Nataley Davis | staff writer

Jawanna Miller went to Pittsburgh’s Oktoberfest this year for the first time on a whim, with some time to kill before picking up her grandchildren.

She said that she tries to attend Pittsburgh community events when she can because they help bring positivity to the city.

“The atmosphere, the different people, the environment, it’s always friendly when I come to things like this,” Miller said. “This is a time when we need friendliness and happiness – I think this is the place to be.”

The German-themed festival is hosted by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, a nonprofit committed to enhancing the Downtown experience through events and initiatives.

This is the second year of Oktoberfest hosted by the partnership, taking place from Oct. 2-12 on the Roberto Clemente bridge along the Allegheny River.

The inaugural event in 2024 was held in Market Square and drew in over 80,000 attendees, according to CBS News.

This year, the festival was moved to Ft. Duquesne Boulevard due to construction for the NFL draft, which will take place in April.

Steve Pavlik attended Oktoberfest and said that new events coming to Pittsburgh bring more people Downtown and facilitate community.

“They have a lot of new up-and-coming events here, and I think with everything going on with the draft, this could only grow Pittsburgh,” Pavlik said. “You got a Ferris wheel, you got food, you got beer. I think that’s something that every Yinzer loves.”

A prominent feature of last year’s event was the Ferris wheel, which sat on the Clemente Bridge and offered rides to approximately 15,000 people, according to CBS news. The attraction has returned this year and gives attendees a 10 minute ride and a scenic view of the river.

The ride caught the eye of Allie Bittner and her mom, who were in town for a family wedding. Bittner said that because of the Ferris wheel, they ended up coming and enjoying the festival.

“It gives people a purpose and a reason to enjoy the city and then maybe they’ll come back,” Bittner said.

Beyond the Ferris wheel, Oktoberfest offers traditional German cuisine, games and live music for attendees to fully immerse themselves in a different culture.

On Oct. 3, the second day of the festival, the atmosphere buzzed with the sound of people playing German Karneval games, including a Stein Holding Competition. The game is an Oktoberfest tradition that tests participants’ strength by holding a one-liter beer out with a straight arm to see who can last the longest.

The air smelled of traditional draft beers and Bavarian foods being sold throughout the festival. The organization partnered with local restaurants like City Works and The High Table to combine authentic German cuisine with support of Pittsburgh businesses.

Oktoberfest is also holding specialty events on certain days of the 10-day festival, including a Dachshund race and a German car display. Details of these happenings are outlined on Oktoberfest Pittsburgh’s website.

Megan Meyers, a festival employee, said that a German woman from Munich flew in to come to this year’s event and raved about the authenticity the partnership brought to an American town.

“She said that it was crazy how well we captured Oktoberfest in a city like Pittsburgh,” Meyers said.

Festival admission is free, with certain events requiring ticket purchases, making the event accessible to more people.

Meyers said she enjoys being able to be a part of an organization that strives to make neighborhood connections more inclusive.

“It’s truly amazing what the free events do,” Meyers said. “You get to meet people from all different places. 
You get to connect more with your city.”

Nataley Davis can be reached at davisn5@duq.edu