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Soulard Oktoberfest takes place October 9 and 10, 2026, in Soulard Market Park, with the music and beer starting at 3 p.m. on Friday. It's the neighborhood's fall party, and it fits: Soulard was a German neighborhood long before it was a Mardi Gras one.
Why Oktoberfest belongs in Soulard
German immigrants were already arriving in St. Louis in large numbers in the 1830s; the festival's own heritage page puts the city's population at 5,000 in 1830 and more than 16,000 by 1840. After the failed independence movements in the German states, mass immigration began in 1848, and Thomas Allen began selling lots of the old Crystal Springs Farm to German-speaking newcomers that same year.
Beer followed. William Stumpf and Herman Bachmann, neighborhood brewers, established Union Park in 1862, a picnic grounds and beer garden in the middle of Soulard. Adolphus Busch joined the Bavarian brewery in 1865, and Budweiser was introduced in 1876. For more on the neighborhood itself, see the Soulard guide.
How the festival started
The festival's own site dates Soulard Oktoberfest to 2016 and says it drew more than 10,000 people that first year. It has been held in Soulard Market Park, beside the Soulard Farmers Market, which the site describes as the oldest continually run farmers market west of the Mississippi. The 2022 edition ran Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8; the 2026 edition keeps the same two-day format, two days later in the month.
What it looks like now
The official page promises live polka, brass bands and high-energy party acts, plus a stein-holding competition and family-friendly daytime activities. Food runs to bratwurst, pretzels and other classic eats, and the beer is a mix of German and local. The festival's site has described general admission as free and open to the public, with a separate Budweiser VIP tent that needs tickets bought through the official page.
Planning your visit
When: October 9 and 10, 2026; the first day starts at 3 p.m.
Where: Soulard Market Park, in Soulard.
Details and VIP tickets: the festival's official page, soulard-oktoberfest.com. Check it for the latest hours, tickets and lineup.
Stay in Soulard
Spacious Soulard Home — Historic 5BR, Sleeps 16
A historic 5-bedroom house in the neighborhood itself, close enough to walk to the market. Weekend rooms fill early in October, so book ahead. Booked directly on Airbnb.
View & Book on Airbnb →Quick answers
When is Soulard Oktoberfest 2026?
October 9 and 10, 2026, in Soulard Market Park, with the festivities starting at 3 p.m. on Friday.
How long has Soulard Oktoberfest been running?
It began in 2016, and its own site says that first year drew more than 10,000 people.
Does Soulard Oktoberfest cost anything to get in?
The festival's own site describes general admission as free and open to the public. Separate VIP tent tickets are sold through the official page, so check it before you go.
Where should I stay for Soulard Oktoberfest?
The Spacious Soulard Home, a historic 5-bedroom house in the neighborhood itself, sleeps 16 and is close to the market. Weekend rooms fill early, so book ahead.
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