BSH OktoberFest 2026

The traditional Oktoberfest celebration is usually held in Germany during late September and early October each year as a famed beer festival and fair that has been replicated around the world. For more than a decade, the New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club has hosted this signature event in New Bern to raise funds for their charitable projects in the community including six scholarships, donations to area nonprofits, and the well-established Kicks-for-Kids program that provides nearly 350 new pairs of shoes to elementary and middle school children throughout Craven County each fall in time for the new school year.

This year’s event will feature traditional German-style fare, including bratwurst, chicken schnitzel, red cabbage, German potato salad, and German mustard catered by The Flame. Members of the Breakfast Rotary club and other volunteers from the community will be covering all the bases before, during and after the evening’s festivities. Students from New Bern High School, who are part of the Rotary Interact student club, will also be assisting with selling giant Bavarian pretzels and various tasks during the evening.

The festivities will be at the Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County at 203 S. Front Street. Brewery 99 is making sure there is plenty of beer and wine on hand, as well as offering a specially crafted Oktoberfest Beer just for our event. There will also be soft drinks and water available.

Of course, the thing that makes this event so special is the Little German Band and Dancers from Raleigh, NC. Wearing authentic costumes, and playing all the popular Oktoberfest tunes, this group of experienced and energetic performers will once again lead the crowd in singing and dancing in the true spirit of a traditional celebration.

This year our popular and traditional Stein holding contest will again be open to both men and women competitors to test their strength and endurance. The Masskrugstemmen Challenge requires each participant to hold a one-liter stein glass, filled with water (not beer!) straight out with one arm in front of their chest to see who can hold it the longest. Each winner receives $100! This year our event’s competition will be included in the national U.S. Steinholding Association’s nationwide contest.