18 Oktoberfest Activities, Games, & Ideas for Teams

Here is our list of the best Oktoberfest ideas.

Oktoberfest ideas are office-friendly games and activities for teams to celebrate Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival. Examples include coaster crafting, beer tasting, and costume contests. The purpose of these activities is to bring employees together for team building, bonding, and fun.

These ideas are similar to work social event ideas, team celebration ideas for work, and office party ideas.

This list includes:

• Oktoberfest party ideas
• Oktoberfest activities for work
• game ideas for Oktoberfest
• office Oktoberfest ideas
• Oktoberfest happy hour ideas

Let’s get to it!

List of Oktoberfest ideas

Celebrating Oktoberfest is a great way to bring your team closer while giving employees a break from the typical workday. From costume parties to beer making, here are our top Oktoberfest ideas for the office.

1. Office beer garden

One of the best office Oktoberfest ideas is to create your own beer garden. If your office has a courtyard or outdoor seating, then we recommend choosing a shaded area.

Once you choose a location, begin setting up your beer garden. You can use wooden benches or picnic tables for seating. Be sure to add blue and white tablecloths and decorations for an authentic Bavarian experience. Your team members may also appreciate custom beer steins and cups to commemorate the occasion. Remember to bring a cooler and a variety of beers for attendees to taste!

2. Coaster crafting

If you are looking for an interactive activity to engage all teammates, then we recommend hosting a coaster crafting workshop. This activity aims to have employees express their creativity by creating their own coasters. To get the inspiration flowing, you can set up a crafting area in your office. Be sure to stock your crafting corner with art supplies, such as markers, paint, glitter, and glue.

If you want to add a competitive edge to this activity, then you can hold a judging session after each employee finishes making their coasters. The team member with the most creative coaster wins. We suggest awarding them a company-branded coaster or glass set as a prize.

3. German beer tasting

There is no better way to celebrate Oktoberfest than by hosting a beer-tasting activity. We recommend asking team members to pick up their favorite German beer to bring to the tasting. From dry stouts to pilsners, you will have many options to taste.

After each team member arrives with their beer of choice, lay out all the choices on a table. Be sure to display beer glasses with tags indicating the brand and flavor. You can make the event interactive, allowing attendees to grab their preferred beer. In addition, you can add a social element to the activity by encouraging teammates to network with their peers.

Here is a list of online beer tasting experiences.

4. Virtual trip to Munich

One of the best ways to celebrate Oktoberfest is by providing employees with a change of scenery. We suggest taking your team on a virtual trip to Munich, Germany. Virtual tours allow team members to experience different cities and landmarks without getting on an airplane.

Here are a few tips for your virtual trip:

• Have the meeting host project their computer screen on a monitor or TV in the office.
• Log onto Google Streets and type Munich, Germany, as your desired location.
• Virtually walk around Munich using the arrow keys.
• Prepare a Powerpoint presentation with images and fun facts about Munich.
• Encourage attendees to ask questions during the virtual trip.

Platforms like Google Street View are great tools for coordinating virtual trips.

Taking a virtual trip to Munich can help you create an authentic Oktoberfest experience for your team.

Here are more online tours.

5. Snack fest

Food is an important part of Oktoberfest, so a snack fest is one of the best Oktoberfest activities for work. We recommend organizing this activity during the lunch hour so employees can relax and enjoy lunch in a casual setting.

Common Oktoberfest snacks are pretzels, potato pancakes, Bavarian cheese, and smoked meats. To increase employee engagement and participation, encourage team members to bring their favorite Oktoberfest meal to the snack fest. Then, you can create a delicious spread of snacks, meals, and drinks for your in-office celebration.

Check out more office snack ideas.

6. Polka dancing lesson

If you want your Oktoberfest event to feel like a celebration, then you can incorporate a polka-dancing class into your agenda. Polka is a traditional dance that is popular in various European countries. Many Oktoberfest celebrations include polka dancing and traditional music.

