or shine.
Besides just being a fun way to spend an afternoon, all the proceeds from Red Rocks Oktoberfest benefit the Rotary’s mission of serving local children’s charities. “It’s good for the community in a couple different ways. It gets people together and helps us raise funds for children,” says Rick. “It’s a great place to meet other locals.”
For more information, visit RedRocksOktoberfest.com.
