44th Annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest

The Harvard Square Business Association is excited to announce the return of the 44th Annual Oktoberfest and the fabulously madcap 18th Annual HONK! Parade on Sunday, October 8th, 2023. Come be a part of this unique, irreverent, family-friendly annual tradition where musicians and spectators “reclaim the streets for horns, bikes and feet”!&nbsp; Joining us again this year:&nbsp;The Filipino American Festival – a celebration of Filipino music, food and culture!&nbsp; Harvard Square’s Oktoberfest features food from all over the world, arts, crafts, vintage goods, free samples, and one-of-a-kind gifts. In addition, Oktoberfest boasts beer gardens hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/alden-harlow/" target="_blank">Alden &amp; Harlow</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/el-jefes-taqueria/" target="_blank">El Jefe’s Taqueria</a>&nbsp;and wine gardens presented by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/commonwealth-wine-school/" target="_blank">Commonwealth Wine School</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/bonde-fine-wine-shop/" target="_blank">Bonde Fine Wine</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; This annual celebration of fall features live music, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/passim/" target="_blank">Passim</a>&nbsp;stage and an all HONK! Review on the main stage. Dancing in the streets is encouraged! Don’t let the parade pass you by! Street activists, horn aficionados and their comrades will strut straight down Massachusetts Avenue at approximately 1pm. In its 18th year, the HONK! movement has become a global phenomenon. This year, more than 30 HONK! bands from around the country will march from Davis Square to Harvard Square. Spectators will be treated to a horn-tooting, hand-clapping, foot-stomping, mind-blowing spectacle and everyone is welcome to join the back of the parade and make their way to Oktoberfest. Traditionally held at our annual MayFair celebration, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/rotary-club-of-cambridge/" target="_blank">Rotary Club of Cambridge’s</a>&nbsp;“Chalk on the Walk” art installation will transform Church Street into a colorful display or artistry and creativity. Oktoberfest in Harvard Square was started in 1978 by the late Frank Cardullo, a Square mover, shaker and owner of the renowned Wurtshaus, which served up traditional German food from 1917 to 1996. The early festivals were in keeping with old world customs. Over the years, the festival has taken on a more discerningly Cambridge vibe to become an Oktoberfest unlike any other. Main Stage Schedule<ul><li>10:45am&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unitymzi.com/" target="_blank">Lumanyano Mzi</a></li><li>11:30am&nbsp;<a href="http://www.arrowstarts.org/" target="_blank">A Sneak Peak Performance from the Moonbox Production of Sweeney Todd</a></li><li>12:00pm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/vibe_check_band/" target="_blank">Vibe Check</a></li><li>1:00pm&nbsp;HONK! Parade + All HONK! Review</li></ul>Passim&nbsp;Stage – Sponsored by&nbsp;Irving House<ul><li>11:00am&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/colin_mcgovern_music" target="_blank">Colin McGovern</a></li><li>12:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/spirit47music/" target="_blank">Spirit 47</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>1:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://linktr.ee/almiraara" target="_blank">Almira Ara</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>2:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chrysalisband.com/" target="_blank">Chrysalis</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>3:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodnightmoonshine.com/" target="_blank">Goodnight Mooonshine</a></li><li>4:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nicolasemden.com/" target="_blank">Nicolas Emden</a></li><li>5:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://lnk.bio/peryle" target="_blank">Peryle</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Beer Gardens/Patios Within The Festival<ul><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/alden-harlow/" target="_blank">Alden &amp; Harlow</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/bonde-fine-wine-shop/" target="_blank">Bonde Fine Wine Shop</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/charlies-kitchen/" target="_blank">Charlie’s Kitchen</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/commonwealth-wine-school/" target="_blank">Commonwealth Wine School</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/el-jefes-taqueria/" target="_blank">El Jefe’s Taqueria</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/felipes-taqueria/" target="_blank">Felipe’s</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/grafton-street-pub-grill/" target="_blank">Grafton Street</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/grendels-den-restaurant-bar/" target="_blank">Grendel’s Den</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/the-hourly-oyster-house-2/" target="_blank">The Hourly Oyster House</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/the-red-house/" target="_blank">The Red House</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/russell-house-tavern/" target="_blank">Russell House Tavern</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/shays-pub-wine-bar/" target="_blank">Shay’s</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/source-restaurants/" target="_blank">SOURCE</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/tasty-burger/" target="_blank">Tasty Burger</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/wusong-road/" target="_blank">Wusong Road</a></li></ul>Eateries/Patios Within the Festival<ul><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/ben-jerrys/?swpmtxnonce=9f5f0d3c2a" target="_blank">Ben &amp; Jerry’s</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/bluestone-lane/" target="_blank">Bluestone Lane</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/the-boiling-crab/" target="_blank">The Boiling Crab</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/capital-one-360-cafe/" target="_blank">Capital One Cafe</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/cardullos-gourmet-shoppe/" target="_blank">Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/chutneys/" target="_blank">Chutney’s</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/the-dough-club/" target="_blank">The Dough Club</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/eliot-st-cafe-dunkin-donuts-2/" target="_blank">Eliot Street Café/Dunkin Donuts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/el-jefes-taqueria/" target="_blank">El Jefe’s Taqueria</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/gong-cha/" target="_blank">Gong Cha</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/grafton-street-pub-grill/" target="_blank">Grafton Street Pub &amp; Grill</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/joes-pizza/" target="_blank">Joe’s Pizza</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/l-a-burdick/" target="_blank">L.A. Burdick</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/las-palmas-dominican-kitchen/" target="_blank">Las Palmas</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/les/" target="_blank">Le’s</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/le-macaron/" target="_blank">Le Macaron</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/life-alive/" target="_blank">Life Alive</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/lizzys-ice-cream/" target="_blank">Lizzy’s Ice Cream</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/madras-dosa-company/" target="_blank">Madras Dosa</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/the-maharaja/" target="_blank">Maharaja</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/otto/" target="_blank">Otto</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/pokeworks/" target="_blank">Pokeworks</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/shake-shack/" target="_blank">Shake Shack</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/starbucks/" target="_blank">Starbucks</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/subway/" target="_blank">Subway</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/toscano/" target="_blank">Toscano</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/wholesome-fresh/" target="_blank">Wholesome Fresh</a></li><li><a href="https://www.harvardsquare.com/venue/veggie-grill/" target="_blank">Veggie Grill</a></li></ul>

Harvard Square

Caroline

Jason

Emma C

Swapnil

Joshua

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

44th Annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest

Website

Where?