We recommend finding a dance instructor specializing in this style to lead a polka dancing class in your office. Your team members will laugh as they learn a traditional German dance together.

If you want your activity to feel more authentic, you can also create a playlist with traditional German music. You can either create your own playlist or search for a public one on Spotify.

Here are more team-building dance tips.

7. Pretzel-making class

Pretzels are one of the most classic Oktoberfest menu options. One of the most engaging activities for your in-office celebration is a pretzel-making class. Before engaging in this activity, you should make sure that your office kitchen has a stovetop as well as other common kitchen items, such as a whisk, baking sheet, and stand mixer.

We recommend following along with a YouTube recipe or enlisting a baking instructor to guide your team through the process. Be sure to bring dips, such as mustard or cinnamon sugar, to enjoy with your homemade pretzels.

8. Costume contest

Some Oktoberfest attendees get creative by wearing traditional outfits. A costume contest is a great option for fun Oktoberfest party ideas. If you are still deciding what to wear for the costume party, then you can stick to traditional Bavarian outfits. Typically, women wear dirndls while men may wear lederhosen.

A dirndl is a traditional Bavarian outfit consisting of a dress, apron, and blouse. To accessorize your dirndl, you can add a bow, petticoat, and comfortable shoes. We suggest wearing your hair in a braid for added authenticity.

Lederhosen are traditional outfits for men that consist of leather shorts, suspenders, and a button-down shirt. You can accessorize this look with a vest and knee-length socks.

To make your costume contest fun, invite participants to walk in a runway-style show. At the end of the show, designate a group of judges to rank each participant’s outfit on a scale of one to ten. You can award the costume contest winner with an alpine hat or a flower crown.

9. Stein race

Games are a great way to keep participants engaged during your Oktoberfest celebration. One of the most classic game ideas for Oktoberfest is a stein race. During a stein race, players run while carrying a stein full of beer or water without spilling. While this activity may sound simple, you will be surprised at how difficult the task can be for players.

To begin your game, designate a race area in your office. Preferably, the area should be an open space free from desks, chairs, or clutter. After choosing your racing area, line players up and fill their glasses to the brim. Once players begin the race, they need to use skills such as speed and precision to make it to the finish line without spilling their drinks.

The player with the most beer in their glass at the end of the race wins the game. If you want to make the game more difficult, then you can add obstacles to the racetrack or ask players to run with more than one beer stein.

10. Ring toss

If you find empty bottles around your office throughout the day, then you can create your own game of ring toss. To set up your game, line up the empty bottles in one designated area. You can adjust the game’s difficulty by placing the empty bottles close or far from each other. Next, have players throw rings at the bottles. The game’s objective is to have the ring land along the neck of the bottle.

Ring toss is a classic game that will add nostalgia to your celebration.

11. Masskrugstemmen

Masskrugstemmen, more commonly known as a stein-holding contest, is one of the most popular Oktoberfest games. To play the game, gather liter beer mugs and either beer or water.

Be sure to follow these instructions:

1. Distribute liter mugs to each player.
2. Have players line up while holding their mugs in one hand.
3. Fill each participant’s mug up with water or beer.
4. Instruct players to hold their mugs directly in front of them.
5. The player who holds their mug for the longest time without spilling wins.

Although the task may sound simple, holding a full-liter mug can be difficult. During the game, be sure to remind players to hold their mugs by the handle without using their thumbs to support the top of the mug.

This game can get messy, so we recommend laying some towels on the floor or playing this game outdoors.

12. Beer-making class

Beer is a big part of Oktoberfest, so we recommend including a beer-making class in your office celebration. Be sure to find an experienced brewer to walk your team through the exercise. You can also follow a virtual lesson.

Beer-making classes can promote collaboration and teamwork as members work together to make beer. Plus, your team might be able to enjoy their homemade beer together.

