South Street Oktoberfest at Brauhaus Schmitz
South Street is getting a Bavarian makeover this weekend as Brauhaus Schmitz brings back its annual South Street Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 26.
Now in its 18th year, the celebration takes over the 700 block of South Street from noon to 8 p.m., turning the neighborhood into one giant German beer garden with steins, bratwurst, live music, dancing, traditional games.
And because this is Urban Craft & Crawl, we're not here to simply tell you to “enjoy the festivities,” we're really here to help you crawl them.
Sourced via Brauhaus Schmitz
Start at Brauhaus Schmitz
The obvious starting point is also the reason this whole thing exists. Brauhaus Schmitz has been serving up German beer and food at 718 South Street since ‘09, and its Oktoberfest takes over the street directly outside the restaurant.
For the festival, the 700 block becomes a massive outdoor biergarten with seating for up to 1,000 people. There will be roughly a dozen German beers available, along with Bavarian food and plenty of traditional Oktoberfest entertainment.
Translation: this is not the day to order a light salad and call it lunch.
You're here for the bratwurst.
You're here for the pretzels.
You're here for the beer.
Then Come the Steins
The beer situation is obviously a major part of the equation. Brauhaus Schmitz is known for its extensive German beer selection, and Oktoberfest is the perfect excuse to work your way through a few of those options.
The outdoor celebration will feature German draft beer alongside the food and entertainment, all available pay-as-you-go. Admission to the street festival itself is free.
The Liter-Lifting Competition Is Calling
At some point during the day, you're going to see someone holding a full liter of beer straight out in front of them.
That's because the festival includes a liter-lifting competition, a test of strength and endurance for those with the moxie to volunteer for such an event.
There's More Than Just Drinking
The South Street celebration will feature Die Heimatklänge, traditional German folk dancing from the United German Hungarians, live entertainment, outdoor games and other festival activities.
It's also an all-ages event, although you must be 21 or older to drink. Admission to the street festival is free, with food and drinks available for purchase.
The VIP Move
For anyone who wants to take their Oktoberfest experience up a notch, Brauhaus Schmitz is offering a $125 VIP package.
The VIP experience includes access to the indoor Brauer Bund Bierhall, reserved seating, a buffet from noon to 6 p.m., seven beer tokens, a liter glass mug, a festival T-shirt, Brauhaus swag and private bathrooms.
Yes.
Private bathrooms.
After several liters of German beer, that last part starts sounding like a very important luxury.
But Here's Where the Crawl Gets Good
Oktoberfest may be the main event, but you're on South Street. And South Street does not exactly struggle when it comes to places to continue drinking. The trick is knowing when to leave the Oktoberfest madness and wander a few blocks.
Start with the festival at Brauhaus Schmitz. Eat something. Drink something. Watch the dancers. Participate in the liter-lifting competition if you've suddenly forgotten how physics works.
Then, when you're ready for a change of scenery, start making your way east or west along South Street.
MilkBoy South Street
MilkBoy South Street is an easy option if your crew wants to keep the music going.
Located at 401 South Street, MilkBoy combines a bar, restaurant and live music venue, making it an easy transition from Oktoberfest to a more traditional South Street night out.
It's also open until 2 a.m. on Saturday, giving you plenty of time to continue the crawl long after the official Oktoberfest festivities wrap at 8 p.m.
PHS Pop Up Garden at South Street
If you need to swap steins for cocktails, PHS Pop Up Garden at South Street is another nearby option. The seasonal garden at 1438 South Street offers outdoor seating, cocktails, beer and food in a much more relaxed setting.
Looking for More Fall Drinking Plans?
If South Street Oktoberfest has you ready to embrace the cooler weather and spend a little more time at the bar, we’ve got another guide for you.
Check out our guide to The Best Bars in Philadelphia for the First Cool Nights of Fall for more Philly spots to grab a drink when those first crisp nights of the season roll in.
