Bavarian pretzels the size of dinner plates, stein-hoisting contests and a Wild Boar Brat loaded with jalapeño cheddar are back on the Chicago Riverwalk this fall, as The Northman Beer & Cider Garden runs its ninth annual Oktoberfest across three separate weekends. The celebration spans September 18–20, September 25–27, and October 2–4, bringing what organizers describe as a taste of the traditional Munich festival to the city’s waterfront near Michigan Avenue.
The event takes place at 233 E. Riverwalk, according to WGN-TV, which reported that the venue is bringing three weekends of Bavarian-inspired revelry to the Riverwalk. The celebration kicked off Friday, September 18, with a traditional Alphorn performance and live music, as reported by Chicago Food Magazine. Executive chef Chris Seeler and general manager Nate Albrecht joined WGN’s Daytime Chicago, which airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., for a preview of the festivities.
Steins, Sausages and a Strongman Nail Game
Guests looking to test their strength can try stein-hoisting challenges or take on Hammerschlagen, the classic German nail-driving game, per the same Chicago Food Magazine report. Live polka and German-style bands are set to keep the atmosphere lively, alongside DIY pretzel-necklace kits and other festival activities scattered throughout the weekends.
On the food side, the menu centers on Käsekrainer — a pork sausage stuffed with Emmentaler cheese and served in a warmed sausage roll with Stiegl-braised onions and Düsseldorf mustard. There’s also a Wild Boar Brat topped with jalapeño cheddar, and giant 16-inch Bavarian pretzels that the outlet notes are available on Saturdays.
How the Braised Onions Come Together
The Käsekrainer preparation leans on a slow-cooked onion process: julienned onion is sautéed in blended oil until translucent, then cooked with salt and black pepper until it starts to brown. The onion is deglazed with a half cup of Stiegl beer before the mixture is caramelized until deeply reduced, and the sausage itself is browned in a pan until heated through before it goes into the sausage roll with mustard as needed.
Beer options include Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier, Maplewood Festbier and Dovetail Festweizen, plus Athletic Brewing’s nonalcoholic Oktoberfest for guests skipping the alcohol, according to the same Chicago Food Magazine account of the menu. Those pours join the food lineup across all three weekends of programming at the Riverwalk garden.
Not the Only German Fest in Town
The Northman’s run overlaps with other Oktoberfest activity around Chicago; a low-confidence report from nancytassone.com indicated the second annual Old Town Oktoberfest was set to return to Wells Street the same September 18–20 weekend. More details on The Northman’s Riverwalk celebration, including its full three-weekend run, can be found at thenorthman.com.
