Downtown White Plains Oktoberfest is on Sunday, October 11, from 1 to 6 p.m. It runs on Mamaroneck Avenue between Maple Avenue and Quarropas Street, rain or shine. The new part this year is around the corner. The White Plains Business Improvement District is extending the festival past East Post Road onto the next block of Quarropas Street for a new Oktoberfest Alpine Village. It's a family zone open from 1 to 5 p.m.
That one-hour gap changes how the afternoon works. Oktoberfest now runs as two events that share a street. One is a family afternoon that winds down at 5. The other is a beer tent that keeps going until 6. Two restaurants opened on Mamaroneck Avenue this summer, so you also have new places to eat before or after either one.
The Family Zone Has Its Own Clock
The BID describes the Alpine Village as a space "designed specifically with kids and parents in mind." It has free kids' crafts, performances, games, local vendors, a round of mini golf, and an all-ages DJ. It sits on Quarropas Street, a block beyond East Post Road. That puts some distance between the youngest guests and the tent.
The main stretch of Mamaroneck Avenue still has what the festival is known for. Melina & the Oompahs play there, along with Bavarian dishes, Sundance Kitchen, and Walter's Hotdog Truck. The contests include stein holding and a hot dog toss. A live DJ plays on the avenue as well.
With the Alpine Village closing at 5 and the festival running until 6, a family can do Quarropas Street first and still have an hour on the avenue. A group of adults can also arrive later and miss nothing they came for. The street is flat, and the BID describes it as navigable for people with mobility disabilities. That helps anyone pushing a stroller between the two zones.
How Money and Drinks Move Under the Tent
Only people who plan to buy and drink alcohol under the tent need a wristband. Wristbands cost $12 online before the event and $16 on the day. Everyone must be 21 or older and show a valid state ID, and there are no refunds if you can't show one.
Payment works differently at different points of the festival:
- Wristbands on the day: credit or debit card only, sold at the check-in tents at Mamaroneck Ave./E. Post Rd. and Mamaroneck Ave./Maple Ave.
- Purchases under the tent: cash only.
- Beer prices: $10 for a refillable stein, $9 for a regular 16-ounce cup, $9 for a refill.
- Refunds: none. All wristband sales are final.
So if you plan to drink under the tent, you need a card for the wristband and cash for the beer.
One more rule matters for planning the rest of the day. Alcohol can't be carried from bars into the festival or out of the festival into bars. A drink at a restaurant on Mamaroneck Avenue and a stein under the tent are separate stops.
Bags are inspected at the entrance. Backpacks and bags larger than 18 by 14 inches aren't allowed unless they're clear. Coolers, chairs, glass, bicycles, skateboards, drones, and umbrellas are also prohibited. Clear ponchos are allowed. For parking, the BID points visitors to the parkwhiteplains app.
Two Summer Arrivals on the Same Avenue
Oktoberfest closes Mamaroneck Avenue to traffic, so its separate stops end up on one familiar street. Two of the newest places to eat downtown opened on that avenue this July.
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, 27 Mamaroneck Ave. Nan Xiang officially opened on Friday, July 24, as its first Westchester location. The restaurant started in Flushing, Queens, in 2006. It has been Michelin-recommended for nine consecutive years and now has more than a dozen locations across nine states. Westchester Magazine reports that its soup dumplings come in nine flavors. In the magazine's interview, co-owner Michael Ma described the White Plains restaurant's open kitchen, Shanghainese menu, and full bar.
Drunken Taco Bar, 91 Mamaroneck Ave. The former Little Drunken Chef reopened on July 17 as Drunken Taco Bar under new ownership. It has a modern Mexican menu and a refreshed interior. The Journal News described the feel as blending "Miami energy with New York style." The owners are Carlos Garcia, who is also the chef, and Fredy Duarte. They told the paper that despite the name, the restaurant is more than tacos.
Both restaurants are still new enough that many people haven't tried them yet. With the avenue closed to cars for an afternoon, you can walk from one to the other. Check each restaurant's Sunday hours before you plan around it.
The Next Sunday Moves the Crowd a Few Blocks
Oktoberfest isn't the only Sunday event downtown this month. One week later, on October 18, the city's Halloween Parade runs from 3 to 4:40 p.m., from Library Plaza to Court Street. Families who used the Alpine Village on the 11th have a second downtown afternoon a week later. This one is in costume, and it ends at Court Street instead of Quarropas Street.
Court Street also has a weekday event that runs past both Sundays. The Court Street Market sets up on Court Street between Main Street and Martine Avenue on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The city says the season runs through November 25. The city's announcement describes produce, breads, and treats.
Here's the rest of October on the city calendar, in order:
- Wednesday, October 7, 14, 21 and 28: Court Street Market, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, October 11: Oktoberfest on Mamaroneck Avenue, 1 to 6 p.m., with the Alpine Village on Quarropas Street from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, October 17: Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, Fall Nature Walk on the Jack Harrington Greenway off Gedney Way, 11 a.m. to noon.
- Sunday, October 18: Halloween Parade, Library Plaza to Court Street, 3 to 4:40 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22: Home Energy Savings Workshop with Sustainable Westchester at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24: Howl-o-Ween Bash at Bark Dog Park on Brockway Place, 11 a.m. to noon.
- Friday, October 30: Hispanic Heritage Luncheon at the White Plains Community Center, 65 Mitchell Place, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
After the market's final Wednesday on November 25, the city opens Santa's Mailbox at City Hall, 255 Main Street. It runs from November 25 through December 13.
A Mural Going Up on Hamilton Avenue
Between the Oktoberfest blocks and the parade route, there's a work in progress on Hamilton Avenue. The city is creating a new public mural with ArtsWestchester, painted by the artist VASH on the Hamilton Avenue side of 70 Church Street. The city describes it as a mural "celebrating our city." It opened with a community painting session on Sunday, October 4. Visitors could watch or help paint and ask VASH about his process. The city's listing gives no date for further sessions or an unveiling. For now, you can see it take shape on your way to the next downtown event.
Oktoberfest, Sunday, October 11, 1 to 6 p.m. Alpine Village family zone on Quarropas Street, 1 to 5 p.m. Wristbands $12 online, $16 on the day by card. Cash under the tent.
If you'd like help planning this month's downtown dates, or if you're a new arrival still learning which block hosts which event, I'm happy to help. Schedule a complimentary consultation with Khuzama Dacosta.
