This feature originally ran in our Community Matters magazine.
After drawing a record-setting crowd in 2025, Cullman Oktoberfest is expanding its schedule in 2026 with the addition of Sunday, giving visitors a fourth day to experience one of the city’s signature festivals.
Daniel Wyatt, events director for Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism, said the decision was driven by the festival’s continued growth, strong community response and feedback from guests.
“Record-breaking attendance in 2025, a growing regional draw, community enthusiasm and guest feedback on social media calling for an extra day all made the case for adding Sunday, giving more visitors the opportunity to experience the festival,” Wyatt said.
The 2025 festival drew 74,000 visitors, according to organizers, continuing Oktoberfest’s rise as one of Cullman’s largest annual events. Wyatt said expanding from three days to four is expected to improve the overall festival experience by helping spread attendance across the weekend.
“Spreading attendance across four days rather than three should reduce peak congestion, ease parking pressure and make the experience more comfortable for families and first-time visitors,” he said.
The additional day is also expected to benefit vendors, restaurants and local businesses by giving them another opportunity to serve visitors downtown.
“An additional day means an additional revenue opportunity,” Wyatt said. “Sunday gives vendors, restaurants and local shops another full day to capitalize on that foot traffic.”
Planning for the expanded festival includes continued attention to traffic flow, parking, public safety, sanitation and the layout of the festival grounds. CPRST continues to work closely with local public safety officials before and during major events.
“CPRST has a strong relationship with local public safety officials, working hand in hand with them to ensure safety remains the top priority,” he said. “Together, we study traffic flow and pressure points. The silver lining is that a more distributed crowd across four days may reduce the intensity of public safety demands on any single day.”
Organizers continue to review the guest experience during events and make adjustments where needed.
“We are always looking for ways to make the guest experience more enjoyable,” he said. “During events, we evaluate traffic flow throughout the festival and look at how we can improve the layout to better guide crowd movement.”
Cullman’s downtown continues to be one of the festival’s greatest strengths. It has turned into the city of festivals in the past decade.
“What makes Cullman special is that even first-time guests can move through our streets with ease,” he said. “The walkability of our downtown makes it an ideal setting for large festivals.”
Several crowd favorites will return this year, including the Ferris wheel and double-decker carousel. Organizers are also working to add new vendors and entertainment while preserving the festival’s traditional Oktoberfest feel.
One addition this year will focus on traditional Oktoberfest attire. Wyatt said more guests have been embracing the festival spirit by dressing in lederhosen and dirndls, and this year’s festival will include a vendor specializing in authentic German-style clothing.
“Over the years, we’ve noticed more guests embracing the spirit of the festival by dressing in lederhosen and dirndls,” he said. “This year we are excited to welcome the United States leader in authentic lederhosen and dirndls to the festival, giving guests the opportunity to purchase the same styles you’d find at the great Oktoberfests in Germany.
Entertainment has always been a major focus. This year, according to Wyatt, will not disappoint.
“Entertainment has always been a key part of Oktoberfest, and this year we’ve taken it to a whole new level,” he said. “We’ve added some acts that will be unlike anything attendees have seen before, while staying true to the authentic feel of a traditional Oktoberfest. We don’t want to give too much away just yet. Stay tuned, this year is going to be one to remember.”
Senior Day will also remain an important part of Oktoberfest. Wyatt said seniors play a special role in the festival because of their connection to Cullman’s history and German heritage.
“Seniors are a vital part of Oktoberfest,” Wyatt said. “They are the ones who carry so much of the history of our town and our German roots, and we want to make sure they feel celebrated and welcomed every year.”
Wyatt said transportation, accessibility and ease of movement through the festival grounds are key parts of Senior Day planning.
“We want to remove any barriers that might keep our senior guests from fully enjoying everything Oktoberfest has to offer,” he said. “We look forward to honoring our senior community again this year. Their presence, their stories and their connection to Cullman’s heritage make Oktoberfest truly special.”
Accessibility remains a broader focus for the entire festival. Wyatt said organizers want the event to be welcoming for families, seniors, visitors with disabilities and guests traveling from outside Cullman.
“At Cullman Oktoberfest, we believe every guest deserves the same amazing experience regardless of age, ability or where they’re coming from,” he said. “Making the festival accessible and welcoming for all is not an afterthought; it is a core part of how we plan every detail of the event.”
Vendor selection is also part of that planning process. Wyatt said each application is reviewed to ensure it fits the look, feel and spirit of Oktoberfest.
“German-themed food and merchandise are important to the festival’s identity, and we also place a strong emphasis on unique handmade and artisan products,” he said. “We are especially proud of the strong local lineup of food vendors, makers and small businesses that help make Cullman Oktoberfest special.”
The festival’s three biergartens will remain a central part of the Oktoberfest experience. Wyatt said the goal is to give guests an authentic biergarten atmosphere in downtown Cullman.
“Biergartens are a core part of any Oktoberfest, and we want to give our guests an authentic experience without having to get a passport,” Wyatt said. “The look and feel of each of our biergartens is taken directly from what you would find in Germany.”
This year’s biergarten lineup will include Bitburger, a German beer brand founded in 1817. Wyatt said the addition reflects growing interest from German brands in being part of Cullman Oktoberfest.
“As word has spread about the festival, more German brands have been reaching out wanting to be part of this special event,” he said. “This year we are excited to welcome Bitburger to Oktoberfest.”
Guests attending the festival should expect street closures within the festival footprint. Wyatt encouraged visitors to follow posted signage and check the festival’s website and social media pages for updated information on parking, road closures and other details before attending.
“Our downtown’s walkability makes getting around easy, and we encourage guests to take advantage of surrounding parking areas and plan for a short walk to the entrance,” Wyatt said.
Oktoberfest will remain pet-friendly, but organizers ask that pets remain on a leash and that owners remain mindful of the crowds.
Although attendance remains an important measure of the festival’s reach, Wyatt said CPRST’s definition of success goes beyond the number of visitors.
“Beyond attendance, our goal is for every guest to have an authentic Oktoberfest experience, to make lasting memories with their family and to make Cullman Oktoberfest a tradition they return to year after year,” Wyatt said. “Guest satisfaction is one of our top priorities.”
For out-of-town visitors, Wyatt said organizers want Cullman to feel welcoming from the moment they arrive.
“For everyone who travels from outside our city, we want them to feel like an honorary member of our community for the time they are here,” Wyatt said.
He said the festival’s continued growth is ultimately a reflection of the community behind it.
What truly makes Cullman Oktoberfest so special is the people,” Wyatt said. “The pride our community takes in making sure every single guest feels welcome and at home is what sets all of our festivals apart.”
Cullman Oktoberfest 2026 will take place Oct. 1-4, at Depot Park. Get more details about this year’s festival at www.CullmanOktoberfestival.com.
Veronica “Ve” Harding has been selected as the first-ever Kinderburgermeister for Cullman Oktoberfest. (Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism)
2026 Cullman Oktoberfest Burgermeister Edgar Veigl will serve as the festival’s official ambassador. (Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism)
Cullman Mayor and 2025 Oktoberfest Burgermeister Woody Jacobs taps the keg to open Cullman Oktoberfest 2025. (Sherry Brown/The Cullman Tribune)
Left to right, three former Burgermeisters — Casey Harbin, Dale Greer and Steven Sides — pose for a photo at the Cullman Oktoberfest Burgermeister Ball on Sept. 25, 2025. (Sherry Brown/The Cullman Tribune)
