New Ulm, Minnesota is one of the most German towns in the Midwest, and it spreads its Oktoberfest across several weekends rather than one event. The pieces to know are the downtown street festival, the festival at Schell’s Brewery and HermannFest.
2026 Events
- HermannFest: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Hermann Heights Monument and Harman Park. Free, with German and regional music, food and drink, and an evening finale of municipal band music, cannon fire and fireworks over the monument.
- Downtown Oktoberfest: Friday and Saturday, October 2–3, 2026 along Minnesota Street. A German heritage street festival with live bands, German food, local beer, yard games and contests such as stein holding and sauerkraut eating. The festival opens with a Germanic-American Day parade and a ceremonial keg tapping.
- Schell’s Oktoberfest: Saturday, October 10, 2026 on the August Schell Brewing grounds. One listing shows gates opening around 10:30–11 am and $10 general admission, with kids 12 and under free.
These dates come from event listings, and the official city page for the 2026 schedule was not available when we checked. Confirm with the New Ulm Convention & Visitors Bureau (newulm.com, 507-233-4300) before you travel.
Why New Ulm?
It is a small city with German heritage and a working historic brewery, which is why its Oktoberfest feels closer to a hometown celebration than a tourist event. 2027 dates had not been announced at the time of writing.
Planning the Munich trip? See our Oktoberfest Beer Guide, the Table Reservations Guide and the 2026 Dates & Schedule. More US festivals: all major US Oktoberfest events.
Nearby and related: Oktoberfest Minneapolis, Oktoberfest La Crosse, WI, Oktoberfest Chicago, Oktoberfest Milwaukee, Oktoberfest Cleveland. See all US Oktoberfest festivals or Oktoberfest in Minnesota.