Oktoberfest is in full swing at Old World in Huntington Beach, and it runs every Wednesday through Sunday until November 8, 2026. Expect German bands in the Festival Hall, bratwurst off the grill, Schuhplattler dancers on weekend nights, and a Bavarian-style village setting just off the 405.
The celebration opened September 12 and has eight weeks on the calendar. The big October weekends bring a band change and front-of-line passes, so here is how to pick your night, what it costs, and how to get in without a long wait. Everything below comes from Old World’s Oktoberfest pages as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Wednesdays through Sundays, September 12 to November 8, 2026 |
| Where | Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach, 7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 |
| Highlights | German bands, Schuhplattler dancers, bratwurst and pretzels, costume discounts |
| Ages | All ages Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday daytime, and Sunday (under 21 with a parent or guardian). 21+ only on Friday and Saturday nights |
| Tickets | Free in advance on the all-ages weeknights and Saturday daytime. $10 to $30 in advance for Friday and Saturday nights |
| Re-entry | No |
| Payment | Cash and card at the ticket window. Some bars are cash only |
| Parking | Free |
| Official site | oldworldhb.com |
Pick your night
Old World runs five different sessions a week, and each one has its own hours, age rule, and price. Door prices are a little higher than advance prices.
| Session | Hours | Ages | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday and Thursday | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | All ages | Free in advance, $5 at the door |
| Friday | 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. | 21+ | $10 to $30 in advance, $15 to $35 at the door |
| Saturday daytime | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | All ages | Free in advance, $5 at the door |
| Saturday night | 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. | 21+ | $10 to $30 in advance, $15 to $35 at the door |
| Sunday | Noon to 7 p.m. | All ages | $10 online, $15 at the door, free after 5 p.m. |
Kids 12 and under get in free on the all-ages sessions. If you want the full oompah experience with the German bands in the Festival Hall, go Friday night, Saturday night, or Sunday. The weeknights and Saturday daytime are quieter, with Marko From Europe playing the Biergarten stage.
Who’s playing
Old World publishes a set entertainment schedule for the whole run. Here is what is on from October 5 onward.
- Hammerstein Band takes over the Festival Hall October 9 through 25, on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
- Blue Birds German Band returns to the Festival Hall October 30 through November 8 on the same days. They are off October 5 through 29.
- Silk Button Butchers play the Garden Stage on Friday nights.
- Lit Tempo, a DJ and drummer act, plays the Garden Stage Friday and Saturday nights, 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
- Die Gemütlichen Schuhplattler, the German folk dancers, perform in the Festival Hall at 7:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. They skip October 10 and 17.
- Marko From Europe plays the Biergarten on Wednesday and Thursday nights and Saturday daytime, and the restaurant’s dining stage on Friday, Saturday night, and Sunday.
- 80s vs 90s Ultimate Throwback Showdown on Friday, November 6, with the bands New Wave Kids and Living Stereo on the Garden Stage.
- Your hosts: MC Nicole on weeknights, MC Tommy Kazoo on Friday and Saturday nights, and MC Kane on Saturday daytime and Sunday.
What’s on the menu
Oktoberfest food comes from the outside grills, not the restaurant’s full menu. Old World notes that items and prices can change. The posted menu:
- Combo plates: bratwurst on a roll with potato salad and sauerkraut ($27, with Nürnberger, IPA beer, or Hungarian bratwurst), a quarter baked chicken leg with mashed potatoes, gravy, and sauerkraut ($27), a vegan Beyond Meat bratwurst with German potato salad and cucumber salad ($24), and a kids combo of a beef hot dog with mac and cheese ($15).
- A la carte: baked pretzel sandwich with Black Forest ham and Jarlsberg ($20), bratwurst on a roll ($15), quarter chicken leg ($15), charcuterie box ($15), large Bavarian pretzel ($14), vegan bratwurst ($12), Dodger Dog ($18), beef hot dog ($10), and homemade apple strudel ($8).
- Sides are $7 each, including mashed potatoes, German potato salad, cucumber salad, and mac and cheese. Add-ons like obatzda, beer cheese, jalapeño beer cheese, and German mustard are $2.
Bring your own beer stein if you like. Staff will pour into their measured cups first, and you pour it into your mug from there.
