42nd Annual Oktoberfest

October 10th, 2021 11am – 6pm
(Rain Date, Sunday, October 17th)

Music, Dancing, Artisans, Food, Vendors, Crafts, Patios and Beer Gardens!

It’s back! The Harvard Square Business Association is excited to announce the return of the 42nd Annual Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 10th.

This annual celebration of Fall will present four stages of live music featuring an eclectic array of genres including Funk, Gospel, Latin, Swing, Classic Rock, Traditional New Orleans Jazz, Folk, and World music. In addition, we’re thrilled to introduce Floor Lords, a world-renowned hip-hop dance group who have shared the stage with notable performers such as, Run-DMC, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez!

We’re also welcoming back a Harvard Square classic, The Rocky Horror Show. This live stage musical, whose cast will perform selections from their production, makes a triumphant return on October 14th for a two-week run.

Within and beyond the festival grounds, Harvard Square’s favorite restaurants have taken to the streets with outdoor dining patios. Deliciousness awaits you, from casual to high-end and everything in between! Order a cocktail or a beer and raise a glass to this beloved and boisterous Fall tradition!

Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, said, “Oktoberfest 2021 will be unlike those of recent memory. As always, there will be lots of music, dancing, artisans, food, vendors, crafts and beer gardens. This year we’re also spotlighting square-wide eateries and retailers. To help support our businesses who have been struggling over the past 19 months, we are making it easy and fun for folks to seek out old favorites and discover new ones.”

Jillson went on to say, “For the first time ever, in lieu of our traditional Oktoberfest beer gardens, we are highlighting established patios and eateries, both inside and outside of the festival area. We will not place vendors in front of existing businesses, giving both greater visibility. We’re enthusiastically encouraging our retailers to open their doors wide, decorate their windows, light up their storefronts and spill out onto the sidewalk!”

Additionally, the Rotary Club of Cambridge “Chalk-on-the Walk” art installation will transform Church Street into a colorful display of 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 until it closed in 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!   Sadly, this year, the HONK! Parade will not take place due to ongoing COVID concerns. We look forward to next year and are delighted to showcase this year’s entertainment line up!

Main Stage
11:15am
The Cast of The Rocky Horror Show
The Cast of The Rocky Horror Show performs highlights from their stage musical set to return to Harvard Square on October 16^th. The Rocky Horror Show will be performed live through October 31^st in a pop-up theatre located at 25 Brattle Street. With an irresistible rock ’n’ roll score, The Rocky Horror Show is a hilarious, wild ride, that no audience will soon forget. Tickets are available here.

12pm
VibeCheck
VibeCheck is a band from Cambridge made up of teenage multi-instrumentalists, songwriters and producers. Playing a repertoire of indie, electro, rock, funk covers and originals, they can often be found performing in Harvard Square to raptured audiences.
1pm
Squares in the Square Squares in the Square are a whipped up soul, RnB, jazz, and funk band that can be heard performing on Brattle Plaza in Harvard Square year-round.

2pm
The Bullock Brothers
The Bullock Brothers have sung and ministered to thousands throughout New England and beyond. They perform a variety of gospel songs that draw enthusiastic responses from all ages. They were formed in 1950 and consisted of six brothers, of which Richard and George, ordained ministers, are the only two brothers still singing. The Bullock Brothers are continuing a gospel tradition passed to them by ‘Singing Walter’ as he was known some years ago as he traveled the revival circle signing in their home State of North Carolina.

3pm
Hot Tamale Brass Band
The Hot Tamale Brass Band takes their audience on an exciting excursion into New Orleans jazz, festive Mardi Gras, funky second line parades, traditional Dixieland jazz and reverent New Orleans jazz funeral traditions. The Hot Tamales jam at local Boston MA clubs, perform as a Mardi Gras band at theme parties and as a second line brass band for all types of parades. The Hot Tamale Brass Band plays Dixieland for people of all ages!

4pm
Veronica Robles
Harvard Square is thrilled to welcome back Mariachi singer and cultural icon for Latinos in Boston, Veronica Robles. She has effectively utilized the power of arts and culture to bring the community together by raising awareness on the importance of diversity and she has empowered youth by employing them and teaching them about their roots and culture.

