Fall is the season for great beer and big festivals. Both of which are easy to come by in Madison, WI.
Our local breweries know how to put on a party from Oktoberfests to beer festivals honoring a community's love for trolls (more on that later). These events bring all the fall feels you're looking for and are a great reason to visit Madison.
Celebrating your love for beer is best done responsibly. Cut down on travel and stay locally at one of our favorite places to stay in Madison.
Oktoberfests
Capital Brewery's Oktoberfest
Gather at Capital Brewery's massive biergarten to celebrate the biggest beer holiday of the year featuring food, live music, a stein holding competition and German polka.
The event marks Capital's official launch of their annual Oktoberfest beer and their limited fall release, Autumnal Fire. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Find more info, including a live music lineup here.
New Glarus Oktoberfest
Aching for authenticity? Step into Little Switzerland for a taste of tradition and genuine Gemütlichkeit – feelings of friendliness, warmth and camaraderie. New Glarus is a slice of Europe tucked into scenic hills just outside of Madison.
Head downtown, where the music flows and the beer does, too. Warm your soul with a chili cook-off and giant fondue pot, and wash it down with beer from New Glarus Brewing Co. – a Wisconsin exclusive known for their famous Spotted Cow.
Oh, and admission to this four-day festival is free. Get all the details here.
Wauktoberfest
Dust off your dancing shoes and prepare to polka.
Willkommen to the only Waunakee in the world, where a weekend-long celebration brings a piece of Germany to Wisconsin. The four-day festival includes far more than beer. Enjoy live music, beer yoga, a limburger eating contest, wine tasting, brat toss, a Dachshund dash and the annual Sausage Shuffle 5K.
Observe the blessing of the beers before sampling from the more than 150 beers on site. Admission to the festival is free. Beer tasting tickets, including a commemorative tasting glass, cost $45 in advance and $55 at the door.
Order your beer tasting tickets and find more information here.
Bonus Oktoberfest festivities
Get Oktoberfest vibes all year long at Prost! German Beer Hall and Restaurant in downtown Madison and Der Rathskeller inside the Wisconsin Union.
Beer Festivals
Thirsty Troll Brew Fest
Raise your stein. And keep it up.
You just trained for the Masskrugstemmen Troll Strength Competition – an iconic annual tradition.
Beer fans flock to Mount Horeb, the troll capital of the world, for this fall brew fest. More than 125 beers, ciders and seltzers from dozens of local breweries will be on site, while food trucks serve up the goods to keep you warm.
Keep an eye out for Jorgen the Thirsty Troll. Don’t worry, he’s friendlier than the ones on the internet. Tickets range from $15 to $105 per person based on level of admission. Find everything you need to know here.
Sun Prairie Fall Beer Taste
Chat and cheers with more than 20 downtown Sun Prairie businesses sharing samples of their fall beverage menus. Imbibers will take home a sampling glass and those who take the NA-route will receive a 16 oz. cup.
Tickets purchased online cost $35 for standard admission and $15 for designated drivers. Tickets are available at the door for $5 more per person. Get your tickets and learn more here.