Tickets
Buy online through Old World’s Oktoberfest page or at the door. Online sales close two hours before doors open, and tickets are always sold at the door after that, as capacity allows. A free advance reservation does not guarantee entry: everyone, including online buyers, waits in the same general admission line, and when the venue hits capacity the line is held until people leave. All sales are final.
- Dress up, get in free: wear a dirndl or lederhosen and entry is free for the first hour only on Friday (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 1 p.m.).
- Priority Pass: on Fridays and Saturdays, October 9 through 25, a Priority Pass gets you front-of-line access and one 24-ounce beer ticket. It costs $80 on Fridays and $100 on Saturdays and is sold at the door only.
- Reserved tables: tables for 6 to 8 people run $100 to $400, indoors in the Festival Hall or outdoors in the Biergarten. A table does not include admission, and staff assign the specific table on the day. Old World says October Friday and Saturday tables usually sell out early. Without one, it is standing room.
- Military and first responders: active-duty military, veterans, and first responders get 50% off admission at the door with ID, a badge, or a DD-214. The discount is not available online.
- Dinner first: show a same-day receipt from the Old World restaurant at the ticket booth for $5 off admission. The restaurant is separate from Oktoberfest and takes its own reservations.
- Groups: there is no will call. Forward each person their own ticket or arrive together.
Getting there
Old World Village sits in north Huntington Beach, directly off the 405 at the Beach Boulevard exit. Parking is always free. Park in the high-rise structure off Huntington Village Lane and Center Avenue, behind the Hotel Huntington Beach, and follow the orange Old World parking signs. There is more parking in the Bella Terra high-rise structure. Do not park in the East or West lots of Old World Village: Old World says violators will be towed.
The Oktoberfest entrance is to the right of the restaurant entrance. Look for the giant “Oktoberfest Entrance” banner.
What to bring
- A clear bag. Only clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, one-gallon clear freezer bags, medically necessary bags, and diaper bags with a small child are allowed. Backpacks and large bags are prohibited.
- Valid ID. Every attendee needs one, and Friday and Saturday nights are 21+ with no exceptions.
- Cash. Most bars take cards, but some are cash only.
- Your ticket on your phone or printed.
What to leave at home
Old World’s security policy prohibits cans, bottles, outside alcohol, marijuana, weapons of any kind (including pocket knives, mace, tasers, and firearms), fireworks, laser pointers, artificial noisemakers, and containers of any kind. Clothing or markers identifying gangs or hate groups are not allowed.
Family notes
- Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday daytime, and Sunday are the family-friendly sessions. Anyone under 21 must be with a parent or guardian.
- Kids 12 and under are free on those sessions, and there is a $15 kids combo on the menu.
- Dogs are welcome on Saturday daytime and Sunday only. Service animals are allowed at all times.
Tips
- Arrive early, especially on October Fridays and Saturdays. Old World repeats this advice on nearly every page.
- Pace yourself on the 21+ nights. They run until 1 a.m.
- No re-entry. Once you are in, you are in for the night.
- Sunday deal: admission is free after 5 p.m., with two hours of band time left.
A little history
Old World has been throwing Oktoberfest for decades. Its own pages date the tradition to 1977 on one page and 1978 on another, calling it Orange County’s biggest party either way.
Accessibility
Old World’s Oktoberfest pages do not publish accessibility details. The venue is indoor and outdoor, with seating and standing areas. For questions, call (714) 895-8020 or email info@oldworldhb.com.
Still to come
Old World has posted an Oktoberfest map page, but it had no map text to read when we checked. Accessibility information has not been published. The 824 Journal will update this guide if either changes.
Sources
- Old World: Oktoberfest Orange County (dates, sessions, hours, prices, costume offer, parking, address)
- Old World: Oktoberfest FAQ (ages, admission, tables, dogs, payment, discounts, parking, entrance, security, re-entry, mugs)
- Old World: Live Entertainment (bands, dancers, MCs, schedule)
- Old World: Oktoberfest Menu
- Old World: Priority Pass
- Old World: Reserved Tables
- Old World: Venue and Security Policy (clear bag policy, prohibited items, parking)
- Old World: About Oktoberfest
Featured photo: Dialh via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
