The operator traces the festival to a German immigrant family that came west in 1969 and calls it one of the largest and most authentic Oktoberfests on the West Coast — a bier hall with a German band on one side and an outdoor biergarten on the other, reached by a drive up into the San Bernardino Mountains. Friday nights only exist in October, so this is the first weekend of the season running all three days. Sundays end at 6 p.m., the family-hours version.
What to expect
An indoor bier hall with a German band and long tables, an outdoor biergarten, stein-holding and other contests, and a mountain town that fills up on fall weekends. Evening temperatures up the mountain drop sharply after sundown.
Good to know
- The operator lists Fridays in October 5–11 p.m., October Saturdays 1 p.m.–12 a.m., and all Sundays noon–6 p.m.
- The venue is the Big Bear Lake Convention Center at the corner of Division Drive and Big Bear Blvd.
- The season runs weekends from September 12 through November 14, 2026.
- Tickets are sold by day through the operator's ticket page, with adult, senior and child admission categories.
- Big Bear is roughly a two-hour drive from central Los Angeles, longer with weekend mountain traffic.
Common questions
Is it open on Friday?
Friday nights are added for October only, 5 to 11 p.m.
What are Sunday hours?
Noon to 6 p.m., the same across the season.