Celebrate autumn, the harvest season and excellent craft beer at Oktoberfest

Join us for beer sampling and family fun to kick off fall!

Local vendors will be stationed around the concert lawn offering free samples of Oregon beer and cider for the grown-ups, and family activities include live music, dancing, lawn games and fun crafts for kids. 

Families can dance to live music from the European Take-Out Band (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and the Michael Fischer Trio (1:30 to 4 p.m.), check out Wildlife Live! meet and greets at noon and 3 p.m., an elephant pool party at 2 p.m., see the Unipiper wheeling past and enjoy snacks like Elephant Ears. 

Visitors 21+ can enjoy samples from Oregon beer vendors such as Hopworks, Full Sail, Migration Brewing, Portland Cider Co., Rock Bottom Brewing and Two Birds Ice Cream by Grog Distillery (alcoholic ice cream).

Bring your appetite for lunch: There will be German-inspired fare including Bavarian pretzels, Bier Bratwurst and Cheddarwurst, along with some of the usual zoo food options and local food carts such as CS Fishery, Verde Cocina, Gourmet on the Go and Six Stix Gourmet Pretzels, along with Zeds Real Fruit Ice Cream.

The event is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is free with zoo admission, which means free for zoo members. Train and carousel rides cost extra. 

Parking costs $2/hour or $8/day and lots tend to fill up quickly, so the zoo encourages visitors to take public transport: Take MAX Light Rail to the Washington Park stop or a Trimet bus. Call 503-238-RIDE (7433) or visit trimet.org for fare and route information. Visitors who ride MAX light rail or a TriMet bus to the zoo will receive $1.50 off admission with proof of ridership.