When USA Today's 10Best readers voted on the best place to celebrate Oktoberfest in the United States, the usual suspects didn't win. For the third year running, the top spot went to Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose Zecco Oktoberfest took the 2026 title after experts shortlisted the nominees and readers cast the deciding votes.
The four-day festival runs October 22-25, 2026, at River West Festival Park just south of downtown, and it has been a Tulsa tradition for nearly 50 years. Despite the landlocked setting, the event leans hard into Bavarian authenticity: a dozen Munich-style beer tents, more than 200 beers on offer, polka bands, folk dancing, and even whip-cracking performances.
Beer is the obvious draw. The lineup spans local brews and German heavyweights like Spaten, Paulaner, and Weihenstephan. The biggest tent, sponsored by Lufthansa Technik, pours over 80 beers on tap. If you'd rather compete than sip, the FC Tulsa Games Arena hosts stein hoists, beer barrel races, stein relays, and wiener dog races — low-stakes, high-glee stuff.
Food runs from standard festival fare (funnel cakes) to proper German plates: bratwurst, schnitzel, sauerkraut, and Bavarian pastries. For a splurge, Restaurant am Himmel — "Restaurant in the Sky" — serves a three-course meal of cucumber salad, slow-braised beef and bratwurst, and pear strudel paired with German wine. Want to look the part? German Import Haus in town sells lederhosen and dirndls.
Families get a real slot in the schedule too. Friday's Family Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers free admission plus the KinderPlatz area with crafts, games, an art contest, and carnival rides (some activities cost extra). Anyone wanting a better view can book VIP packages with reserved seating and food and drink deals.
Getting there is easy. Tulsa International Airport sits about 11 miles from downtown — roughly 15 minutes by rental car or ride-share — and a MetroLink bus takes about an hour if you're watching your budget.
If Tulsa is out of reach, the source points to Cincinnati, often called America's Oktoberfest capital, and Columbus, Ohio, both with deep German brewing roots and packed festival calendars. But for the next two years at least, the crown sits in Oklahoma. Plan around the October dates, book accommodation early — hotel rooms near downtown fill up over festival weekends — and consider Friday for the cheapest entry point.
