Friday's Fun

Saturday's Fun

Sunday's Fun

All schedules are subject to change.

Oktoberfest Wiesn? What is that?  Oktoberfest is the world's largest festival held in Munich at the Theresienwiese. The locals affectionately refer to it as the 'Wiesn'. They don't just go to Oktoberfest, they head over to the 'Wiesn' for an unforgettable experience! We present you Fort Benning’s very own ‘Wiesn’.

Festzelt translated into English = fest tent:  The Festzelt, sponsored by Russell County Commission, tradition at Munich’s Oktoberfest is the ultimate destination for a laid-back Oktoberfest experience. Picture yourself sipping on delicious German brews, indulging in traditional German cuisine, all while being entertained by live Oktoberfest bands. Our Festzelt seats 800 people and is adorned with decorations reminiscent of the fest tents in Munich. It truly is the most mesmerizing fest tent you will ever visit! Join us for an unforgettable Oktoberfest Festzelt experience filled with fun, friends, and festivities!  This year’s Festzelt is sponsored by Russell County Commission.

Biergarten translated into English = beer garden:  Translated from German, "Biergarten" means beer garden. Originating in Bavaria, a Biergarten is an outdoor space where people gather to enjoy beer and food. Our Oktoberfest Biergarten offers multiple seating options - you can choose to sit at an original Bierbank (beer bench) with your friends or opt for one of our many picnic tables. Get ready to groove to traditional German music from Sonnenschein Express, the Johnny Koenig Band along with our very own MCoE Band. In case we get a couple of rain drops, grab your friends, your plate and your drink and head into the Oktoberfest Festzelt or our Sportheim and wait till the sun comes back out.

Sportheim translated into English = sports club:  A Sportheim can be found in every city or small town that has a sports club. It's a place where people gather to watch their local sports team, such as soccer, while enjoying a delicious meal and a cold beer. It's also a hub for neighbors to come together, chat, and catch up on the latest news while indulging in food and drinks. During Oktoberfest, the Uchee Creek Activity Center will transform into a German Sportheim (Sports Club) where you can savor your Bratwurst while catching college football or NFL games on six large TVs all weekend long!

Kinder Wiesn translated into English = children’s area:  Step right up to our Kinder Wiesn (children's area), sponsored by Headquarter Nissan, the ultimate children's area where the fun never stops! Every year, we transform part of the Uchee Creek campground into the Kinder Wiesn, an area filled with endless fun activities that will keep your little ones entertained all day long. From inflatables and a drum circle to a pumpkin patch, quad jump, games, arts & crafts, Krazy Hair, face painting, and carnival rides like the Ferris wheel, teacups, and merry-go-round, and so much more - the list goes on and on!

Check out the layout for an overview of the Wiesn! (coming soon)

We are thrilled to announce that the one and only Johnny Koenig, the Polkastar himself, will be gracing us again with his presence for all three days of the festival. With his energetic performances and infectious music, Johnny Koenig is sure to get everyone up on their feet and dancing!

Sonnenschein Express, an Alpine Oktoberfest show band, will be entertaining the crowds with their traditional instruments and songs.

And Fort Benning’s one and only Maneuver Center of Excellence Band won’t have anyone sit still while on stage!

On Sunday, join us for a traditional Crossroads church service in the Fest tent at 11 a.m. Experience the Wiesn church service, a Munich Oktoberfest tradition.

Steinhoisting Competition – take home the 2025 trophy!

Raise a glass of your favorite German brew … and hold it there just as long as you can for the Steinhoisting Competition. The event is open to the public and there is no entry fee, but participants must be at least 21 years old. MWR employees are not eligible to participate. Win this year’s trophy!

Registration is not required, just be there! The first 20 women and men will compete; we meet up 15 minutes before each competition at the main entrance to the Festzelt. 

Women compete Saturday, October 18, at 5:30 p.m. and the men's competition starts at 8:10 p.m.!

And remember, Own Your Limits while enjoying Oktoberfest and some great German beer, have fun but do the right thing!! Don't drink and drive, call a cab: +1 (706) 322-1616. Serve honorably. Drink responsibly.

Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest Contest – take home the 2025 trophy!

Dust off your Dirndl and Lederhosen to prepare now for one of our most popular Bavarian Games competitions!

