Autumn Festivals & Festbier

Summer may be over, but there is still plenty of fun to be had during the fall season ahead – read onwards to choose from a multitude of brew fests and Oktoberfest activities in the central New York area!

Oktoberfest at Buried Acorn Restaurant & Brewery, Syracuse 

Saturday, September 7 from 12-10pm

• Buried Acorn’s beloved “Wackaloon” will be back on tap for consumption – this Märzen-style, amber-colored beer is brewed with NY Pilsner, German Munich and Vienna malts along with Spalter Select hops. They plan to hold a stein hoisting competition, offer a free stein with purchased beer fill, and will have plenty of food and live music.

TAP into the MOST at the Museum of Science & Technology, Syracuse

Friday, September 13 from 6-9pm

• This annual fundraiser for the museum features over 50 beer, wine, cider, and spirits tastings from all over the greater CNY region. Tickets to the event also include food offerings from more than 20 local restaurants and specialty food vendors. A silent auction will also be available, with lots of great goodies to bid on. $70 for general admission, $100 for VIP. Tickets available on the MOST’s website.

Crazy Daisies Brewfest at Crazy Daisies Greenhouse, Onondaga Hill

Saturday, September 14 from 1-4pm 

• In collaboration with Talking Cursive Brewing Company, the Brewfest will have over 20 NYS breweries pouring for patrons. Additionally, 5% of all ticket sales and 100% of raffle sales will be given directly to Elmcrest Children’s Center. There will be live music and food available for purchase. $10 for designated driver, $35 for general admission, $45 for VIP. Tickets can be purchased on the Crazy Daisies website.

27th Annual Madison County Historical Society Hop Festival, 435 Main Street, Oneida Saturday, September 14 from 2-5:30pm

Sunday, September 15 from 9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm

• This festival celebrates the 200+ year hop heritage that began in the early 1800s in the Madison County town of Bouckville with farmer James Coolidge who established the first commercial hop yard and transport of hops to New York City. On Saturday, there is the annual brewfest with 30+ breweries, live music, hops exhibits, raffles, and food trucks. On Sunday, there is a hop house tour starting at 9am, with an afternoon pig roast by Brown Brother’s BBQ, and Grow Brewing hosting a cash bar from 2-5:30pm. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit programming at the Madison County Historical Society. Several different ticket options for one or both days, ranging in price from $12-$70 are available for purchase on Historical Society’s website.

ONCtOberfest at ONCO Fermentations, Tully

Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 1-4pm

• ONCO’s annual release of their Märzen-style ONCtOberfest beer with Syracuse-based, (and Polka Hall of Fame inductees!), Fritz’s Polka Band pumping out festive tunes from 2-5pm. Food will be available for purchase. Event will be held outside if the weather permits.

Oktoberfest at Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, Cazenovia

Saturday, September 21 from 11:30am-9pm

• The celebration will include the release of a limited-edition Meier’s Creek Oktoberfest Festbier, a brewery tour at 12noon, stein hoisting contest at 3pm, closest-to-the-pin contest at 4pm, live music, a specially-themed menu, and $1 off drafts until 1pm.

Oktoberfest at Harvey’s Garden, Syracuse

Saturday, September 21 from 12-8pm

• Plenty of Oktoberfest beers will be available on the beer wall, Toss & Fire will be slinging all your favorite pies, and Vuture Food, a popular vegan junk food truck that travels the entire United States, will be onsite with several aptly-themed foods for the event! Additionally, there will be wiener dog races, a stein holding competition, and lots more!

Annual Beer & Bacon Fest, Red Hawk Brewing, Onondaga Hill

Saturday, September 28 from 3-8pm

• Everything beer and everything bacon! Last year Red Hawk created a bacon beer, this year promises to be just as exciting.

Heritage Hill’s Anniversary Celebration and

Salt Potato Festival, Heritage Hill Brewhouse, Pompey

Saturday, September 28 from 12-8pm & Sunday, September 29 from 12-6pm

• Saturday brings various food trucks to the Hill serving samples of salt potato dishes with voting that will take place to declare a winner. Both days of this salt potato celebration will feature live music, craft vendors, tractor rides, wagon rides, and a Biergarten in the pavilion. Admission is free, but there will be a $5 charge per vehicle for parking.

Oktoberfest Celebration, Middle Ages Brewing Company, Syracuse

Sunday, September 29 from 4-7pm

• Middle Ages will be pouring all your favorite brews and Fritz’s Polka Band will be there playing all the festive Oktoberfest music to get you in the mood to throw on your dirndl or lederhosen and dance the evening away! This is a free show at the Beer Hall.

Amazing Ballpark Beer & BBQ Festival, Syracuse Mets Stadium

Saturday, October 5 from 12-4pm

• Come sample over 80 craft beers, ciders, canned cocktails, spirits and more. Local brewmasters will be on site to answer any questions you might have about the different breweries and brews you will be sampling. There will also be live music and delicious BBQ options to choose from – including Limp Lizard, Who Want Smoke BBQ & Catering, and Angry Smokehouse! General admission tickets are $48 and designated driver tickets are $13 and can be purchased on the Syracuse Mets website or amazingbeerfest.com.

Oktoberfest at Prison City Pub & Brewery, North Street Location, Auburn, NY

Sunday, October 6 from 12-6pm

• Excitement abounds at Prison City’s celebration where participants will be able to enjoy Bavarian food specials, Oktoberfest music and dancing with the Syracuse German Oktoberfest Band & Dancers from 2-5pm, and a stein hoisting contest at 4pm!

6th Annual Fall Festival, Copper City Brewing Company, Rome, NY

Saturday, October 12 from 1-9pm

• In addition to loads of great beer choices including Copper City’s Falling for Pumpkin Ale, there will be vodka apple cider slushies and NYS Bourbon hot toddies on special. There will also be 10+ local vendors, offering fall-themed wares from 1-6pm, live music starting at 4pm, and food truck The Rolling Stoves offering chili, BBQ, and hot sandwiches.

New York State Craft Brewers Festival, Landmark Theatre, Syracuse

Saturday, November 23 from 4-8pm. 

• In its 11th year, this much-anticipated event in the beautiful indoor space at the Landmark Theatre is a brewfest that is not to be missed! This event brings 45+ breweries and brewers from all over the great state of New York to pour their best beers and discuss all things beer-related with the general public. There are no volunteers pouring at this event, so you will be rubbing elbows with the best of the best. Food vendors from local restaurants will also be on site with their best eats for purchase. Your general admission ticket ($69 online) includes a 7-ounce souvenir tasting glass and freedom to enjoy unlimited 3-oz. beer samples. Designated driver tickets ($19 online) include free bottles of water. Online tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster via thinknydrinkny.com. Helpful Hint: Avoid online ticketing fees by purchasing tickets in-person at Middle Ages Brewing Company (cash only) and at the Syracuse Box Office.

Here’s to seeing many of our Table Hopping readers out and about this Fall season! Prost!

Kristin Merritt

Just your average craft-brew loving gal slinging your monthly pour of beer education and the low-down on all things beer related in the immediate CNY area and beyond. Along the way I hope to give a few recommendations for your grocery list, events to attend, and local hotspots to hit-up for shenanigans with friends, ideas for date night, or at the very least enlighten you with a bit of random knowledge to use towards trivia night or simply give you and your teammates a suggestion on what to drink at the bar! Cheers!