🇺🇸How does United States mark Beer Festivals?

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Local date

September 17, 2026–September 20, 2026

When is it?

Thursday to Sunday around the third Saturday in September, announced each year by the organiser.

There is no national beer festival in the United States, and no level of government stages one. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati ran 17–20 September 2026 at Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove on the Cincinnati riverfront, with free admission; the festival says it was first held in 1976 and drew a record 808,300 people last year, and its title sponsor is written into the event name. Government appears on the other side of the counter. Ohio's Division of Liquor Control requires a temporary permit before anyone sells drinks by the glass or charges admission that includes alcohol, under Ohio Revised Code sections 4303.20 to 4303.2012. The common F permit covers beer by the glass for up to five days, costs $40, must be filed thirty days ahead, and is limited to two per organisation in any thirty-day period; the F-2 permit covers beer, wine and spirits for up to four days at $150 and only in areas voted "wet" locally. Applicants must be charitable, fraternal, labour, educational, cultural, social, political, patriotic or athletic non-profits, and the rule states plainly that no temporary permit may be issued for the profit or gain of a private person. The same festival is a city department in Brazil and a time-limited licence to a non-profit in the United States.