The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce's Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 27, the same year the city itself turns 40.
Admission is free.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along a one-third-mile stretch of Mountain Vista Drive off El Camino Real, between Wandering Road and Rambling Road, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune article published Aug. 15. Organizers expect more than 10,000 attendees from across San Diego County and Southern California.
The dual milestone ties the festival to the city's origin story. In 1986, five communities joined to incorporate as Encinitas: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Old (downtown) Encinitas, New Encinitas and Olivenhain. The Oktoberfest itself nods to even older roots. German settlers founded the Olivenhain colony in 1884, and the festival draws on that heritage with Bavarian music, dance performances, two beer gardens and authentic German food.
Carol Knight, who became CEO of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce and Visit Encinitas on Nov. 1, 2025, has managed the Oktoberfest since joining the Chamber in 2021. In the Aug. 15 article, Knight called the event a signature North County tradition and said the Chamber is welcoming sponsors, artisans and exhibitors for the 30th anniversary celebration.
Beyond the beer gardens, the lineup includes live bands, an artisan marketplace, community booths, family-friendly games and a dog costume contest. The Encinitas Project, a local nonprofit, announced it will host a bike valet at the event and staff a booth. The City of Encinitas hosted a bike valet at the 2025 Oktoberfest.
The Chamber is accepting sponsorship and exhibitor applications. Interested businesses can call (760) 753-6041 or email [email protected].
As we reported Aug. 27, the city's 40th anniversary planning is already underway, with an arts panel voting on a teen-designed anniversary logo.
Upcoming community events
- Sunday, Sept. 27: 30th Annual Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Mountain Vista Drive off El Camino Real
