Your DIY Guide to Making Your Own Oktoberfest

The leaves are changing, there's a bite in the air, and the beers are flowing – that can only mean one thing: Oktoberfest is upon us! This year, instead of overspending at beer gardens, why not host your own? You'll have a great time celebrating with friends, while still saving a bundle. Check out our DIY Oktoberfest guide to get you started!

BYOB With a Theme

You could easily overspend on this holiday with supplying all the beers, so why not make it fun and invite your guests to bring their favorite German or Oktoberfest themed beer to the party? It will be fun to see and share everyone's offerings, and you can't beat the savings.

BYO Stein!

At Oktoberfest, beer always tastes best when served in a tall stein. Offering steins for all of your guests would make for a very pricey gathering, but why not invite your guests to a BYO Stein party? Then you can fill it with whatever brew you are serving.

DIY Pretzel Bar

Oversized, soft baked pretzels are a must for Oktoberfest. Instead of purchasing them from the freezer section at the supermarket, have some fun and save some cash making your own. Bonus: the homemade version will be much tastier. Pad your pretzel bar with hard pretzels of assorted shapes and sizes. They'll go well with the theme, and are a great budget friendly option.

Be a Mustard Master

Naturally, you'll need mustard to go with all of those delicious pretzels. Instead of forking over cash for fancy mustard varieties, be creative and make your own. Grab a large jar of brown mustard and flavor with honey, horseradish, spices – get creative and save!

Make Your Own Oktoberfest Hats

You don't have to be a craft master to create your own Eidelweiss hats. You'll just need some construction paper and a few craft supplies, and you've got a great centerpiece for your tables. Check out Michaels or your other favorite craft shop for deals you won't want to pass up.

Printable Decorations

Here is a great place to really save. Take advantage of the plethora of free printable party decorations online, and your home will be perfectly festive without doing any damage on your wallet.

Be a Strudel Master

Whether you're a novice baker or an established pro, serving a homemade apple strudel is as easy as...strudel! The frozen puff pastry in your local freezer aisle is your best friend in this endeavor. Homemade strudel makes for a very low maintenance, yet always pleasing, Oktoberfest dessert. Plus, forgoing your favorite bakery in favor of your own kitchen will really help in the savings department.

Go For an Afternoon Gathering

Opting for a daytime party will go a long way with saving on the fare you'll be serving. Plan for an in-between traditional meal time and your guests will be perfectly satisfied with light, cost saving snacks.

Happy Oktoberfest, everyone!