Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is a German celebration in the forested town of Big Bear Lake, framed around family, friendship, and togetherness. The feast runs to bratwurst, knockwurst, and kielbasa with home-style sauerkraut and Bavarian dumplings, plus beer cheese soup, colossal pretzels, and apple strudel with warm vanilla sauce. Steins of Spaten, Franziskaner, Warsteiner, and Konig Ludwig sit with bands billed as direct from Germany, and contests cover stein holding, log sawing, non-alcoholic safe-slam races, and a Queen Stein Carrying Contest. Children get a climbing wall, a mechanical bull, and giant inflatables.

Our take: Come hungry for bratwurst and the apple strudel with warm vanilla sauce, then stay for the stein holding and log sawing contests.