Dust off your lederhosen and grab your friends—North South Brewing is kicking off its first annual Oktoberfest celebration Friday, Sept. 26, to Sunday, Sept. 28. This family-friendly, free-to-attend event is happening all weekend long, blending authentic German brews, hearty eats, lively competitions, and festive fun. Costumes are not only encouraged, but they’re also rewarded with contests, prizes, and keepsakes that will make this a weekend to remember.
“We want to carry on the tradition of celebrating an annual gathering of friends and family to drink and appreciate beer and each other,” said Alicia Orlando, owner of North South Brewing.
What’s Brewing: Special Beer Releases
The weekend kicks off Friday with the release of two seasonal German-style beers crafted in-house. They will be Marzen Me Crazy and Dunkel Breakin’ My Heart.
“We brew the beers how they would be brewed in Germany,” says Orlando.
“Both beers are very flavorful but highly drinkable. Marzen Me Crazy is a traditional German amber lager known for its rich, malty, and toasty flavor profile, with a low hop bitterness and a smooth, medium-bodied character. Dunkel Breakin’ My Heart is a type of German dark lager known for its malty richness, with bready, caramel, and nutty flavors from the use of Munich malts, and a smooth, drinkable character.”
These seasonal brews will debut during Oktoberfest weekend and remain on tap until they sell out, alongside North South’s year-round favorite, the Hefeweizen.
Competitions and Contests
The festivities continue Saturday with a series of crowd-pleasing competitions. The Laps and Lederhosen Beer Mile sign-ups will start at 12:30 p.m. and will start at 1 p.m. The fastest runner takes home a North South T-shirt. For those who are more drinkers than runners, a Stein Holding Contest will be held at 2:30 p.m. Divided into four categories: men, women, under 50, and over 50, the winner of each group will receive a limited-edition stein. Come dressed in Oktoberfest best and enter the costume contest at 9:30 p.m.
Drink Like You’re in Munich
Don’t forget to grab the limited-edition North South Brewing stein, a ceramic 22-ounce mug featuring the brewery’s logo and colors.
“This year’s first edition steins are made of ceramic and feature the North South Brewing logo and colors,” Orlando shares.
“The stein is 22 ounces (6 more ounces than a typical pint). If you purchase a stein, it comes with a first fill! You will be able to use the stein all weekend at North South Brewing at the same price as a normal 16-ounce pint,” Orlando said.
North South Brewing has the weekend covered with free parking, games, authentic beer, German food, and music. Trivia fans can also join the Special Oktoberfest Trivia on Sunday to close out the weekend.
Vendors interested in future events can email info@northsouthbrew.com to get involved. Pull out the dirndl, gather a crew, and raise a glass—North South Brewing’s Oktoberfest is here to start a new tradition in style. North South Brewing is located at 304 Williams Street in Downtown Fayetteville.
Orlando promises this is the first Oktoberfest from North South Brewing, but it won't be the last.
“We will absolutely hold an Oktoberfest weekend every year! Each year, we hope to make it bigger and better than the last.”

(Photo: North South Brewing all decked out for their Oktoberfest celebration.  Photo courtesy of James Orlando)