A band called Froschhaxn Express is flying in direct from Germany to play a pavilion on Lantana Rd. That's the level of commitment at Oktoberfest of the Palm Beaches, the American German Club's two-weekend celebration running Oct 9-11 and Oct 16-18 in Lake Worth.

The club calls it one of America's largest Oktoberfests, and it schedules like one: six festival days across two weekends, two stages, and a grounds full of carnival rides.

What You're Getting Into

Two stages run all festival: Froschhaxn Express holds the pavilion direct from Germany, while the King Guys Band works the clubhouse with festive German tunes, crowd sing-alongs and party favorites.

The food is the other headliner: schnitzel, roasted chicken, sauerbraten, bratwurst and pretzels, with American options and vegetarian selections so nobody in the group is stranded.

Around the edges it turns into a fair: carnival rides, a playground, folk dance performances, a stein-holding contest, the keg tapping ceremony, shopping and a beer queen meet-and-greet. It's a beer festival that a family can spend an afternoon at, which is exactly the trick most Oktoberfests can't pull off.

The Insider Move

Pick your session by crowd: Friday doors at 6 PM for the keg-tapping night energy, Saturday from 2 PM if you're bringing kids for the rides and folk dancing, Sunday noon to 8 for the calmest lap of the grounds. Buy tickets on the club's site before you go rather than betting on the gate, and if this weekend gets away from you, the entire festival runs again Oct 16-18.

What People Are Saying

The club's own pitch: experience one of America's largest Oktoberfests, with authentic German food, imported beers, live music and carnival fun during the annual two-weekend celebration. Florida Rambler's statewide Oktoberfest guide adds the practical warning that this event often sells out in advance, which is the strongest kind of review a festival gets.

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