Participation is as easy as it gets:

1. Dress in a Dirndl or Lederhosen
2. Attend the contest!

Registration is not required; we meet at 6:35 p.m. at the main entrance to the Festzelt.  Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest contest is on Saturday, October 18 at 6:50 p.m. on stage in the Festzelt! Take home this year’s trophy!

NEW this year: Best Kinder Dirndl & Best Kinder Lederhosen Contest

This year we added a new contest to the program: Best Kinder Dirndl & Best Lederhosen Contest! Dress up your little one in the cutest Dirndl or the coolest Lederhosen and participate in this fun contest – winner of each category takes home a trophy!

No registration required; just meet us at 3:15 p.m. at the main entrance to the Festzelt. The Best Kinder Dirndl & Best Lederhosen Contest takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the Festzelt!

Canine Competitions

We host canine competitions, including the Doggy Derby and our famous Dog Costume contest, sponsored by RuffLand Kennels.  Sign up for these free events on Saturday, October 18 from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. next to the Festzelt. The Dog Costume contest starts at noon and the Doggy Derby starts at 4 p.m. The best dressed and the fastest dog take home this year’s trophy!

(Dogs must be on a leash at all times!)

Lederhosen Leap 10K: October 18 at 9 a.m. EDT:  Lederhosen Leap 10K is a competitive 10K cross country run; the 10K route will take you through the wooded hills around and through Uchee Creek; the top three runners for each age group will receive awards; this run is not stroller friendly and mostly off road.

• Click here for complete details.

Dirndl Dash 5K: October 18 at 9:15 a.m. EDT:  Dirndl Dash 5K is one of MWR Sports Fun Runs; our Fun Runs are for the entire family, all ages, stroller, and pet friendly; the 5K route is a mix of road and dirt path and will take you throughout scenic Uchee Creek.

• Click here for details

Volksmarch:  Join us for the Volksmarch on Saturday, October 18, starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT! If you're wondering what a Volksmarch is, let us tell you - it's a non-competitive 3.1 mile (5 km) walk that is not a pledge walk, run, or race. It's a fantastic activity that you can enjoy with your club, family, pet, or even by yourself. The name Volksmarch originates from Europe, and we are bringing a taste of Germany to you for 3 days straight!

Be sure to participate in all the exciting activities, especially the Volksmarch, which is a free event. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to have fun and get some exercise! Our annual Volksmarch kicks off around 9:30 a.m. EDT – but there's no need to rush – you can march all day long, whenever you wish!

Stop by the Information tent on Saturday, October 18 starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT, anytime throughout the day - whether you want to march at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. – pick up this year’s Volksmarch map, march, take a selfie in between and post it to our social media (because we want to see how much you enjoyed yourself), and once you've finished your march, come back to the information tent and pick up this year’s Oktoberfest pin! If you've marched every year, you should have quite the collection by now! If this is your first march – start collecting now!

The Volksmarch is a free event, no registration required, no stress, no hustle - bring the kids, dogs, neighbors, just have fun while marching! Let's make this year's Volksmarch the best one yet!

• Rides
  • Ferris Wheel, Teacups and Merry-Go-Round
• Inflatables
• Magician King Chapman
  • ​​​​​​​Performances: Friday, 5 + 7 p.m.; Saturday, 1 + 3 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.
• Puppeteer Peter Hart
  • ​​​​​​​Performances: Friday, 5 + 7 p.m.; Saturday, 1 + 3 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.
• Drum Circle
  • ​​​​​​​Performances: Saturday, 12 - 4 p.m.; Sunday, 12 - 5 p.m.)
• Quad Jump & Rock Wall

• Pontoon Boat Rides (Saturday and Sunday, last ride at 4:30 p.m.)

• Hayrides (Saturday and Sunday, last ride at 4:30 p.m.)

• Pumpkin Patch

• Arts & Crafts, Games, Tattoos, Face Painting, Krazy Hair, Airbrush Activities

• Oktoberfest competitions/contests:

  • Best Kinder Dirndl & Best Kinder Lederhosen

  • Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest

  • Steinhoisting competitions (men & women)

  • Dog costume contest

  • Doggy Derby

• Beer Pong, Corn Hole, Keg Rolling, Keg Tossing, Stein Relay and more!

Activities and games are all FREE!

Traditional authentic German food! Have a Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Kraut, Pretzel, and German potato salad (Kartoffelsalat)!

And, of course, German beer! Hofbrauhaus Freising is Fort Benning’s Oktoberfest beer!

