La Mesa Oktoberfest: What You Need to Know

See Also: Oktoberfest Specials, Discounts at La Mesa Village Businesses

Originally published 5:48 a.m. Oct. 3.

The city of La Mesa will again host the annual Oktoberfest event sponsored by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the La Mesa Village Merchants’ Association.  

The event days and hours are:

Friday, October 5 - 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Saturday, Octobe 6 - 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 7 - Noon to 4:30 p.m.

More than 200 vendors will be offering goods and services, including a variety of food and drink options. The event is expected to attract approximately 200,000 people for the three-day festival.

Additional event information can be found at the sponsors’ websites:

The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce at www.lamesachamber.net

The La Mesa Village Merchants’ Association at www.lmvma.com

Brats and Beer

Beer, bratwurst and other food will be on the menu at six different food courts and two beer gardens this weekend. 

The largest beer garden will be in the Allison Street parking lot between Pine Street and Palm Avenue.

Click here to see a map of food courts, beer gardens and restrooms.

Good, Fun Music

Six bands will perform in beer gardens this weekend. 

Friday 

The IDEAS Rock & Roll Trio - Rock & Roll
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Cartune Dogs - Classic Rock
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Saturday 

Rockenhausen German Brass Band - Direct from Germany
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The Gordon Kohl Band - German Music
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Cartune Dogs - Classic Rock
6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.

Sunday

The El Cajon German Band - German Music
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Games and entertainment Sunday from noon - 4:30 p.m.provided by Barry Mantel, owner of Nights of the Sound Table.

Police Command Posts, Where to Find Missing Children and Emergency Help

With thousands of people in downtown La Mesa streets, security is important and some kids will get lost.

An information booth set up by event organizers will be located at the corner of Palm Avenue and Allison Avenue. 

"That's where we're going to encourage people to go if they have lost some property or a person or they can always go to a police booth if it's an emergency," said Lt. Matt Nicholass.

Emergency help can be sought at police command posts in the alley between Allison Avenue and La Mesa Boulevard and in front of Subway and west of the trolley station near the Date Avenue and La Mesa Boulevard intersection.

Heartland Fire and Rescue paramedics will be at Oktoberfest on bicycles and can be waived down for help, said Public Information Officer Sonny Saghera.

Parking and How to Get to Oktoberfest

The five block section of La Mesa Boulevard from Acacia Avenue to 4th Street, and eastbound Allison Avenue from Palm Avenue to Pine Street will be closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians only. Spring Street traffic may be subject to delays.

Click here to see a full list of street closures that start Thursday.

Parking laws will be strictly enforced. Disabled parking has been set aside in the Lemon Avenue municipal parking pot and Acacia Avenue north of La Mesa Boulevard.

Normally scheduled bus service on these streets has been routed around the event area, and bus riders should consult with their transit operators for route changes.

As parking around Oktoberfest is limited, the La Mesa Police Department encourages event patrons to carpool or use the San Diego Trolley, which will be providing additional transportation capacity to accommodate this event.

No Drinking Outside Beer Gardens and No Pets 

The La Mesa Municipal Code prohibits the possession of all alcoholic beverages at this event except in designated areas such as the Beer Garden, Beer Courts, and businesses licensed by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.  Violators of local and State alcoholic beverage laws will be arrested.