If you're going to host a live music and craft beer festival, you'd better make sure the brews on offer are some of the best. The Shops at Park Lane and Bowl & Barrel have actually done one better, as the beers on tap for Parktoberfest are delicious and local.
On October 15, festivalgoers can sip suds from some of North Texas' most decorated breweries while also enjoying live music and tasty bites when Parktoberfest returns.
The festival, which is part Oktoberfest party and part community get-together, is back for its second successful year. The "successful" is important, as a portion of the ticket proceeds benefit the Wilkinson Center, an organization that helps Dallas citizens weather financial crises through a food pantry, benefit screening, and temporary rent and utility assistance. The group also helps prepare Dallasites for the future with GED and ESL education, financial coaching, and job training and placement.
So with that in mind, why not spring for the VIP Parktoberfest ticket? For $30, you get admission, a bratwurst from Rudolph’s Market & Sausage Factory, a pretzel from Slow Dough Bread Co., and three 8-ounce beer samples. Obviously you must be 21 and up to purchase a VIP ticket — which also must be bought in advance — but admission only (no food or drink) costs a mere $10 at the door. And kids 12 and under get in gratis, freeing up funds for more of the food and drink.
But back to those beer samples. Filling your cup will be Franconia Brewing (Silver Star Bock), Deep Ellum Brewing Co. (Dallas Blonde), Texas Ale Project (50 Ft. Jackrabbit IPA), Oak Highlands Brewery (DFDub Dunkelweizen), Community Beer Co. (Texas Helles), Peticolas (Velvet Hammer), and Karbach Brewing Company (the lone Houston outlier) with Karbachtoberfest.
And because nothing goes better with local craft beer than live local music, performances are scheduled throughout the day from five different musicians, spanning Charley Crockett to the Texas Gentlemen.
Seven Texas breweries are on tap for this year's Parktoberfest.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora