Name: Oktoberfest Bavarian Kickoff
Start: 2024-09-21T13:00:00-04:00
Location: Shipgarten

Join us on Saturday, September 21st, for the official "tapping of the keg" flown all the way from Germany to kickoff Oktoberfest with us at Shipgarten! We will have a fantastic selection of over 50 biers from Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the US for everyone to enjoy. Representatives from several breweries will join us to showcase their biers!
***Shipgarten opens at 11 AM & the festival runs from 1 PM until 6 PM. Restaurant closes at 2 AM***
BAVARIAN GAMES SCHEDULE:
1:15 PM Oktoberfest Kickoff Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting
1:20 PM - "Tapping of the Keg"- MYSTERY TAPPER
2:00 PM Pretzel Toss (First Team to Catch 3 Pretzels on stick WIns $25 Gift Card)
3:00 PM Stein to Stein Pour (Most Coordinated Team to Fill The Stein Wins $25 Gift Card!)
4:00PM Keg Curling (Most Reps of an Empty Keg in 1 Minute Wins $25 Gift Card!)
4:30 PM Costume Contest ($100 gift card Most Authentic, $50 gift card Best Couple, and $25 gift card for Funniest)
5:00PM Stein Hoisting (Longest Endurance Holding a Filled Stein Wins $25 Gift Card!)
♫ 3:30 to 7:30pm: "Irresponsible" Live Music
♫ 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM Oktoberfest After Party with DJ Bianca Diamond
ADDITIONALLY
➳ Meet and Greet Brewery Reps from Germany, Belgium, Austria & the US and get some BIER-ducation from them. Throughout the day each rep will talk about the history, flavor and process fo the biers they are pouring
➳ Various beers to sample from local and international breweries
➳ Photo Booth with Accessories for you and your pup(s)!
➳Great food including German style BBQ
➳German mulled wine & cocktails
➳Dog Friendly (Check out our Dog menu, play in the dog park, or just bring your pup along)
➳ Lawn Games & Activities including ladder toss, cornhole, connect 4, giant chess & checkers & MORE)
➳ Giveaways, Competitions & Prizes
We will also be serving samples of all our regular draft beers from Tysons Biergarten and Waffles & Tacos.

History of Oktoberfest:
Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival. Held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, it is a folk festival running from mid or late September into October (this year it officially starts in Munich on September 21st), with more than 6 million people from around the world in attendance every year. Locally, it is often called the Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds (Theresienwiese). Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810.
Kronprinz (Crown Prince) Ludwig (1786-1868), later King Ludwig I (reign: 1825-1848), married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the royal event. The fields were named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's Meadow") in honour of the Crown Princess, and have kept that name ever since, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to the "Wiesn". Horse races, in the tradition of the 15th century Scharlachrennen (Scarlet Race at Karlstor), were held on October 17 to honor the newlyweds. Every year since this tradition has been repeated and is now called "Oktoberfest".
PARKING: 1700 Old Meadow Road, McLean, VA 22102.
Parking is conveniently located five minutes away by foot and we offer a completely free, pet friendly, and complimentary Shuttle Bus service that runs on a continuous loop to and from the venue and parking lot! Another alternative is a $20 valet service.
We are also conveniently located steps away from the McLean Metro Station.
Uber Drop Off: 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean, VA 22102