Dates and schedule
| Period | Days open |
|---|---|
| Sept. 10–13 | Thursday–Sunday |
| Sept. 17–20 | Thursday–Sunday |
| Sept. 24–27 | Thursday–Sunday |
| Oct. 1 – Nov. 1 | Nightly |
| Sat., Sept. 12, noon | Oktoberfest Parade |
| Oct. 31 | Halloween costume party |
Opening night starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 10. Held indoors at the riverside Festhalle, Oktoberfest goes ahead rain or shine.
Tickets and admission
| Day | Adults | Ages 6–12 | Under 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday–Thursday | $10 | $5 | Free |
| Friday–Saturday | $15 | $7 | Free |
| Friday + Saturday pass | $25 | $12 | Free |
| Sunday | Free | Free | Free |
Tickets are sold at the door only; no advance individual tickets. Active and retired military enter free with ID, and veterans receive a $3 discount. IDs are checked for everyone, and only beer, wine, coolers and cider are served (no liquor).
Insider tips
- Go on a weeknight or Sunday for shorter lines and easier tables; Saturdays in October are the busiest nights of the year in Helen.
- Don’t drive into town on Saturdays. Valhalla is about 1.2 miles from the Festhalle; arrange a ride or go early.
- No pets are allowed inside (approved service dogs only) and no outside food except pre-approved cakes.
- Pair it with fall color: late-October visits combine Oktoberfest with peak foliage. See our foliage guide.
- Groups can prepay for reserved tables Sunday–Friday through the Helen Chamber.
Where to stay for Oktoberfest
Downtown lodging is steps away but loud late into the night. Valhalla gives you a quiet, full-service base about four minutes from the Festhalle, with valet parking, a Sky Bar for a pre-party drink and breakfast at Caledonia the morning after. October weekends book early, so reserve as soon as you have dates or consider a Sunday–Thursday stay.
| From Valhalla to | Distance & drive |
|---|---|
| Helen Festhalle | 1.2 mi · ~4 min |
| Downtown Helen | 1.4 mi · ~4 min |
Drive estimates are measured from Valhalla’s front door (688 Bahn Innsbruck) using OpenStreetMap routing data. Expect longer drives on Oktoberfest and peak-foliage weekends.
A little history
Helen remade itself as an Alpine village in 1969, and its Oktoberfest has run since 1970, making it the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States. Read more in our history of Helen.