13. Pretzel-eating contest

Pretzels are one of the most popular Oktoberfest snacks, so a pretzel-eating contest is a great addition to your celebration. For this activity, we suggest using pretzels that are larger than usual. If you cannot find oversized pretzels, then you can have contestants eat two to three regular-sized pretzels.

To start the game, ring a bell to let contestants know when to begin eating. Dry pretzels can be more difficult to eat, so be sure to remind contestants not to dunk their pretzels in dipping sauces or water. The game is over once the first player finishes their pretzel.

14. Oktoberfest trivia

A themed trivia game is one of the most interactive Oktoberfest activities for work. To create your game, put together five or more questions related to the history of Oktoberfest.

Here are a few examples of Oktoberfest trivia questions and answers:

• In what German city and state did Oktoberfest originate?
  • Answer: Munich, Germany, which is in the German state of Bavaria
• In what year was the first Oktoberfest celebrated?
  • Answer: 1810
• What event signifies the traditional opening of Oktoberfest?
  • Answer: Tapping of the keg by the mayor of Munich
• How much beer, on average, is consumed during Oktoberfest?
  • Answer: About two million gallons
• How many people attend Oktoberfest each year?
  • Answer: About six million
• How many times has Oktoberfest been canceled due to war, disease, or inflation?
  • Answer: 25

Award one point to the first player to answer each question correctly. The player who gets the most points wins the game. You can give the winner a custom beer stein with your company’s logo as a keepsake from your company’s Oktoberfest celebration.

Check out more trivia games for adults.

15. German language lessons

German is a complex language to learn. Organizing a German language lesson is a great way to get your team in the Oktoberfest spirit. To successfully host this activity, be sure to find a local instructor or a team member who is fluent in German.

If you want to make your lesson more fun, then you can incorporate a German spelling bee activity. To play this game, designate a host to read a list of German words to participants individually. The objective is to have players spell each word correctly.

Here are a few tricky German words to include in your spelling bee:

• Liverwurst
• Fife
• Wedel
• Dreidel
• Edelweiss
• Schnecke
• Blitzkrieg

Participants will have a great time learning the language and spelling complex German words.

16. Keg rolling

One of the most popular Oktoberfest games is keg rolling. The objective of this game is to have two players go head-to-head rolling a partially filled keg down a hill. The player whose keg reaches the bottom of the hill first wins the game. If you want to consider this activity for your office celebration, then be sure to choose a spacious area of at least 50 feet.

An alternate version of this game is keg bowling, where you can use a partially filled keg to knock down bowling pins. Regardless of which version you play, this game will be a hit among attendees.

17. Office decorations

If you want to get team members excited for the occasion, then one of the best office Oktoberfest ideas is decorating your workspace. Traditional decor can include streamers, balloons, tableware, wall cutouts, and banners.

To add authenticity to your decorations, we recommend using a white-and-blue color scheme representing the Bavarian flag. You can also use a red, black, and gold color scheme to represent the German flag.

18. Happy hour

Happy hour is a great addition to your office Oktoberfest celebration. To organize a happy hour for your team, choose a local bar or pub. We suggest choosing a location within walking distance so your team can walk over together. Once you arrive and get a few drinks going, you can engage in social activities and games.

Here are some fun Oktoberfest happy hour ideas:

• Oktoberfest trivia
• Coworker speed dating
• Appetizer potluck
• Charades
• Mixology class
• Show and tell
• “Would you rather” icebreaker

Bringing your team together for happy hour is a great way to promote team building and bonding.

Check out more office happy hour ideas.

Conclusion

Celebrating Oktoberfest as a team is one of the best ways to boost team morale and employee happiness. From drinks and food to trivia and games, your employees will surely enjoy celebrating the world’s largest beer festival in the office. Be sure to plan your events thoroughly, organize your office activities, and drink responsibly.

Next, check out our lists of office mixer ideas and team building events for work.