First Annual Sober Oktoberfest in Glendale

Oktoberfest usually means liter steins and a hangover. International Community UMC in Glendale is trying something different on Saturday, October 24: a full Bavarian party where nothing on the drinks table has alcohol in it. It's the church's first run at the idea, and it goes from 4 to 9 p.m. at 556 W Glenoaks Blvd.

If you've been hunting for LA food festivals that work for the whole family, this one's worth a look. Kids, grandparents, the designated driver and the friend who quit drinking three years ago can all sit at the same table without anyone ordering around them.

What's on the table

The food is straight German comfort: Bavarian sausages and the usual Oktoberfest favorites. The drinks are where it gets interesting. The organizers have lined up a selection of German craft non-alcoholic beers, and the flyer also promises a mocktail bar. Alcohol-free brewing has gotten a lot better in the last few years, and German brewers have been doing it longer than most, so this is a decent chance to taste a few you won't find at the corner store.

Music and games

The Blue Birds are the live band for the evening. Expect upbeat sets that keep the beer-hall mood going without the beer. Between sets there are lawn games and family activities, so younger kids have something to do besides wait for dessert.

The whole thing leans on the old idea of Oktoberfest as a neighborhood gathering: long tables, sing-alongs, strangers turning into friends by the second pretzel. The church frames it as a nod to German heritage and to the growing sober-curious crowd around Los Angeles. You don't need to belong to either group to show up.

Tickets and practical info

• When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 4 to 9 p.m.
• Where: 556 West Glenoaks Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91202
• Price: $15 per ticket in advance on Eventbrite (the early bird rate), $20 at the door
• Heads up: Eventbrite orders have a two-ticket minimum, so plan on bringing someone
• Parking: free, on-site

Glenoaks Boulevard runs along the north side of Glendale, about a mile north of the Americana at Brand. If you're coming from the 134, the Central Avenue or Brand Boulevard exits put you a short drive away. With free parking on site, driving is the easy call, and since nobody's drinking, the ride home is simple.

For more things to do in Los Angeles this fall, browse our food and drink events or see what else is coming up around greater Los Angeles. Buy early, though: that $5 early bird discount on each ticket adds up fast when you're buying two at a time.