- ArtsQuest's 13th annual Oktoberfest had near-record crowds, despite rain on both weekends, ArtsQuest announced
- An estimated 38,500 people total attended the two weekends Oct. 6-8 and 13-15, ArtsQuest said
- Weiner-dog races, beer-hoisting competition and the festival's 5k race all had strong attendance, ArtsQuest said
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Two rain-hampered weekends prevented ArtsQuest's 13th annual Oktoberfest from record-setting crowds, but it came within a beer splash of its best attendance, officials said Thursday.
The festival still drew a combined 38,500 people over its Oct. 6-8 an Oct. 13-15, ArtsQuest said.
That just missed the record set in 2021, when the festival roared back from coronavirus pandemic restrictions with an attendance of 42,000.
Because the festival is free and not gated, attendance numbers are estimates.
“Another successful year of Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport is in the books for ArtsQuest.”ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert
“Another successful year of Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport is in the books for ArtsQuest,” ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert said.
“This year we offered a great mix of programming, from PierogiPalooza to the Steinholdng Competition presented by Samuel Adams to traditional German fair and phenomenal music of a variety of genres.
"We really enjoy bringing this annual event to our campus and the community each fall.”
Oktoberfest kicked off with a clear night Oct. 6, but virtually every other night of the festival — whose theme pays homage to the Lehigh Valley's German heritage — had rain.
But crowds still packed the festival grounds by the end of the first weekend.
A larger footprint
Hilgert previously noted that Oktoberfest activities such as "entertainment, music and food tables are all under four huge tents,” and said, “Our big fear is lightning, not rain, as long as there’s no flooding.”
But reduced revenue from food vendors is also a byproduct of fewer attendees because of bad weather.
“Oktoberfest 2023 was a fun-filled two weekends for all who came out. We were able to enlarge the footprint of the festival this year which allowed for additional vendor space, which also created a better flow for attendees and patrons."ArtsQuest Senior Events Manager Eric Bauder
“Oktoberfest 2023 was a fun-filled two weekends for all who came out,” ArtsQuest Senior Events Manager Eric Bauder said.
“We were able to enlarge the footprint of the festival this year which allowed for additional vendor space, which also created a better flow for attendees and patrons.
"With added space, there was plenty of room for visiting all four of the biergartens, space for playing games as well as the Stein Hoisting competition and a larger arena viewing area for the Wiener dog races and parade.”
The Yuengling Oktoberfest 5k foot race, in partnership with Run Lehigh Valley, had close to 1,300 participants this year, ArtsQuest said.
The Weiner Dog Races also had yet another successful year, with more than 100 dogs competing and sold-out races. The Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championship presented by Samuel Adams had 70 participants and an audience of 300 patrons to watch, ArtsQuest said.
