Oktoberfest Provides Families Barrels of Fun
Enjoy this fun bike ride along the scenic trails and lakeside roads around West Lake Okoboji. This year marks the 33rd year of Oktoberfest fun in the Iowa Great Lakes area. The ride will begin and end at Preservation Plaza. Terrain is mostly flat with some short rolling hills. Trails are swept prior to the ride. Participants will receive a drink ticket, route map, and t-shirt at check-in from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, September 27.
Pre-registration is $30 until September 8. On September 9, the price increases to $35! Day of registration will be available from 8-10 a.m. for $35 at Preservation Plaza on Saturday, September 27. Registration after September 14 does not guarantee a shirt.
“We always receive such great feedback with this ride and everything it has to offer,” said Morgan Strauss, Director of Marketing & Events at the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce. “The purpose of U of O Oktoberfest is to create another opportunity for people to visit our area outside of the busy summer season. We want to get people into the doors of businesses and show people that Okoboji is fun at any time of year and there is still so much happening!”
Oktoberfest originally started in 1991 only as a bike ride around West Lake Okoboji, and every year since, it has continued to add in new activities. In 2025, visitors can also enjoy the vendor show, inflatables for the kids, a Keg Toss, Stein Holding, a Bags Tournament, and live music.
“There is so much for families to enjoy all within the same area,” Morgan shared. “I think this event is unique because it is all located in the same place. It fills Preservation Plaza with families, bikes, and something for everyone to enjoy.”
Over the past few years, new activities have been added like the Stein Holding and Keg Toss. Contestants in the Stein Holding line the stage of Preservation Plaza during a break in the music. Glass steins are filled with water. Then a judge counts down “3, 2, 1,” and the contestant has to hold the stein straight out without bending their elbow and wrist.
“They also can’t lean back or they are out,” Morgan explained. “Last contestant standing is the WINNER!!”
The Keg Toss is also barrels of fun and brings joy to contestants and viewers alike. Along Arnolds Park beach, the pony keg is placed. Contestants have to throw the keg as far as they can without crossing the line in the beach. Morgan shared, “Whoever throws it the farthest with three chances WINS!”
This year, the chamber is welcoming back the band “DayBreakers,” who will be performing on Preservation Plaza’s big stage throughout the day.
“They are so fun and upbeat and play a little bit of everything,” Morgan said. “They were new for us last year, and we are thrilled to have them back again for another energetic year.”
Besides all of the family activities and traditional Oktoberfest items and bike ride, food trucks and concession stands will fill Preservation Plaza, as well as participants in the Vendor Show.
“We want to create lots of fun for visitors, providing an overall fun atmosphere for families to enjoy the day,” she shared.
Children will especially enjoy the area set up for inflatables and games, including a large obstacle course, a baseball or football throwing game, and a big slide. “They will all be located in the middle of the greenspace so you can’t miss them,” she added.
Another big piece of U of O Oktoberfest is the Duck Derby sponsored by the Spirit Lake Kiwanis Club. This unique fundraiser is similar to a raffle where a duck ticket is purchased and then hundreds of little rubber ducks are launched from a docking boat and then the first duck back to shore wins $1,000, second place is $250 and third place is $100. Money raised supports the various activities the Spirit Lake Kiwanis Club provides over the year.
“Watching all of the rubber ducks race to shore is truly one of a kind and something you don’t want to miss. We partner with SL Noon Kiwanis with this fundraiser, and it continues to be a fan favorite each year,” said Morgan. “Overall, the U of O Okotoberfest is a great day for family fun!”