Hickory's Oktoberfest

05/01/2026

✨ A Friendly Reminder for Our Oktoberfest Community ✨

As excitement builds for Hickory’s Oktoberfest 2026, we want to share a quick reminder to help protect our vendors and community.

Unfortunately, scams can sometimes pop up around large events. Please be aware that vendor applications, payments, and official communication will ONLY come directly from the Hickory Downtown Development Association (HDDA) or Oktoberfest Coordinators.

We will never:
❗ Request payment through social media messages
❗ Ask you to send money through unofficial platforms
❗ Approve vendors outside of our official application process

If you ever receive a message or offer that doesn’t feel right, we encourage you to pause and reach out to us directly to confirm.

✔️ The only official place to apply or find vendor information is:
👉 https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/vendors/

We’re here to make Oktoberfest a safe, fun, and successful experience for everyone—and we appreciate you helping us spread the word!

💛

Entertainment Kidsfest Castle of Cans DIRECTIONS / FESTIVAL MAP Vendors VOLUNTEERS SPONSORS PHOTO GALLERY SCAM ALERT!! We are aware that, in the past, people have tried to illegally collect money for being a food vendor at Oktoberfest. Please do not fall for this scam! We also do not accept payment....

04/13/2026

🍂 Oktoberfest 2026 Vendor Applications Are Now Open! 🍻

We’re excited to kick off another incredible year in Downtown Hickory as we prepare for the 39th Annual Oktoberfest, happening October 9–11, 2026!

Each year, thousands gather in the heart of downtown to enjoy live music, local flavor, and a vibrant festival atmosphere—and we’re now accepting vendor applications for:
✨ Arts & Crafts
✨ Commercial
✨ KidsFest
✨ Food Vendors

With an estimated attendance of 60,000+ over three days, Oktoberfest offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community and showcase your business or organization.

🎶 The festival features three stages of live entertainment—from traditional polka to rock & roll—along with beer gardens, food vendors, and a lively downtown experience that keeps visitors coming back year after year.

🛍️ Vendor Information
• Arts & Crafts Vendors: $300 (10x10 booth, electricity included)
• Commercial Vendors: $400 (10x10 booth)
• KidsFest Vendors: $300 (10x10 booth)
• Nonprofit Vendors: $150 (10x10 booth)
• Food Vendors are priced by space needed

📅 Important Dates:
• Applications available now
• Late Fee begins July 14 ($100)
• Late Fee Application deadline: August 14, 2026

👉 Apply and view full guidelines here:
https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/vendors/

📧 Questions? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call 828-322-1121

We can’t wait to see the creativity, energy, and community spirit that make Oktoberfest so special each year 💛

04/01/2026

⚠️✨ Oktoberfest Vendor Notice

As applications for Oktoberfest 2026 open today, we want to share a quick and friendly reminder to help protect our vendors and community.

Unfortunately, there are individuals and pages that attempt to pose as event organizers or offer vendor spaces that are not legitimate.

💡 Please remember:
• We will never ask for payment through social media comments, direct messages, or unofficial links
• Applications and payments should only be completed through our official website: https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/vendors/

If you ever have a question about a message, comment, or opportunity related to Oktoberfest, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at [email protected], we’re always happy to help.

💛 We’re so excited to kick off another incredible year and look forward to working with our amazing vendor community!

Entertainment Kidsfest Castle of Cans DIRECTIONS / FESTIVAL MAP Vendors VOLUNTEERS SPONSORS PHOTO GALLERY SCAM ALERT!! We are aware that, in the past, people have tried to illegally collect money for being a food vendor at Oktoberfest. Please do not fall for this scam! The only way to become a food....

04/01/2026

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞❗
at https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/vendors

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
• Craft Vendor
• Kidfest Vendor
• Commercial Vendor
• Non-Profit Vendor
• Food Vendor

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬❓Please email Amy at [email protected]

03/26/2026

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬❗

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
at https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/vendors

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
• Craft Vendor
• Kidfest Vendor
• Commercial Vendor
• Non-Profit Vendor
• Food Vendor

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬❓Please email Amy at [email protected]

02/26/2026

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬❗

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
at https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/vendors

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
• Craft Vendor
• Kidfest Vendor
• Commercial Vendor
• Non-Profit Vendor
• Food Vendor

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬❓Please email Amy at [email protected]

10/14/2025

🍂🎉 Thank You for Making Oktoberfest 2025 Amazing! 🎉🍂

What an incredible weekend celebrating Oktoberfest here in Hickory! A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible:

• Our amazing coordinators and volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly

• All of our fantastic vendors who brought incredible food, drinks, and energy to the festival

• The City of Hickory Public Works Department—for keeping our streets and grounds safe, clean, and beautiful and the power and water flowing!

