Sugar Mountain Resort's 33rd annual Oktoberfest
October 7 & 8, 202310am – 5pm
Yodel Lay He Ho!
We’ve got lots of reasons for you to grab your beer stein, put on your Lederhosen or your dirndl and head to Sugar Mountain Resort Saturday & Sunday, October 7 & 8, 2023. The Harbour Towne Fest Band will provide a festive Bavarian atmosphere to Sugar’s annual Oktoberfest celebration. Admission, parking and shuttle service are free. Rain, shine or snow the festival will go on!
For additional information please call 828-898-4521.
Take in the beautiful fall foliage, cool, comfortable mountain temperatures, and a weekend full of festival activities from 10 am until 5 pm each day. Be sure to bring the kids because the event is for the whole family.
Schedule
Saturday, October 7, 2023: 10AM-5PM
10AM Oktoberfest Opens to Public
10AM-5PM Summit Express Chairlift Rides
10AM-5PM Arts & Crafts on C-Lot
10AM-5PM Sports Shop Open – Lower Level Base Lodge
11AM Oktoberfest Opening Ceremony
Noon-4PM Harbour Towne Fest Band
11AM-5PM Kids Fun Center – Play Yard
4PM Bavarian Costume Contest – Dance Floor
5PM Oktoberfest Closes for the Day
Sunday, October 8, 2023: 10AM-5PM
10AM Oktoberfest Opens to Public
10AM-5PM Summit Express Chairlift Rides
10AM-5PM Arts & Crafts on C -Lot
10AM-5PM Sports Shop Open – Lower Level Base Lodge
Noon-4PM Harbour Towne Fest Band
11AM-5PM Kids Fun Center – Play Yard
2PM Avery County Cloggers
5PM Oktoberfest Closes for the Day
Entertainment
Live Music
An Oktoberfest isn’t complete without the live sounds of an Oom Pah Band.
From noon until 4:00pm each day the Harbour Towne Fest Band guarantees to bring the sounds, dances and enthusiasm of Bavaria to Sugar Mountain.
Arts & Crafts
Local artisans and craftsmen will show their wares on the ski area grounds Saturday & Sunday.
A wide variety of items from food to ironworks will be available for purchase to the public. Vendors interested in obtaining a booth should contact the Sugar Mountain administration office at (828) 898-4521. The two-day fee for a 12′ by 12′ display area is $150. The festivities will run from 10:00am ’til 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday.
2023 Vendor Lineup
- Evelyn’s – Crocheted headbands, hats, scarves, cup & beer koozies, Christmas ornaments, and woodworking items
- Gloria’s Baked Goods & Crafts – Assorted pies and breads, bowl koozies, potato bags, crochet items, ping pong ball shooters, and neck warmers
- GR Woodworking – Woodworking crafts such as toys, trucks, cornhole boards, flags, crosses, and more
- Jeri’s Jewels – Sterling silver beaded jewelry and guitar pick jewelry
- Johnson Family Farm on Honeycutt Creek – Canned goods, craft hot sauce, and baked goods
- Just-A-Dash – Sewn aprons, table runners, eyeglasses covers, checkbook and cardholders, scrunchies, and many more handmade goods
- Keith Martindale Pottery – Eye catching handmade glazed pottery
- Leisa’s Kettle Corn, LLC – Assorted flavors of kettle corn, pork skins, boiled, roasted, & salted peanuts, glazed nuts, and homemade fudge
- Mountain Poured Creations – Fluid art paintings on various mediums such as canvas, wood, glass, etc. Fluid art jewelry, bookmarks, wine glass charms, keychains, and more
- Nomadic Graphics – Locally made sublimated t-shirts, laser cut décor, and Christmas ornaments
- Redfox Creations – Scenic photography on gallery canvas
- Third Eye Coffee – Fresh coffee, lattes, espresso, cold brew, cappuccino, hot chocolate, baked goods, and lemonade
- To His Glory Alpaca Farm – Alpaca hats, scarves, yarn, and more
- Wood Art by John Patrick – Woodturning décor including salad bowls, platters, lidded boxes, bottlestoppers, and rolling pins
Bavarian Food & Drinks
Food and Drinks
Bavarian cuisine including Bratwurst and Knockwurst, made by Geier’s Sausage Kitchen, Sauerkraut, Strudel, and soft pretzels will be available starting at 11am both Saturday & Sunday. To help wash it down an ample supply of Spaten beer will generously flow each day from 10am until 5pm.
If Bavarian cuisine isn’t your preference; hamburgers, soda, kettle corn and other festive foods will be on hand.
Bavarian Costume Contest
Saturday at 4pm guests who show up on the dance floor in full Bavarian flare or in another Oktoberfest related costume can participate in the Oktoberfest Costume Contest. The winner will be determined by crowd response. Stick around for prizes.
Cost is free to participate.
Categories include Male 12 and under, Female 12 and under, Male 13 and older, Female 13 and older.
Chairlift Rides
Enjoy the area’s fall foliage while riding the Summit Express Chairlift to the top of Sugar Mountain. The chairlift operates from 10:00am until 6:00pm on October 6 and from 10:00am until 5:00pm on October 7 & 8, 2023.
For more information please visit our Chairlift Rides page.
Kids Fun Center
Sports & Gift Shop – Super Sale
Sugar Mountain Sports & Gift Shop
Shop for the upcoming fall and winter seasons at Sugar Mountain Resort’s Sports Shop located on the first level of the main lodge.
New 2024 winter merchandise arriving daily.
Commemorative Oktoberfest t-shirts and souvenir items can also be bought under the tent on the main celebration deck.
Lodging Specials
Receive 15% off lodging rates from the following companies during Sugar’s Oktoberfest:
Resort Real Estate & Rentals at Sugar Mountain
3390 Tynecastle Hwy
Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-898-9746 or 800-438-4555 (toll free)
Sugar Ski & Country Club
100 Sugar Ski Drive
Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-898-9784 or 800-634-1320 (toll free)
The History of Oktoberfest
Held annually in the fall, Oktoberfest is a world famous German folk festival. It is considered one of the world’s most fun-filled celebrations.
For sixteen days, millions of visitors from all over the world enjoy parades, amusements, shows and, of course, lots of authentic German food like sausages, potato salad and apple strudel.
Oktoberfest is best known for the free-flowing, hearty German beer. The celebration officially begins each year when the Lord Mayor of the city taps the first keg – tapping of the first keg symbolizes the celebration of the season’s first brew.
The first Oktoberfest was held nearly 200 years ago in celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese. Since then, Oktoberfest has grown in size and stature and is know world-wide for its friendly & festive atmosphere.
