Reno embraces its diverse cultural heritage with enthusiasm—and Oktoberfest celebrations are no exception.
Oktoberfest, an annual festival in Munich, Germany, held over several weeks at the beginning of fall, originated in 1810. As is tradition, the mayor of Munich taps the first keg to open the festivities. An estimated 2 million gallons of beer are consumed, along with countless sausages. Locals and visitors from around the world, many dressed in folk costumes, sing renditions of traditional drinking songs. There are parades, music and dancing aplenty.
Halfway around the globe, Reno’s Oktoberfest events help bring a slice of the season here to the high desert. As fall begins to paint the Sierra golden, here are three places you can catch some German-flavored festivities.
A rare brew
Prost Biergarten
180 W. Peckham Lane, Suite 1070
775-409-4142; prostnv.com
Prost is a lively Bavarian beer hall with long, communal tables and festive decorations. Owner Thomas Wetzstein, who comes from a family of German emigres, offers imported, seasonal beers, an Oktoberfest radler (half-lemonade, half-beer) and other specialty brews that pair especially well with his wursts (including a kasekreiner, or cheese-filled version), schnitzels and, of course, custom-made pretzels.
While the bar’s official Oktoberfest celebration occurred in September—Oktoberfest actually started on Sept. 21 in Munich this year—the Prost staff plans to pour Oktoberfest märzen, a hard-to-find, seasonal wheat beer from Munich’s noted Hacker-Pschorr Brewery, throughout October.
“Wheat bears are traditional for this season in Germany, and this märzen is really the best of the style,” Wetzstein said. “Prost is the only place to find it in all of Northern Nevada. This is the perfect way to experience the spirit of gemütlichkeit, a German concept of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.”
Oompah till you drop
Nugget Event Center, the Nugget Casino Resort
1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks
www.cnty.com/nugget
The Nugget is hosting its first Oktoberfest celebration this year, from Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6, titled “Have the Stein of Your Life.” It is set to feature stein-hoisting, costume contests for those dressed in their best dirndls and lederhosen, and live music from Oompah Kings and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. Among the imported beers available will be two from the famed Hofbräu Munich brewery. The festival runs from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4; noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5; and noon to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6.
Admission is free. Access to the Hofbräu VIP Tent, including food and unlimited beer and wine, is $175; all-day wristbands with a commemorative stein, a bratwurst ticket and unlimited draft beer are $125.
Straight From Austria
Edelweiss Pub
13979 S. Virginia St., No. 505, in Summit Mall
www.facebook.com/events/1068052478249650
Edelweiss Pub, one of the newest entries into the local European food and spirits scene, opened in December 2023. Owner Monika Marsh channels her Austrian heritage into a beautifully themed space serving handcrafted Tyrolean specialties such as käsespätzle (hand-made noodles in a cheese fondue), tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish) and goulash. Edelweiss celebrates Oktoberfest from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, when the area will come alive with the sounds of oompah bands. Miss Edelweiss and Mr. Edelweiss will be crowned in a costume contest.
“When my father Hans came to Tahoe in 1964, he kept our family traditions and recipes alive, and Oktoberfest is a great way to share them with our community,” Marsh said.