Oktoberfest Huntington Beach, CA 92647

"What a nightmare. A highly overpriced nightmare… So granted I went on a Saturday night so I got the worst of it. But an event of this caliber should not be charging people money for such a miserable experience; they really should limit the capacity and cap ticket sales. First off, the line just to get in was well over an hour and wrapped through/around the entire Old World Village. Then I finally paid $40 just for admission, and for what? Just to be overwhelmingly packed in like sardines and pay literally $20 for one beer, wait another 30+ minutes in line to buy some food, and be forced to eat said food standing up like a barn animal because table space is nonexistent. The only tables in the event were reserved by people who paid even more money to have a table to sit at. If you didn’t buy a table there is quite literally nowhere to sit down at all even for a moment. Not to mention that even with a crowd this size, the facility only has ONE single-stall restroom! (One of each, men’s and women’s). I don’t know, maybe it would’ve been fun if it weren’t so over-crowded. But it felt like a greedy, disgusting money grab. Don’t charge me a steep admission just to make me pay $20 for a beer and have no where to eat the food that I also paid for."

"My wife, a group of friends, and I visited on a Friday afternoon. If I had known that online tickets were cheaper than those purchased at the window, I would have bought them a day in advance. Online tickets were $20 on Friday, but we decided to buy them at the ticket booth, where they cost $35. The area was pleasant but very crowded. If you haven’t booked a table in advance, it’s unlikely that you’ll find one, as it’s usually fully packed with people. The table prices are exorbitantly high, and a glass of beer costs around $20, but if you pay in cash, it’s $18. The prices seemed excessively steep. A German sausage, “wurst,” is around $12, which isn’t too bad. The dance floor and music were authentic and enjoyable. Many people were dressed in traditional clothes, which added to the atmosphere. Overall, it was a good experience, but I don’t plan to go there again next year. It’s the kind of place to visit just once. The parking lot was large, but it was completely packed. We parked in the Costco parking lot across the street, while our friends parked two blocks away."

"We go every year. Free entry for active duty mil. They have amazing dancers and this year they were playing the Alphorn! Lots of people dress up, and there is a Drindl and Liederhosen shop a couple buildings away. Check the store hours. My husband loves the Apfel Streusel. We are able to speak Denglish there, as many Germans attend. We miss the former festival host, but he has retired. Good bands, decent food, good dancers and music. It reminds us of when we lived in Germany. We like to park in the parking garage, a bit past it, on the right. The Hungarian goulash and potato salad are gluten free. I'm celiac and I eat it every time."

"This place authentic and is a lot of fun! Yes, it is expensive and crowded but the quality of the food, beer and atmosphere make it worthwhile. There are spots where you can chill and drink a few beers or check out the huge dance hall which is crowded and electric. There was a long line getting in but it only took 15-20 minutes to be inside. Other reviews have said that the security getting in was a little over the top. You empty your pockets into a bowl and go through a metal detector and if you set it off they have a wand. Small price to feel safe at a festival in these crazy days. Also, there is ample parking nearby. My family and I will be back soon!"

"Had to wait over 2 hours to get in last night. Been previous years and never had a problem. Also prices for food and drinks went up too high for what it’s worth. This used to be our family’s go-to Oktoberfest but we will no longer be visiting after the disorganization the event held this year."