Lead Photo Credit: @bestofbreck Instagram
In two and a half weeks thousands of stein hoisting beer enthusiasts will converge on Main Street in Breckenridge to celebrate the town’s 30th annual Oktoberfest. There isn’t a flake of snow on the mountains yet, and what will most likely the biggest party in Breck this fall won’t even need it. That is the beauty of Oktoberfest in the mountains. It sets the stage for the apres ski parties to come, no snow required.
Breckenridge Oktoberfest: 30 Years of Main Street Beer Halls
Thirty years and running, Breckenridge Oktoberfest, is still at the top of the list of events for what a ski town does with itself in the months leading up to the winter. Beer pouring may kick off at 2 PM the weekend of September 25-27, but that’s only a small part of the whole celebration. Stein hoisting takes place three separate times throughout the weekend while live polka music will have Main Street hopping from open to close. All of this and they are still weeks away from a single lift ticket going on sale. That’s proof that in ski country, the party doesn’t wait for the snow to catch up.Â
Deer Valley & Jackson Hole: Fall Beer Festivals in the Rockies
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort
Breckenridge isn’t the only mountain town where the fun isn’t on hold until ski season. Park City is gearing up for something similar. This year, the Deer Valley Mountain Beer Festival runs September 18-20 and it promises to be better than ever. The chairlifts will be running, more than 20 breweries will be pouring and Dylan Catrone and G. Love and Special Sauce will be supplying the tunes on Saturday and Sunday respectively. All of this while the mountain is still green. Looking for a similar but quieter version of the same concept? Live music and local breweries and food vendors keep the scene going on weekends throughout the fall.Â
Not to be outdone in all of the pre-season partying is Jackson Hole. This year the Teton Village Oktoberfest expands to two days over the weekend of September 26-27. During that time, The Handle Bar at the Four Seasons is running a bratwurst and stein special all weekend. For a resort known for its terrain and not necessarily its patio scene, Jackson Hole is following suit with a fall party of their own.
When Does Après Ski Season Actually Start?
For some, it’s a lifestyle that never ends. However if we’re looking for a date on the calendar, it starts with Oktoberfest. For most major ski towns this lands in late September before a lift ticket even goes on sale.
About the Author
Rich Stoner is the founder of the après-ski lifestyle clothing and media brand, All About Après. He is also the co-host of the Après All Day Podcast. No stranger to the ski and après-ski scene, Rich has been a long time contributor for many publications on topics like skiing, travel, gear, beer and food. However, his passion is on the slopes and enjoying good times with good people. You can find him perfecting his craft carving turns and drinking beers in the Green Mountains of Vermont. @allaboutapres