Fancy bringing the fun of Munich’s famous beer festival to your own home? An Oktoberfest party is a brilliant excuse to get friends together, enjoy great German beer and tuck into plenty of hearty food. You don’t need a huge beer hall or a trip to Germany – with a little planning, you can create your own Oktoberfest celebration at home.

From choosing the right Oktoberfest beer to decorating your party space, here’s everything you need to know.

Choose Your Oktoberfest Beer

Every great Oktoberfest party starts with the beer. While you could stick to one favourite, offering a selection of German beers makes the evening much more interesting – especially if your guests enjoy discovering new beers.

The Oktoberfest Beer Party Pack from The Belgian Beer Company makes planning particularly easy. The pack contains 18 x 50cl bottles, with three bottles each of Erdinger Oktoberfest, Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest, Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier, Spaten Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest and Lowenbrau Oktoberfest.

That’s six different beers to taste and compare, ranging from malty and full-bodied lagers to a traditional Oktoberfest wheat beer.

The pack also currently includes a selection of Oktoberfest decorations and accessories, including Erdinger flags, Paulaner bunting, Hofbrau balloons and posters, German beer mats and a branded bottle opener.

Create Your Own Oktoberfest Decorations

You don’t have to spend a fortune transforming your home into a Bavarian beer hall. Blue and white bunting, balloons, posters and German-inspired table decorations can instantly create the right atmosphere.

If you’re feeling adventurous, encourage your guests to dress for the occasion. Lederhosen, dirndls, Bavarian hats or even a simple blue-and-white outfit can make your Oktoberfest party feel like a proper event.

Put the beer mats out, display the beer bottles and create a dedicated drinks table so guests can help themselves.

Serve Traditional Oktoberfest Food

What’s an Oktoberfest party without German food?

Bratwurst and other German sausages are an obvious choice and pair particularly well with Oktoberfest beers. Add plenty of mustard, sauerkraut and fresh bread for a simple but delicious spread.

You could also serve giant pretzels, schnitzel, German potato salad or roast chicken. The best approach is to choose food that can be prepared ahead of time, allowing you to enjoy the party rather than spending the whole evening in the kitchen.

Plan Some Oktoberfest Games

Once you’ve got the beer and food sorted, add a few games to keep everyone entertained.

A blind German beer tasting is a great option when you’re serving several different beers. Give guests small samples and see whether they can identify their favourites. You could also organise an Oktoberfest quiz, a best-dressed competition or a traditional stein-holding challenge.

Keep things light-hearted and make sure there are plenty of non-drinking activities too.

Put on the Right Music

Music is an easy way to take your Oktoberfest party to the next level. Create a playlist combining traditional German and Bavarian music with upbeat party favourites.

The aim is to create a lively, sociable atmosphere where everyone feels involved. And don’t forget to encourage your guests to join in with a few traditional German cheers!

Get Ready to Say “Prost!”

The secret to organising a great Oktoberfest party at home is keeping things simple. Get your German beer chilled, prepare some hearty food, decorate your space and invite your favourite people.

With an Oktoberfest Beer Party Pack providing a selection of German beers, plus decorations and accessories to help set the scene, you’ve already got many of the essentials covered.

All that’s left is to raise your glass, enjoy the evening and say the most important word of the night:

Prost!