Autumn Beer Events and Biergartens in the Willamette Valley
For fans of quality craft beer, there may be no finer time of year than September and October.
End-of-summer hop harvests lead to tap lists laden with fresh-hop beers and a calendar that's chock-full of local Oktoberfest celebrations: You'll find most breweries churning out smooth-drinking seasonal lagers, including dunkels, Märzens, and more. (And, of course, pumpkin beers have their fans.)
So if you're looking to enjoy the seasonal bounty—whether at a local Oktoberfest celebration, broader beer festival, or local biergarten—here's a guide to making the most of fall throughout the Willamette Valley.
TopWire Takes Root in the Willamette Valley
When: Open Wednesday through Sunday through the end of October
Where: TopWire Hop Project, 8668 Crosby Road NE, Woodburn
In 2020, the long-running Crosby Hop Farm opened TopWire Hop Project—a summertime beer garden where visitors can hang out in the midst of a hop field while sipping brews crafted from ingredients grown on that very farm. A few food carts are on-site, and regular events take place throughout the season.
Learn more about TopWire Hop Project and the history of growing hops in the Willamette Valley.
On September 12-13, 2026, TopWire will host its third annual Oregon Hop Festival—which celebrates the craft, community, and heritage of hop farming in the Beaver State.
The fun includes:
- Guided tours of hop fields and processing facilities
- Sensory experiences that encourage guests to touch and smell fresh-picked hops
- A curated tap list of ales and lagers from more than 20 breweries
- Live music and on-site food vendors
- Family-friendly activities—such as games and hayrides
Tickets cost $25 per person, are available on the TopWire website, and include admission, a commemorative glass, a harvest tour, and a sensory experience
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
When: Sept. 17-20, 2026
Where: Mount Angel
Every September, Oktoberfest takes over the Bavarian-inspired community of Mt. Angel with German-inspired live music, dachshund races, and (of course) more than 30 craft beers at venues throughout town—such as an authentic Oktoberfest beer imported from Munich-based Spaten, lagers from Willamette Valley breweries, and a dark ale from the Benedictine Brewery at nearby Mount Angel Abbey.
Attendees can also fill up on bratwurst, funnel cakes, and other comfort-food classics at more than 30 food stands around town.
Hop and Heritage Festival
When: 12-6 p.m. September 26, 2026
Where: Parallel 45 Brewing, 240 Monmouth St., Independence
The family-friendly Hops and Heritage Festival celebrates Independence's history as one of the top hop-growing communities in the United States.
A fresh-hop beer festival at Parallel 45 Brewing headlines the fun, but other attractions around town include live music, a marketplace with local makers, a cornhole tournament, and a passport that rewards attendees to visiting local businesses in downtown Independence.
Annual Oktoberfest Celebration at Beergarden in Eugene
When: Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2026
Where: Beergarden, 777 W. 6th Ave., Eugene
Eugene-based taproom and food cart pod Beergarden is throwing a 17-day Oktoberfest celebration—complete with commemorative glassware, German-inspired food, live music, and other fun festivities (like a pet adoption event and a paint-and-sip night). Of course, beer is the star of the show—and Beergarden will spotlight a different brewery and new brews each day of the celebration, with beers from Pacific Northwest craft breweries and German stalwarts alike.
Photo by Molly Bermea and courtesy of Visit Corvallis
2 Towns Harvest Party
2 Towns Ciderhouse celebrates yet another fall season with its annual Harvest Party on October 3, 2026, in Corvallis.
Choose among dozens of craft ciders on tap while enjoying live music, fresh fare from local food trucks, cidery tours, presentations from 2 Towns cidermakers, and other fun attractions (like raffles and a photo booth).
Bloktoberfest 2026
To celebrate the changing season, Block 15 Brewing will host its Bloktoberfest event on Sept. 25-26, 2026, in the heart of downtown Corvallis.
Admission to the weekend-long festival includes live music, German-style beer from Block 15, games and contests (like a stein-holding competition), and German cuisine from local food carts. It all takes place under a big tent to protect festival-goers from the elements.
Photo by Isabella Medina and courtesy of Visit Corvallis