New Bedford 18th Annual Oktoberfest Ultimate Guide

New Bedford’s Oktoberfest, one of the city's largest and most anticipated events, is back for its 18th year, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Hosted by the South Coast Business Alliance (SCBA), this annual festival is not just about food, drinks, and fun—it’s also a vital fundraiser for at-risk youth in the South Coast. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of this incredible event.

The fun begins on Saturday, October 5th, from 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM. This year, the SCBA is switching things up by hosting Oktoberfest at a new location at the Pope’s Island Marina Parking Lot (102 Pope’s Island, New Bedford, MA). The scenic waterfront venue offers a fresh backdrop for a night of celebration, food, music, and, of course, plenty of drinks.

Parking and Shuttle Services

Parking at the event is available, but if you want to skip the hassle, additional parking lots have been arranged. Complimentary shuttles provided by SRTA will run every 15 minutes from the following locations:

Elm Street Parking Garage – 51 Elm St., New Bedford, MA 02740
Zeiterion Parking Garage – 684 Purchase St., New Bedford, MA 02740
If you're planning to dine downtown before the event, consider taking the shuttle to Pope's Island and back—convenient, free, and stress-free!

Food and Drink

The festival has evolved from its craft beer roots into a full-blown food and drink extravaganza. Expect a wide range of options to satisfy your taste buds, including:

Fancheezical – Gourmet grilled cheese heaven
Rhode Rage – A local food truck favorite
BBQ y mas – Savory BBQ with a Latin twist
Tropical Smoothie – Refreshing smoothies for a healthier sip
Domino’s – Your go-to pizza fix
And don’t miss out on The Black Whale’s famous chowder, one of the best in the area! While beer is always a highlight of Oktoberfest, the full bar will also offer seltzers, cocktails, and more.

Beer tickets are cash-only, priced at $7 per ticket or $20 for three tickets, so come prepared to indulge responsibly!

Live Entertainment

Prepare for a night of live music featuring an exciting lineup of local bands:

Craig DeMelo
Autumn Drive
Off Kilter
Morrissey Boulevard
7 Day Weekend
From rock to acoustic jams, the music will keep the energy up all night as you enjoy the festivities.

Giving Back to the Community

The heart of Oktoberfest lies in its mission: supporting the at-risk youth of the South Coast. SCBA has doubled its sponsorships this year, aiming for record-breaking attendance and donations. Every dollar raised from Oktoberfest goes to organizations like:

Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford
Denison Memorial
Gnome Surf
Children’s Advocacy Center
Junior Achievement
These programs help keep kids off the streets, providing them with opportunities for growth, education, and a brighter future.

Tickets

Advance Tickets: $15 (available at nboktoberfest.com)
At the Door: $20
Whether you buy your tickets in advance or at the door, every penny goes directly to helping the youth in our community.

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy great food, drinks, and music while making a difference. Whether you’re an Oktoberfest veteran or a first-timer, this year’s festival on Pope’s Island is sure to impress, come rain or shine.

LOOK: Best Beers From Every State

To find the best beer in each state and Washington D.C., Stacker analyzed January 2020 data from BeerAdvocate, a website that gathers user scores for beer in real-time. BeerAdvocate makes its determinations by compiling consumer ratings for all 50 states and Washington D.C. and applying a weighted rank to each. The weighted rank pulls the beer toward the list's average based on the number of ratings it has and aims to allow lesser-known beers to increase in rank. Only beers with at least 10 rankings to be considered; we took it a step further to only include beers with at least 100 user rankings in our gallery. Keep reading to find out what the best beer is in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C.

Gallery Credit: Angela Underwood