A working blacksmith will hammer away at Frame Park this September as Waukesha Oktoberfest returns for another round of German dancing, beer, and old-world games along the Fox River. The free festival runs Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, 2026, with organizers promising traditional German dancers, lederhosen-clad crowds, and the rare chance to watch a blacksmith at work in person.
A Blacksmith, Dancers, and Free-Flowing Beer
The blacksmith demonstration and the traditional German dance performances were announced by the City of Waukesha in a Facebook post Friday, which also encouraged attendees to dress in lederhosen for the occasion. This year's festival is presented by Landmark Credit Union, according to the same post. While general admission to the event is free, visitors 21 and older who want to buy and drink alcohol will need to purchase a $2 wristband on-site, according to the City of Waukesha.
The festival kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. with the ceremonial tapping of the Oktoberfest Firkin, a tradition that comes with a perk: free beer for attendees while the keg lasts, per the city. Beyond the music and dancing, organizers are bringing back old-world competitions including Masskrugstemmen, a stein-holding endurance contest that requires competitors to hold a filled one-liter glass stein at arm's length without spilling or bending the elbow, and Nagelschlagen, a speed nail-driving game, according to the city.
Drone Show Lights Up the Fox River Nightly
Each night at 9 p.m., the festival features the Zicke Zacke Drohne Show, a synchronized aerial light display staged over the Fox River, as reported by Key Milwaukee. The drone performance was introduced as a modern addition to the festival's more traditional programming, giving crowds along the riverbank something to gather around after dark.
Groups looking for reserved seating can book a VIP Oktoberfest table package for $225, which includes four hours of reserved seating for four people, $200 in festival gift cards, and access to a dedicated VIP beer line, per the city's event guidelines. Pet owners should take note that Waukesha City Ordinance 33.02(6) strictly prohibits pets, including dogs, inside city parks during Oktoberfest, with exceptions made only for trained ADA service animals.
Getting There Without the Parking Headache
To ease congestion near the venue, the city is running continuous free shuttle bus service connecting Frame Park to off-site parking at the Waukesha County Courthouse and the Waukesha Transit Center. The shuttles are set to operate throughout Friday evening and into Saturday afternoon and night, according to the city's event guidelines.
A Riverfront Park With Deep Roots
Frame Park itself carries its own history along the Fox River. The 34.5-acre park was named for local business leader Andrew J. Frame and his wife Emma, who donated 35 acres and cleanup funds in the 1920s to turn former industrial dumping grounds into a public park, one that was officially dedicated in October 1939. The city's Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department launched the annual Oktoberfest at Frame Park in September 2016 to celebrate local German heritage along the river corridor, according to CBS 58.
The park has also seen ongoing investment beyond festival season. In 2020, its historic baseball diamond underwent $1.4 million in upgrades through a joint venture between the City of Waukesha and Carroll University, adding artificial turf, new dugouts, and batting cages, reflecting the venue's long-standing role as a recreational hub even outside of Oktoberfest weekend.
