Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg

Ober Gatlinburg bills this one as Gatlinburg’s Original Oktoberfest, and for five weeks the mountaintop park plays the part. Blue-and-white checks and oversized steins go up, the biergarten fills as the music gets going, and the tram ride up while the ridges turn color makes a good fall afternoon on its own.

Beer, Sausages and Strudel

The biergarten pours five German-style beers from Yee-Haw Brewing, a Tennessee brewery. The food sticks close to Bavaria, with a couple of Smoky Mountain additions:

• Chicken schnitzel and sausages
• Giant pretzels and turkey legs
• Apple strudel and pumpkin fudge

Who Is Playing and When

The entertainment changes through the run, so check the lineup against your date:

• The Polka Dots: Sept. 25 to 27, Oct. 4, Oct. 9 to 11 and Oct. 23 to 25, sets at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm
• Polkawagen: Oct. 16 to 18 and Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 1 pm to 4 pm
• The Hodnett Family Band: Oct. 2 and 3, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Kevin McGuire: Oct. 6 and Oct. 20
• Uresti Entertainment: most other weekdays, at 1 pm, 2:30 pm and 4 pm

Polkawagen is the pick for the full oompah treatment: a husband-and-wife duo that sounds like a whole band, with polkas, waltzes, sing-alongs and Oktoberfest trivia. The Hodnetts bring bluegrass and gospel instead. Nothing had been announced for Oct. 14, 22 or 28 at the time of writing.

Stein Holding and Barrel Rolls

Every open day has stein-holding and barrel-roll contests, usually at 2 pm. Polka Dots days add a 4 pm round, and Polkawagen and Hodnett days move them to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

Tickets and Passes

Ober does not list a separate Oktoberfest admission, so what you pay depends on how you get up the mountain. Prices are from Ober’s ticket page in September 2026 and can change:

• Gatlinburg Tram only: $29 round trip, ages 5 and up
• Fun Pass: $39 a day ahead, $49 same day online, $54 on site. Includes the tram, Sky Village Lift, ice skating and more
• Adventure Pass: $59 ahead, $69 same day online, $74 on site. Adds the bobsled and a Tennessee Flyer coaster ride
• Ages 4 and under: free with a paying adult on most activities

Ober’s FAQ page covers senior discounts for ages 60 and up. Mountain biking, disc golf and archery run Friday through Sunday only and close for the season after Oct. 18.

Getting Up the Mountain

The tram is the easy way. Park in Ober’s downtown lot at 314 Cottage Drive for $10 and board at the Tramway Mall, 1001 Parkway, between traffic lights 8 and 10. Driving means three winding miles up Ski Mountain Road from light 10, with limited $10 parking at the top and no room for buses or oversized vehicles on weekends. Call ahead if you plan to drive.

The festival is closed Sept. 29 and 30, and park hours shift by date, so check Ober’s hours calendar before you go.