Hofbrauhaus Freising, a world class Bavarian brewery, is among the world’s oldest breweries. Hofbrauhaus Freising beers are superbly brewed according to Bavarian Purity Laws, using only premium ingredients (no preservatives) from the surrounding Alps and Hallertau regions. Hofbrauhaus Freising is one of only a select few breweries to be designated as a “Slow Brewer”, which guarantees a quality brewing process that ensures maximum flavor and freshness. Try our Festbier, Hefeweizen or Dunkel! You won’t regret it! PROST! *

We also offer a variety of other foods, such as chicken fingers, fries, corn dogs, hamburgers, BBQ, turkey legs and more!

A variety of dessert options including cookies, German cakes, crepes, funnel cakes, kettle corn, candy apples, Italian ice and more!

And remember, Own Your Limits while enjoying Oktoberfest and some great German beer, and most importantly, have fun but do the right thing!! Don't drink and drive, call a cab: +1 (706) 322-1616. Serve honorably. Drink responsibly.

Fort Benning's annual Oktoberfest is a three-day event; to ensure you can enjoy every minute of it, almost all MWR employees are working this event. Unfortunately, this also means we need to close some of our facilities during that time.

Below facilities will be closed on Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19

• Recreational Shooting Complex
• Mall Bowling Center
• Bowling & Entertainment Center
• Infantry Bar (IBar)
• Main Post Recreation Center
• Java Café on Main Post
• Java Café on Harmony Church
• Smith Smoothie Shack, inside Smith Fitness Center

Below facilities will be closed on Saturday, October 18 + Sunday, October 19

• Milton E. Long Library
• Sand Hill Recreation Center
• Harmony Church Recreation Center

1918 Club will be closed Friday, October 17.

Fiddler’s Green will be closed Friday, October 17.

How can I get there?  Use our free smart phone app, Digital Garrison, for directions. Search for Uchee Creek Campground and Marina. You do not have to enter Fort Benning or request a visitors pass for this event. Uchee Creek is easily accessed from Alabama HWY 165. We will offer a free shuttle service Saturday to and from select on-post locations (ID Cardholders only) and guests must show an ID to ride the shuttle.  No pets allowed on the shuttle! Check above for the Bus Schedule!

And remember, all times are in Eastern Time (EDT) - so keep an eye on your phone's time zone!

Can we bring coolers/refreshments?  No outside food and beverages are permitted at this event.

What kind of food do you serve?  You name it: Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Currywurst, Kraut, pretzels and potato salad, chicken, fries, corn dogs, hamburgers, BBQ, turkey legs and much more! Desserts include cookies, cakes, and German cakes, crepes, funnel cakes, kettle corn, candy apples, Italian ice and more. Wash it all down with your favorite brew or a soda.

Is the event handicap friendly?  This event is physically accessible to individuals with disabilities. Make requests for sign language interpretation or other accommodations to +1 (706) 545-4499.

Why do I need money, I thought it was a free event?  Admission and parking is free; all the children’s activities in the Kinder Wiesn are free. Adults will enjoy our annual Oktoberfest competitions and contests, and all the Oktoberfest games we set up for you. You’ll also enjoy free pontoon boat rides, rides, entertainment in the Festzelt, Biergarten, with a lots of dancing, football games in the Sportheim and so much more. At some point, you might do the chicken dance. And it won’t cost you a dime! Food, beverages, and souvenirs are available for purchase with cash or debit/credit cards. Event vendors will also accept MWR tokens from previous events.

Please note: Tokens will not be sold at this event. If you still have Tokens, you may use them with vendors or return them to MWR for a refund.

What if it rains?  It’s on!

What items are prohibited?  Guns, knives, or weapons of any kind. Outside food or beverages (especially alcohol). Dogs must be leashed at all times. No unaccompanied minors.

Where can I learn more?  You can't. You are already well-armed with all that really matters. You could Google it and prove us wrong, but nothing good could come of that. We see you at Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest brings more than 30,000 people to Uchee Creek Campground & Marina over a three-day period. We welcome a variety of vendors to this event, including those who sell foods of all kinds, beverages and souvenirs. For information on vending opportunity at MWR events, call +1 (706) 545-8302 or +1 (706) 545-8349.

Oktoberfest brings more than 30,000 people to Uchee Creek Campground & Marina over a three-day period. This is a great opportunity to engage with the on-post community and our neighbors from around the Chattahoochee Valley. For information on sponsorship, call +1 (706) 545-4386 or +1 (706) 545-4499.