Utah’s 2022 Oktoberfest is here – and it’s celebrating 50 years

Yep, you read that right, Snowbird’s outpost of the historic Bavarian bash is a half-century old this year. If that’s not a reason to raise a glass and a smile, I don’t know what is.

Apparently the first ever Utah beer and brats fest was visited by just forty people, way back in 1972. These days the event spans Saturdays and Sundays for 10 weeks, attracted an order of magnitude more, some 40,000+

This years festivities recent started on the weekend of August 13th and 14th and will run until the October 16th. Should you head up, admission is completely free, but do not parking is $10. For 2022 the event runs from noon until 6.00 p.m. each weekend. Oktoberfest at Snowbird is a family-friendly event (no pets remember!) with plenty on the event calendar for the whole family; you might also want to browse Snowbird’s Summer activities too.

On the drink front the 2022 biergarten is set to offer 50+ varieties of beer including several traditional German-style beers from the likes of Moab Brewery, Bohemian, Uinta and Squatters. Other libation options will be available at the outdoor bar at The Forklift too. We don’t yet have 2022 pricing but in 2021 an employee confirmed prices as follows:

“I work up there and can give exact prices on beer and mugs:

• 34oz mug is $12.50
• 34oz fill is $14
• 22oz glass mug is $11
• 22oz plastic is $7.50
• 22oz fill is $11.50
• 16oz glass is $9
• 16oz fill is $9.50
• Canned beer is $10 but you have to buy a mug for it.”

And yes, yes there will be food. Oktoberfest food choices include German favorites such as bratwurst, weisswurst, sauerkraut, apple strudel, spaetzle, beef rouladen, pretzels and Bavarian roasted almonds.

If you want to push the boat out and make a full weekend of it, note that this year Snowbird are offering a brace of lodging packages to choose from; the Prost Package and the Oktoberfest Getaway.

A few more notes for the organizers:

• Have you been to Snowbird’s Oktoberfest before and already have a mug? Bring it! You can reuse any Snowbird Oktoberfest mug (even if it dates back to 1972) and get the refill price. Or, buy a new one (the design changes every year) and start or add to your collection. An important note however is that this only applies to Oktoberfest mugs – not Brewfest ones. 
• Want to enjoy some live music? The Oktoberfest Halle entertainment runs from noon till closure at 6.0 p.m. and the Chickadee Stage runs 2.00 – 5.00 p.m.
• ​The Alphorns at The Summit are a must-see! They play at 3 pm, so take the 2 pm or 2:30 pm Tram up. By going up early, you have time to grab a pretzel and another brew before the music starts. Make sure you finish your beer before your ride because alcohol is not allowed on the Tram. 
• The games at the Oktoberfest Halle start at 3.:50 p.m. Join in on the fun by participating in yodeling and polka contests or see if you can prove your strength and compete in the mug-holding competition. 
• A little-known secret is the beer tents on the Skier’s Bridge and Dick Bass Terrace. These tents usually aren’t as crowded, so you can grab a beer faster and make the most of your time at the festival.  

Main image credit, Snowbird.

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Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.

I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.   Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.

Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.

Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.

I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.   Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.

Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.