Annika Chambers Deslauriers & Paul Deslauriers

October 13th – 15th

Sarasota Rocktoberfest™

Fall means it’s time for Rocktoberfest! No matter where Oktoberfest is celebrated, there are common ingredients: lively music, mouthwatering food, big, big pints of beer, family and fun.

October 13-15, 2023, Paragon Festivals with the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association bring an authentic 3-Day Oktoberfest experience coupled with fantastic live musical performances to downtown Sarasota in JD Hamel Park. Admission to this family-friendly event is free!

Festivalgoers will find a wide variety of food plus a German feast fit for King Ludwig himself! Dine on German foods like Schweinshaxe (roasted ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Wurstl (Sausages), Brezen (pretzels, Knodel (potato or flour dumplings), Kasespatzel (cheese noodles), sweet mustards, sauerkraut, red cabbage and more!

Between performances shop the Marketplace of arts, crafts and select fine products and services.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES TBD

This is a pet friendly festival.

To receive updates quickly, take advantage of our Facebook and Instagram pages, which include links and resources for festival-goers!

No outside food or drinks permitted.

Driving Directions

JD Hamel Park at Gulfstream and Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

FROM ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE – take John Ringling Blvd (SR-789) across Rt. 41 to the intersection of Cocoanut and Gulfstream (~4 minutes / 2.33 miles). The Oktoberfest festival is directly ahead of you starting at Main Street.

FROM NORTH OR SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN SARASOTA – take Rt. 41 toward Marina Plaza/Main Street. Turn East on Main Street and continue on Main Street to Gulfstream. JD Hamel Park and the Oktoberfest festival are on your right.

Parking Information

The Palm Avenue Garage (1289 Palm Avenue)

Garage parking is available at the award-winning Palm Avenue Garage, located one block from Main Street on North Palm Avenue, only steps away from Five Points intersection in downtown Sarasota. The Palm Avenue Garage is a newly designed and LEED Certified facility utilizing the latest technology in equipment and design. The garage has spaces for 729 vehicles with handicap parking located on each floor close to the elevators. The city provides four reserved electric car-charging stations on the ground floor. The Palm Avenue parking garage is a perfect location to park short- or long-term visits to downtown Sarasota.

State Street Garage (1538 State Street)

The parking garage bi-lateral entrance and exit points will provide excellent access from both State Street and Ringling Blvd. Parking spaces are located on levels 2 through 6, with motorcycle, bicycle and handicap van access on the ground floor. With downtown parking demands so high, parking time limits will ensure there is always a parking space available in either the 2-hour parking “shopper zone”, or the 4-hour time restricted area on levels 4 through 6.

2nd Street Garage (1400 Block of 2nd Street)

The 2nd Street Garage is located between First and Second streets, directly across from Whole Foods. Ground floor parking is intended for customers of Whole Foods, while the second and third levels of the garage are open to the public (except where posted). The public parking access ramp is located on Second Street, near the corner of Central Avenue. There are time restrictions in the facility that are monitored by the City Parking Division and for which citations are issued for time violations. The time restrictions are as follows:

Ground level: 2 hours Levels 2 and 3: 4 hours