Freedom Park will transform into a celebration of music, food and German tradition when the 2026 Medford Oktoberfest & Music Festival returns for two days in September.
Billed as “Medford’s Biggest Party of the Year,” the annual festival will take place Friday, Sept. 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 9 p.m. at Freedom Park, 86 Union St.
Organized by the Medford Business Association and presented by Zallie Family Markets and King’s Road Brewing Company, Oktoberfest offers free admission and parking and is open to all ages.
Thousands of visitors from Medford and beyond are expected to gather during the weekend, which coincides with the beginning of the traditional Oktoberfest celebration in Munich. The local version will combine some Oktoberfest traditions with a large music festival, beer garden, food trucks, children’s activities, contests and a business and vendor expo.
Each year this festival delivers in bringing the areas hottest bands and performers to Oktoberfest. You can see the full entertainment lineup of each day at MedfordOktoberfest.com.
Music will be at the center of the festivities, with 20 musical artists scheduled to perform across three stages during the two-day event.
Friday’s Cornerstone PEO Main Stage lineup will begin with Brooklyn chamber-folk ensemble Beche, followed by Asbury Park’s The Foes of Fern, which combines indie folk, rock, brass, strings and theatrical elements.
Brooklyn-based Juice will headline Friday night with a mix of alternative rock, pop, R&B, funk and hip-hop. The band, known for incorporating violin and vocal harmonies into its sound, comes to Medford following the release of its album “Fire in the Desert.”
Saturday’s Main Stage schedule will feature a full afternoon and evening of performances beginning with Philadelphia-area jam band The Big Trip. South Jersey’s Polaroid Fade and The Gab Cinque Band will follow.
The National Reserve will bring a mix of roots rock, R&B, soul, funk and Americana before South Jersey’s JUTAUN takes the stage with its blend of R&B, rock, soul, pop, reggae and Afrobeats.
Philadelphia collective My Funky Brethren will close the festival Saturday night with a horn-driven mix of funk, soul and R&B.
The festival is also expanding its entertainment footprint this year. The Archer & Greiner Musik Garten will feature an official second stage in addition to the familiar Gazebo Stage, allowing performances to continue throughout the weekend.
Friday’s second-stage performers include Mini Mojo, The Third Arrangement and Vanylla Godzylla, while The Corner People and singer-songwriter Brian McGovern will perform at the Gazebo.
Saturday will bring an even broader variety of sounds.
The South Jersey Pops Brass Ensemble will kick off the second-stage lineup before the award-winning Quaker City String Band brings the sights and sounds of Philadelphia’s Mummers tradition to Medford.
Polkadelphia will add an Oktoberfest flavor with German and Polish music as well as its unconventional polka arrangements of popular songs. The group will also make appearances inside the festival’s beer garden.
Other Saturday performers include Your Friend Rachel, Philadelphia hip-hop artist Küf Knotz and classically trained harpist, pianist and vocalist Christine Elise. Philadelphia and South Jersey rock band Seems Like Tuesday will close out the second stage.
The Gazebo Stage will offer a more intimate setting Saturday with performances by singer-songwriter Mekkilynn and New York singer-songwriter Dayrit.
A new feature this year will be a Nashville-style songwriter round featuring The Leo Trio — Sophia Campoamor, Lizzie Hilliard and Catherine Cerise. The format will allow the performers to share stories behind their original songs while taking turns performing them for the audience.
Riley Egan & Friends will add Broadway to the festival’s musical mix with a vocal showcase featuring songs from musical theater.
Students from Today’s Dance Center will provide another connection to Oktoberfest tradition by demonstrating and teaching German folk dances throughout Saturday.
Food, beer and contests return
Beyond the stages, food and drink will remain a major part of Oktoberfest.
The Taunton Forge Liquors Beer Tent will offer national and international brands, seasonal Oktoberfest beers and local craft selections from Medford breweries King’s Road Brewing Company, Lower Forge Brewery, Farm Truck Brewing and Magnify Brewing Company.
More than a dozen food trucks are expected, with offerings ranging from traditional German food by Innovative Catering Concepts to American and Filipino dishes, along with a selection of desserts.
Festivalgoers can also test their strength during the Bavarian steinholding competition sponsored by King’s Road Brewing Company and sanctioned by the U.S. Steinholding Association.
Competitions will be held Friday and Saturday, with one man and one woman qualifying to advance to the New Jersey State Finals in October at the Feed Mill in Medford. Registration will be available at the festival while spots remain.
Magnify Brewing Company’s Bratwurst Eating Contest will return Saturday, with local personalities racing to finish a loaded bratwurst while competing for charity. Lower Forge Brewery will also host an interactive trivia competition in which visitors can participate on their personal devices for a chance to win prizes.
Activities for younger visitors
Oktoberfest isn’t only for adults.
Friday’s Kids Zone will include Mini Golf To Go, while Saturday’s activities will feature crafts and other programming designed for toddlers through preteens. The Saturday Kids Zone is sponsored by Medford Mini Storage, with activities curated by Pinelands Arts Center.
Visitors can also explore local businesses, artisans and organizations at the TD Bank Business & Vendor Expo.
The area will showcase Medford Business Association members as well as other businesses, vendors and crafters. Visitors will be able to browse handmade goods and artwork, participate in product demonstrations, learn about local services and even try a virtual golf booth.
The Medford Business Association will also debut its latest business directory at Oktoberfest. The publication will include a special festival guide along with information about local restaurants and businesses and QR codes connecting readers with additional information and directions.
Free parking will be available at Freedom Park and surrounding areas. Free shuttle buses sponsored by Davis Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab will run continuously during the event, with stops including Medford Center, Sharps Run Plaza on Route 70, the Main Street gazebo in Medford Village, Medford Township on Union Street and Freedom Park.
Medford Oktoberfest and Music Festival is organized and brought to you by the Medford Business Association and is sponsored by:
· Zallie Family Markets, Presenting Sponsor
· King’s Road Brewing Company, Co-Presenting Sponsor and Steinholding Sponsor
· Taunton Forge Liquors, Beer Garden Sponsor
· Cornerstone PEO, Main Stage Sponsor
· Archer & Greiner, Gazebo Stage Sponsor, Performance Sponsor
· Medford Mini-Storage, Kid’s Zone Sponsor
· TD Bank, Business Zone Sponsor
· Innovative Concepts Catering German Food Sponsor
· The Farmstead at Medford, Beer Koozie Sponsor
· South Jersey Pary Rental, Big Top Canopy and Ambiance Sponsor
· Davis Physical Therapy & Rehab, Shuttle Bus Sponsor
Friends Sponsors and In-Kind Sponsors include:
· Lower Forge Brewery
· Farm Truck Brewing
· Magnify Brewing Company
· Padden Cooper, LLC
· Merritt’s Service Station
· Verizon Wireless Zone
· Beechwood Landscape Architecture and Construction
· Pinelands Arts Center
· Today’s Dance Center
· Kurt Lindhult Photography
· Pinelands Arts Center
· Acerbo’s Wraps and Graphics.
The 2026 Medford Oktoberfest & Music Festival will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Freedom Park, 86 Union St. Admission and parking are free.
