The capital is decked out in white and blue for the 5th edition of Rome’s Oktoberfest. The event, with completely free admission, will transform the Città dell’Altra Economia (Largo Dino Frisullo) into a massive open-air Biergarten spanning over 8,000 square meters.
The beverage and food offerings
Rome’s Oktoberfest boasts a national exclusive: it isthe only event in Italy to host all of the historic “Six Sisters of Munich” (HB München, Paulaner, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, and Spaten). Beer enthusiasts will be able to sample 24 specialty beers—also available in the traditional one-liter Bavarian stein— served at 12 bar stations.
The food area will feature five themed street food stations and a special pretzel corner. The menu offers traditional classics: pork shank with sauerkraut and potatoes, bratwurst, Wiener schnitzel, and, starting this year, a vegan bratwurst option as well.
Entertainment for Everyone
It’s not just food and beer: the festival area includes an amusement park, foosball tables, and giant screens to watch major sporting events, including the Serie A match between Roma and Inter. There’s also a rich musical lineup to liven up the evenings on the main stage, featuring performances by The Rockstar Show, Borghetta Stile, Viva gli anni 2000, The Magenta Feeling, and entertainment from Radio Rock 106.6.
The event is pet-friendly and family-friendly, with a dedicated Kids’ Area and creative workshops for children running on the weekend from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hours of operation: Wednesday, the 16th, and Thursday, the 17th: 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Friday, the 18th: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Saturday, the 19th: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Sunday, the 20th: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM.
What are its origins?
Oktoberfest originated in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of the Bavarian royal couple with a horse race at Theresienwiese, not as a beer festival. The event has evolved over the decades: in 1811, an agricultural fair was added, and by the late 19th century, the festival was moved to September with the introduction of the breweries’ large tents. Finally, since 1950, the modern tradition has taken hold, in which the mayor of Munich opens the event by tapping the first keg with the cry of “O’zapft is!”
