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Green Info Bar
Dates & Times
October 9
-
October 11,
2026
Friday 5-11 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Location
246 Union Square NW
Hickory, NC 28601
Cost
Free
Contact
Amy Fauquet
info@downtownhickory.com
(828) 781-1121
View Event Website
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Hickory’s Oktoberfest brings the city’s German heritage to life with three days of polka music, stein-raising, lederhosen, German-inspired food, live entertainment, arts & crafts and family fun in downtown Hickory. Hickory’s roots reach back to the 1800s, when Henry Link’s tavern became a gathering place around which the community grew. Today, that spirit of gathering continues at one of Western North Carolina’s signature fall festivals.
Visitors can tap their toes to polka, raise a beer stein, browse handcrafted goods from more than 100 vendors, enjoy carnival games and soak up the lively atmosphere of a true downtown celebration. Stop by the beer tents, including local vendors Olde Hickory Brewery and City Walk Brewing for a central part of the Oktoberfest experience. Families can enjoy KidsFest entertainment with DJ WillyWow and InterACTIVE Theater with Jef, along with a petting zoo, face painting, gem mining, sand art, and appearances by Hickory Ballet Performing Arts.
With free admission and approximately 60,000 attendees, Oktoberfest offers travelers a chance to experience Hickory’s heritage while enjoying the food, music, shopping and hospitality that make it worth a weekend visit.
Visitors can tap their toes to polka, raise a beer stein, browse handcrafted goods from more than 100 vendors, enjoy carnival games and soak up the lively atmosphere of a true downtown celebration. Stop by the beer tents, including local vendors Olde Hickory Brewery and City Walk Brewing for a central part of the Oktoberfest experience. Families can enjoy KidsFest entertainment with DJ WillyWow and InterACTIVE Theater with Jef, along with a petting zoo, face painting, gem mining, sand art, and appearances by Hickory Ballet Performing Arts.
With free admission and approximately 60,000 attendees, Oktoberfest offers travelers a chance to experience Hickory’s heritage while enjoying the food, music, shopping and hospitality that make it worth a weekend visit.
