It’s the mountain’s premier fall event, with performances by die Schlauberger in the main music and entertainment tent, as well as The Adlers and Schachtelgebirger Musikanten (Scha-Musi) in the Cloudspin Bar and Grill, the 3 Alphorns and the Alpenland Taenzer dancers.

Whiteface Sales and Marketing Manager Lauren Garfield said her favorite part of the weekend is how much it offers to people of all different ages, interests and vibes.

“There’s something for everybody, which is the thing I love the most about it,” she said. “From little kids and families to people who just kind of are out for the party scene, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.”

This year, Whiteface’s Oktoberfest was recognized by SKI Magazine as one of the 13 best festivals in ski country, and one of only two in eastern North America. The full list is at tinyurl.com/52p8ec44.

Oktoberfest’s timing this year appears to be lining up to a tee with peak fall foliage in the Olympic region. Garfield said there’s no more iconic way to experience the color than with a round-trip ride on the Cloudsplitter Gondola, which will be spinning riders back and forth from the summit of Little Whiteface throughout the festival.

“The gondola rides will be going again this year, which should be just spectacular right now with the foliage,” Garfield said.

Event organizers note that in previous years, the gondola line has tended to grow longer as the day goes on, and those looking to avoid the wait should plan on arriving during the morning. Beneath the gondola, between 40 and 50 craft and food vendors are expected to line the mountain’s base area.

There will also be a children’s arts and crafts, a bouncy house and a touch-a-truck event. Kids can get up close to and learn a bit about the machines that work their magic overnight and freshen up the runs each morning during the ski season.

Gates and gondola rides open at 10:30 a.m. both days, with live entertainment kicking off at 11 a.m. The festival runs until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Whiteface 2025-26 season passholders can attend Oktoberfest for free on Sunday, Sept. 28. Additionally, one-day admission on either day to Oktoberfest is free with the purchase of the Lake Placid Legacy Sites Passport. The admission and gondola ride will count towards the gondola admission portion of the passport.

General admission for one adult costs $25 per day on the day of and $20 when bought online in advance. Admission with a gondola ride bundled costs $45 per day on the day of and $20 when bought online in advance. It costs $30 extra to add a gondola ride to a day pass ticket separately on the day of. There are discounts for people ages 65 and older, and kids under 12 are admitted for free.

Food and drink tickets do not need to be purchased in advance. Instead, attendees can pay for food and drinks with credit cards at the outside dining options and cash or credit cards at the indoor dining options. For full pricing details, visit whiteface.com/todo/oktoberfest.

A shuttle will run between Lake Placid, Whiteface and Wilmington.

The full schedule is available online. For questions, contact Essex County Public Transportation at 800-914-9266 or the Whiteface Mountain ski center at 518-946-2223.

“It’s really the best event in the fall,” Garfield said. “It’s so much fun. It should be beautiful weather, great music, a lot of fun friends to hang out with.”