Oktoberfest season is officially here, and Fort Worth throws one of the largest renditions of the German festival in all of North Texas. The three-day event gets bigger every year, and it all starts on Thursday at Trinity Park. But the week is also busy with other tasty events, including a car showroom sip-and-stroll, Mexican wine dinner, paella cooking class, and a centennial celebration of a hometown pickle brand complete with a day-long block party. Pucker up!
Wednesday, September 23
Paella Cooking Class at Magdalena’s
Master the art of preparing authentic Spanish paella during this hands-on class at Magdalena’s, whose chef and owner, Juan Rodriguez, is lauded for the signature dish. The $75 ticket includes a welcome cocktail and appetizers, and guests are encouraged to BYOB. The class will run from 6-9 pm.
Wheels & Wine: An Evening with Fisher Vineyards and Ellerbe Fine Foods
Car enthusiasts and wine lovers alike will enjoy this showroom sip-and-stroll event in partnership with Fisher Vineyards and Ellerbe Fine Foods, set to take place at 1thirtyone Motorcars (2950 West Loop 820 Freeway S.) Guests will move through the expansive car collection at their own pace, stopping at six stations for Fisher wines and dishes by Ellerbe. Each station will also feature a specifically selected vehicle on display. Rob Fisher will be on-site to talk through the exclusive wines, some not available to the public otherwise. Tickets are $295 and the event will run 6:30-9:30 pm.
Parvada Wine Dinner at Don Artemio
Enjoy Mexican wines from Parvada Winery in Coahuila during this five-course dinner by Don Artemio chef Rodrigo Cardenas. Parvada winemaker Lucia Garcia will also be on-site to talk through each pairing. Menu highlights include scallop crudo, octopus in Veracruz ink sauce, filet mignon with green peppercorn sauce, and goat cheese mousse with red wine and hibiscus reduction. The dinner is $195 and begins at 6:30 pm.
Thursday, September 24
Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Prost! Fort Worth’s annual three-day, Munich-style celebration of German culture kicks off Thursday at Trinity Park (near Farrington Field) featuring authentic German fare, from pretzels and strudel to schnitzel and potato pancakes. There will also be more than 50 festive musical performances, carnival games and rides, stein hoisting, barrel racing, dachshund parades, and plenty of bier on tap. (Beers will include Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, both served at the original Oktoberfest in Munich in the 19th century.) Admission (which includes a commemorative stein when booked in advance) is $10 on Thursday and $15 on Friday and Saturday. Or pay $20 for a three-day pass. It's free for children under 12 with a paying adult. The festival runs from 5-11 pm Thursday and Friday, and 11 am-midnight on Saturday.
Supper Club at Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas will officially close its doors on September 30, but the Shops at Clearfork location is still going strong. There are just a handful of tickets left for this multi-course wine pairing dinner featuring dishes by Neiman’s executive chef Charles Youts. Tickets are $195 and the dinner begins at 5:30 pm.
Saturday, September 26
Best Maid Centennial Block Party
Fort Worth’s hometown pickle company will celebrate 100 years in business with a block party outside its flagship store, the Best Maid Pickle Emporium in the Near Southside on Vickery Boulevard. Visit all day for complimentary pickle tastings, DJ music, photo booth, face painting, balloon artists, food trucks, beverage vendors, and appearances by Smiley the Best Maid mascot every hour on the hour. General admission is free, but a $125 VIP ticket includes a centennial swag bag ($100 value), reserved seating, and three drink tickets including special centennial-themed cocktails. The party will run from 11 am-7 pm.
An Evening of Spanish Wine at Winestein’s
The Grapevine tasting room invites guests to sample up to 50 Spanish wines, including reds, whites, and sparkling from iconic Spanish regions like Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and more. Tickets are $69 and the tasting will run from 4-7 pm.
Wild West Wine Fest at Hotel Drover
It’s the final theme night of the season for Hotel Drover’s Backyard Unplugged live music series, and this one will feature wine-infused cocktails and a shopping pop-up. Specialty drinks include the Just Peachy made with mandarin vodka, Sauvignon Blanc, peach, and lemon; and the Cowboy Cure with coconut rum, red blend, blood orange, and lemon. Admission is free and open to the public, and the event will run from 7-10 pm.