• And the Hickory Police Department for their support and dedication to a safe and enjoyable event

Oktoberfest is a true community celebration, and we couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. From everyone on our team, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm—together, we created a weekend full of fun, laughter, and community spirit!

Here’s to another great year of Oktoberfest in Hickory! 🍺💛

10/12/2025

𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘❗𝟐:𝟑𝟎 - 𝟓:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬
The Steubenville Tootlers is an Oktoberfest style German band. All music is played in the traditional Oom-pah style. Although The Tootlers are new to the social media scene, the band can trace its roots to the mid-80’s. Formed originally as Das Band by Steve Wentsky, the band changed ownership in the mid-90’s and was renamed in 2002. We have played locally in the Greenville, SC area and regionally throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.
To add to the festive, authentic feel, the band dresses in genuine Tyrolean lederhosen. Sing along with some of the classics: In Himmel Es Gibt Kein Bier, In Müchen Stadt Ein Hofbräuhaus, Du, Du Liest Mir Im Herzen, and Ein Prosit! And dance to the haunting (?) strains of the Chicken Dance!

🍺 🥨 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 ~ 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬,𝟭𝟭, & 𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗜𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗼𝗿𝘆
𝟮 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 • 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 • 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿 • 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 • 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀

⏰𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀:
Friday: 5pm - 11pm (food vendors open at noon)
Saturday: 10am - 11pm
Sunday: Noon - 5pm

The 38th Hickory Oktoberfest is a three-day, outdoor festival on the second weekend in October! Having been co-founded by a German, Adolphus “Dolph” Shuford, Hickory has a long, proud German heritage. Home to the United States headquarters for several German companies and sharing a region-to-region partnership between Altenburger Land, Germany, and the four Greater Hickory Metro counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba, our connection to Germany has never left us.

Along with live music on two stages, we have Food Vendors, Craft Vendors, Beer and KidsFest. The KidsFest area features loads of fun the whole family can enjoy. Kidfest represents the younger generation of Oktoberfesters while inviting the older generations there to guide them on their fun-filled way. This year, KIDFEST will have DJ W***Y WOW back on the stage Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! The InterACTive Theater of Jef will be joining us as well as a performance from Pitch Perfect! Come see Kristin’s Little Big Farm Petting Zoo, and enjoy the FREE Inflatables, Food Trucks, & More!

For more information on Oktoberfest 2025 visit the website https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/.

10/12/2025

𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘❗𝟏𝟐:𝟑𝟎 - 𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere.
Recent singles have charted in the Bluegrass Today top 5 including three songs to hit the #1 spot “California,” “Darkside Of The Mountain,” and in January of 2024, “Weed’s Don’t Wither.”

🍺 🥨 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 ~ 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬,𝟭𝟭, & 𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗜𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗼𝗿𝘆
𝟮 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 • 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 • 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿 • 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 • 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀

⏰𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀:
Friday: 5pm - 11pm (food vendors open at noon)
Saturday: 10am - 11pm
Sunday: Noon - 5pm

The 38th Hickory Oktoberfest is a three-day, outdoor festival on the second weekend in October! Having been co-founded by a German, Adolphus “Dolph” Shuford, Hickory has a long, proud German heritage. Home to the United States headquarters for several German companies and sharing a region-to-region partnership between Altenburger Land, Germany, and the four Greater Hickory Metro counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba, our connection to Germany has never left us.

Along with live music on two stages, we have Food Vendors, Craft Vendors, Beer and KidsFest. The KidsFest area features loads of fun the whole family can enjoy. Kidfest represents the younger generation of Oktoberfesters while inviting the older generations there to guide them on their fun-filled way. This year, KIDFEST will have DJ W***Y WOW back on the stage Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! The InterACTive Theater of Jef will be joining us as well as a performance from Pitch Perfect! Come see Kristin’s Little Big Farm Petting Zoo, and enjoy the FREE Inflatables, Food Trucks, & More!

For more information on Oktoberfest 2025 visit the website https://downtownhickory.com/oktoberfest/.