Robles is Co-founder and Director of the Veronica Robles Cultural Center, a non-profit organization that supports community action and economic growth in East Boston, offering Latin American arts and culture programs while also providing jobs for youth. Veronica Robles continued to influence the community in the aspect of arts. In June of 2016, the Opinion section of the Boston Globe published an article about “The Changing Faces of Greater Boston”. This is where she represented the new Boston together with her assembled Boston’s first-ever-all-female Mariachi band.

5pm
The To Be Determined Brass Band
To Be Determined Brass brings groovy voicings to a wide mix of composers. From Duke Ellington to Led Zeppelin, to Youngblood Brass to Wulfpeck and Jellyroll Morton, done with an eclectic brass handle attached, so you can carry them off into the funky NOLA-influenced bayou in your mind. Who needs guitars!?

The Brattle Plaza Stage

2pm – 5pm
The Floor Lords
The Floor Lords were established in 1981 at the adolescence of the Hip Hop movement. Since then, they have played a significant role in the growth of hip hop culture, contributing wholeheartedly by helping to define and ultimately expand upon the art of breakdancing or more commonly known as “Breaking” in their community.   ​The group focuses on bringing all five elements of Hip-Hop culture to their fans and followers through television, films, competition and performances. Some notable appearances include films “Krush Groove” “Step Up 3D” and “In the Heights”. The Floor Lords continue to rack up accomplishments from creating their own theatre show called “Floor Lore” to collaborating with sneaker company “Saucony” on an official “breakdance” sneaker.

The Passim Stage

12pm – JJ Slater 
1pm – Naomi Westwater 
2pm – Prateek
3pm – Corner House
‘4pm – Albino Mbie
5pm – Kaiti Jones

The Winthrop Park Stage
2pm – 4pm
SINTI RHYTHM
SINTI RHYTHM is an acoustic, hot-jazz quartet performing vintage swing in the style of the great Django Reinhardt. Their repertoire includes standards from the Great American Songbook, lesser-known gems from the ’20s and ’30s, compositions by Django, and original pieces. Their instrumentation is clarinet, two guitars, and string bass, played with a propulsive, infectious beat that hearkens back to the pre-war heyday of classic jazz.

“Beer Gardens/Patios” Within the Festival
Alden & Harlow
Charlie’s Kitchen
El Jefe’s Taqueria
Felipe’s
Grendel’s Den
Harvest
Henrietta’s Table
The Hourly Oyster House
The Maharaja
The Red House
Russell House Tavern
SOURCE
Spyce
Tasty Burger
Whitney’s

“Eateries/Patios” Within the Festival
Bluestone Lane
BonChon
Capital One Cafe
Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe
Chutney’s
Eliot Street Café/Dunkin Donuts
Le’s
Lizzy’s Ice Cream
Milk Bar
Otto
Pokeworks
Pressed Juicery
Shake Shack
Starbucks
Subway
Toscano
Wholesome Fresh
Veggie Grill
&Pizza

“Beer Gardens/Patios” Beyond the Festival
Hong Kong
NOIR
Nubar
OGGI
Orinoco
Santouka
Saloniki
Shay’s Pub & Wine Bar
The Smoke Shop BBQ

“Eateries/Patios” Beyond the Festival
Amorino Gelato
BerryLine
Black Sheep Bagel
Boston Burger Company
Broadway Marketplace
Café Sushi
Cilantro Chinese Cuisine
Clover
Darwin’s
DIG
Flour Bakery & Cafe
Giulia
J.P. Licks
Mix-it Sushi
Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage
Nine Tastes
Nirvana, Taste of India
One Ramen and Sushi
Pavement
Pinocchio’s
Playa Bowls
Stoked Pizza
Waypoint
Zinneken’s

Grendel’s Den Oktoberfest After Party Lederhosen, busty dresses, German beer, food, and music all day! After the Harvard Square Oktoberfest at 7pm (ish), Grendel’s will tap a ceremonial keg. First come first served, no reservations. Grendel’s Den, 89 Winthrop Street, (617) 491-1160

This event is free and open to the public.