Overview Oktoberfest Tampa turns Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa into the city's largest waterfront biergarten for three days every October. Thousands come for live music, alphorn players, Schuhplattler dancers, Bavarian food, local festbiers and the Outrageous Bavarian Games, with the Tampa skyline behind the tents and sunsets across the Hillsborough River. On site The main stage runs the Outrageous Bavarian Games (stein hoisting, tug-o-war, brat toss and more), the Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest Tampa contest and the region's largest beard and mustache competition. Guests move between the Bürgermeister Beer Hall, a VIP lounge with table service and main stage views, a Kinder Zone and stage, and food and vendor rows. Sponsors can take the title, the main stage, the official beer, the box office on Ashley Drive, the beer hall, the VIP lounge, the Kinder Zone or the Bavarian Games field, or run a 10x10 activation all weekend. Audience Tampa Bay adults and families out for a weekend party on the Riverwalk, plus visitors from across Florida. Kids 12 and under get in free with a parent, and active and retired military and City of Tampa first responders get in free, so the crowd mixes young professionals, families and service members. Talent and Influencers The entertainment is traditional: live music on the main stage, alphorn players and Schuhplattler dancers, with local news personalities joining the ceremonial keg tapping. NBC affiliate WFLA News Channel 8 covers the festival on air, including its Daytime show, on-site weather reports and in-studio segments. Track record Oktoberfest Tampa has run on the downtown waterfront for well over a decade, the City of Tampa has proclaimed an official Oktoberfest Tampa Week, and the festival has been nominated for USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice for Best Oktoberfest. SheKnows named it a top five Oktoberfest in the country. It supports the Tampa Music Foundation. Brand presence Tampa International Airport hosts the VIP lounge, the Fran Haasch Law Group is the official stein sponsor and The Barrymore Hotel is the exclusive hotel partner. Green Bench Brewing brews the festival's own Oktoberfest Tampa Dunkel, Coppertail Brewing pours its märzen and dunkel, and Visit Tampa Bay, Creative Loafing and Tampa Bay Metro are partners.