Oktoberfest at Carowinds

Carowinds runs its German food and craft beer festival in November, after Halloween and before the holiday lights, on select dates between Nov. 7 and 22. Themed food stands, a beer garden and live music, all included with a regular park ticket or a season pass.

It is one of the park’s newer festivals and it fills a gap in the calendar when the weather is still good and the coasters are still running. The food is the reason to come: brats, pretzels, schnitzel and a rotating list of festival only dishes, with tasting cards that let you sample a lot without committing to full portions.

What to expect

• German food stands and festival only menu items
• Craft beer garden
• Live music on the park stages
• Coasters and rides running during the day

Schedule

• Nov. 7 and 8 Opening weekend
• Nov. 14 and 15 Second weekend
• Nov. 21 and 22 Final weekend, WinterFest opens Nov. 27

Plan your visit

It overlaps the last weekends of nice weather and the setup for WinterFest. Check the park calendar for which days are open, since November hours are shorter than summer.

Good to know

• Carowinds is at 14523 Carowinds Boulevard, on the state line off I-77 exit 90.
• Buy tickets online before you go. Gate prices are higher and the online calendar shows which nights are open.
• The Six Flags app has the map, showtimes and wait times.
• Weekend nights sell out and traffic on Carowinds Boulevard backs up an hour before opening. Weeknights are the calm option.