Encinitas Oktoberfest

I went today and it really wasn’t a great experience. First of all, the signs that say «detour» should actually say «parking» which made things really confusing. They are not the same thing.
When I got there I scoped out the food and decided I was eating a spicy chicken sausage. I walked around and got harassed by really annoying vendors. There is something about this festival that brings out all the vendors that don’t let you enjoy the experience of strolling and looking. They are all outside of their tents annoyingly trying to lure you in like carnies at the Del Mar Fair.
Once I got to the other end, there was another bratwurst stand. My mom and friend ordered regular bratwurst but I don’t eat anything other than chicken or fish so I ordered the spicy chicken sausage. Turns out their big signs and menu are wrong and they don’t have any chicken so I had to get a refund and head elsewhere. So then I go down to Rosas to order some chicken rolled tacos. After about 15 minutes of waiting I had to ask the guy if my food was ready. Turns out their oil was still cold (at 11:15AM) so they hadn’t even started making my lunch. By then my family and friend were done eating so I just asked for a refund.
All in all there were really not many vendors and most that were there were obnoxious. It really was not an enjoyable experience. I definitely won’t be going back and I would not recommend anyone I know personally visit either.

My husband and I have attended many an Oktoberfest, from Big Bear — to La Mesa. A TRUE Oktoberfest has a German band with German music — lots of polka and of course the mandatory chicken dance. Encinitas provides exactly this with their Oktoberfest. La Mesa used to be true to form, but then added more modern pop music with a touch of German… maybe more hip, but not authentic. This one is the real deal. A great addition is the vendors selling lots of great crafts and food (should you not like brats). Also they have added a 21+ area in the back of the venue with a nice selection of local craft beers and last year they even had a live feed from a radio station. Throw in a kid zone (don’t have kids, but those with kids seem to love it). To some, it might be funky, but we enjoy it every year. Prost!

Starfish killers beware.
Kind of a goofy Oktoberfest.
Live band with the usual Chicken dance. Though someone said it’s really the Duck dance? Never heard that but who am i to know? Some sort of dorky bird has a dance named after it.
I ate a Brat and drank a beer and had some fun. Not a lot of fun, but enough fun. Close to home for me so it’s good.
I don’t really like the vendors trying to bait me with the usual solar panel sales and I especially found the dead star fish painted to look like your favorite football team players really sad and offensive. Hundreds of dead starfish hanging from the wall. That’s just sad. Here, this animal was just born to be killed, dried out and painted to look like a fool. Buy it and hang it from your neck, your door, your mirror or your ass.
Poor little starfishes. They didn’t hurt nobody.
Get rid of those starfish murdering vendors please.

Encinitas Oktoberfest is much like the Greek Festival held a few weeks prior. Various venders, beer gardens and Country inspired food and entertainment. At Oktoberfest we are celebrating the tradition which the German’s originated. If you compare this one with the one held in Munich (or even La Mesa) you are going to be sorely disappointed.
But for a local event it’s alright and it brings the community together for some beer and fun. They serve the normal German fare, knockwurst, bratwurst, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, etc. There were no German beers in sight but I settled quite nicely with the Shock Top. I prefer a good Belgium to a German beer any day. Sacrilege!!!
At the end of the day we enjoyed listening to polka music and watching the beer stein competition. Of course a German girl won that one!!! Like I said a good little community event to attend on a nice Sunday in September.
***Queue Chicken Dance***

If you like pushy vendors, overpriced mass-​market beers and a poor layout, this is the Oktoberfest for you. If you like a festive atmosphere with lots of good beers, try somewhere else.
The music and food tent only had 3 beers for 6 bucks a cup. A children’s choir sang unfestive songs — can you imagine the fun?! The craftbeer, of which not one single local beer was represented, was isolated at the opposite end with a very limited selection. All beer consumption was held in pigpens, with secret-​service-​style security, separated from the rest of the fair. The vendor’s were lame and aggressive. Two people from one company stepped directly in front of us blocking our way to offer tile or something. The fun never stopped.
To be fair it had some good features: the brats were tasty which came on a good roll, an old guy sang with the accordion after the choir, and the volunteers were nice. Was not enough though. We left before 12:30.

This events is either Lame or ok depending on who you ask. I have never been to the original but I am pretty sure there is not a booth trying to get you to sign up for a political party.
It’s not really expensive for exhibitors so you mostly have smallish local businesses selling things like skylights and pull out kitchen draws plus some crafty type things & homemade soap. Not much to do and very little «Fair» type food.
It’s really small, like 2 blocks but it has a couple of good things going for it 1) its free-​almost nothing is free anymore so that’s nice 2) the bratwurst is actually pretty good and not ridiculously expensive $ 8 3) it’s very kid and pet friendly so bring them if you have them.
Bottom line, if you drive by and see it pull over and walk in but don’t plan your whole weekend around going.

This event is right off El Camino Real in Encinitas. Parking and admission is free.
A nice selection of things to buy from the craft fair with unique jewelry, signs, baked goods, unusual crafts and really neat stuff. Enjoyed listening to the German band from the chicken dance, to polkas, waltzes and the Oom-​pah tunes!
Big John and Tip Top Meats in Carlsbad provided authentic food for the big tent and they had beer from national and local breweries. There is even a kid fun zone for the kiddies. A nice place to bring your family and or friends to enjoy some German tradition.

We were at the Encinitas Oktoberfest today and Tip Top Meats was catering for the big tent. This Oktoberfest was on 9÷26÷2010.
The choices were plentiful.
They had an Oktoberfest Platter with a Brat, Knockwurst, and some other wurst, Red Cabbage, Kraut and a roll. 3 HUGE pieces of meat for $ 8. The sausage was top notch! Red cabbage rocked.
They had a smoked pork chop platter with the same delicious sides. The chops were incredible and there were two large ones. Juicy and tender and full of flavor. This was $ 8 too.
There was a veal loaf platter, but that was sold out by the time i got there.
there was so much food in two platters, we had a full platter left to take home (except the red cabbage we ate there).
We also had the fabulous apple strudel.
when you go to a baseball game, you may get a hot link for $ 8 by itself. .. here you got a fabulous meal for the same price.
Add in a Spaten bier, the oompa band, and good people watching, this event rocked.
the street was closed off and there were lots of vendors selling everything. However, i noticed a huge number of spine /​back check /​health & wellness kiosks.
there were a limited number of food vendors mixed in with the fabulous artwork from the area.
Much better than the Carlsbad Oktoberfest.