Oktoberfest returns to Redwood City

Oktoberfest in Redwood City has become a community favorite, with guests coming from as far as the Central Valley, Brandon Council, special events coordinator for the Parks and Recreation department, said. 

“It’s been so successful for the city, the community, people coming from out of town to come down to downtown Redwood City, that we actually expanded our dates this year,” Council said. “We’re having so much fun we couldn’t contain it in just one week.”

Weekend “festival seatings” will feature dance music, performers and game hosts and weekday “happy hours” offer live music. With tickets ranging from $10 to $30, depending on whether you’re drinking alcohol, festivities include singing and dancing competitions, authentic live German music and games. 

Part of the appeal is the expansive central space that can be transformed entirely, Council said, and the festivities will pour out of the tent onto surrounding streets with tables to be filled by people enjoying the celebration. 

With Courthouse Square, Council and those putting on events in the city feel it’s necessary to promote events that embrace shared spaces for locals to run into their friends and neighbors. 

“That’s how you build a community,” Council said. “I think it’s really important to have shared experiences in shared spaces. It goes beyond just going and enjoying a concert or go to a beer event. It’s really important to build those kinds of things over time so people have these memories and experiences together.”

These next weeks leading up to the event are for final fine-tuning, making sure the quality of life experience during the event means less time waiting and more time fully experiencing the festival.

“It’s something that we try to really get the details right and make it a special event,” Council said. “You’re not just coming downtown to have beer, you’re coming downtown for Oktoberfest.” 

Tickets can be bought at  www.tickets.rwcpaf.org in advance, which is recommended because seatings often sell out. Oktoberfest kicks off with an evening seating 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, and another evening seating will be Friday, Sept. 27. Afternoon seatings are offered each weekend from noon to 4 p.m. prior to evening seatings from 5-9 p.m. Happy Hour seatings will be held  5-p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, Wednesday, Sept. 25, and Thursday, Sept. 26. 

“Whether it’s your first year or your 10th year, we’re excited to host you,” Council said. “Oktoberfest has always been my personal favorite event and, with the expanded range of dates, I’m excited to see how the community responds.”