A new father won the stein-holding contest that kicked off St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest this weekend, competing with his newborn strapped to his chest as the West Lakeview festival got underway at St. Alphonsus Church. The contest, held Friday, set the tone for a weekend of German food, beer and music that organizers say brings the community together while raising funds for the parish.
According to CBS News, the festival is billed as the 24th annual edition of St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest, running through Sunday in West Lakeview. The outlet reports the event offers traditional German music and food alongside the stein-holding contest that opened the weekend's festivities.
A Winning Grip, Baby and All
The stein-holding contest, a staple of Oktoberfest gatherings, tests competitors on how long they can keep a full beer stein extended without spilling it or setting it down. This year's winner managed the feat with his newborn strapped to his chest, a detail that stood out even by Oktoberfest standards, per the same CBS account.
Beyond the contest, organizers describe the festival as bringing together the community while raising funds for the parish, according to the report. Attendee Ben Hawke told the station that people show up in authentic German clothing or simply come for a brat, capturing the mix of tradition and casual fun that draws crowds to the corner event year after year.
How Many Years Running? The Count Gets Fuzzy
Just how long St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest has been a West Lakeview tradition depends on who is counting. CBS News calls the 2026 festival the 24th annual event, while a listing from resources.onestowatch.com describes this year as the 25th. Adding to the confusion, an Eventeny listing for the 2025 festival called that year's event the 22nd annual, a figure that does not line up cleanly with the CBS designation for this year. What is consistent across the listings is the festival's staying power, with Baird & Warner describing it as a Chicago-area staple for more than 20 years, hosted by St. Alphonsus Church.
What's on Tap This Weekend
The recurring festival format, per Baird & Warner, typically includes live oompah bands, dancing, traditional German food and beer from local and international brewers. Last year's edition, according to the Eventeny listing, was held at the intersection of Lincoln, Southport and Wellington and advertised German food, craft beer, live oompah bands, stein-holding contests and polka dancing, a lineup that closely mirrors this year's programming.
St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest is not the only neighborhood parish putting on a German-style celebration this fall. Chicago Parent notes that St. Benedict's Oktoberfest, billed as the city's 59th annual event, has been a family-friendly tradition since 1966, featuring carnival rides, games, German food and live entertainment. The same outlet reports that Frontier's Oktoberfest includes live music from The Deutsch Meisters along with its own stein-holding contest.
