The Oktoberfest Party Shopping List, on One Page

Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, marked by the products and tours they name. As an Amazon Associate, bavarianbistro.com earns from qualifying purchases. A purchase through these links may earn the site a commission at no cost to you, and it never affects what is recommended. How this works.

Print this page, or copy the sections you need into your own list. It follows the plan on my Oktoberfest party at home page, and each group below hands off to a longer page if you want the full reasoning behind a pick.

Food, for twelve

• Six whole chickens, roasted and split into halves, the “Hoibs Hendl” serving Munich’s own dialect guide names as the standard¹.
• Bratwurst, two to three links per guest, plus buns.
• A double batch of Obatzda, Camembert and other soft cheeses mashed with butter, cream and onions, made the day before².
• A Brotzeitplatte: sliced ham, sausage, cheese, radishes and pickles, no cooking required².
• One pretzel per guest, plus a few extra; a make-at-home kit is a reasonable stand-in if nobody bakes.
• Leberkäse, sliced, for sandwiches, with sweet mustard on the side. Händlmaier‘s is the one I would buy; nothing else compares.
• A warm potato salad, made in the biggest pot in the house.

The full menu, with a cook-ahead order, is on my Oktoberfest party menu page.

Resi says Ever since Aldi moved into my state, I have not had to hunt for any of this. Their “Deutsche Küche” line shows up once or twice a year, and the frozen strudels, bratwursts, sweet mustard and dark sunflower-seed bread are the real deal. If you see it, stock up; it does not stay on the shelf long.

Beer and drinks, for twelve

• Beer: plan on one Maß, one liter, per beer-drinking guest for the first two hours, and more on hand for anyone who goes back. Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr and Hofbräu are the three of the six official Oktoberfest breweries that are easiest to find on a US shelf.
• Radler makings for anyone who wants beer without all of it: any light lager and a lemon-lime soda, mixed half and half.
• A non-alcoholic option for drivers and anyone underage: a wheat-beer-style Apfelschorle or a plain sparkling water works.
• Ice. More than you think, especially if the beer is arriving warm from a store run that morning.

The full brand-by-brand list is on my Oktoberfest party beer list page, and the mixed drinks get their own page at Oktoberfest party drinks.

Glassware, for twelve

• Twelve one-liter steins, or fewer if you are comfortable washing and refilling between rounds. The Hofbräuhaus München 1-liter dimpled stein, imported from Germany, was $24.90 with a 4.8-star rating from 491 buyers as of September 2026, and it is a genuine 33.8-ounce Maß rather than a shrunken souvenir version³.
• A handful of smaller glasses for anyone drinking Spezi or a soft drink instead.
• A cooler or a second refrigerator shelf cleared out ahead of time; twelve liters of beer takes up more room than it sounds like.

Table, for twelve

• A blue-and-white check tablecloth, or a plain white one if a check is hard to find in the right size.
• Napkins, plenty of them; a Maß in one hand and a half chicken in the other leaves nobody a free hand for tidiness.
• Serving trays for the Brotzeitplatte and the pretzels, kept separate from the hot food line.
• A trash and recycling station near the drinks, since bottle caps and napkins otherwise end up on the lawn.

Decorations, for twelve (or for the whole yard)

• Blue-and-white bunting or a pennant banner in the lozenge pattern, not the German flag’s black, red and gold; Bavaria’s own government describes the lozenge flag as at least 21 white and blue diamonds, and that pattern, not the tricolor, is the one to hang⁴. A fabric bunting and pennant banner set ran $17.99 on Amazon as of September 2026, rated 3.8 stars from 16 buyers⁵.
• A few strings of string lights if the party runs into the evening.
• A chalkboard or printed sign for the drinks table, since half your guests will not know what a Radler is until you tell them.

The full room-by-room version is on my Oktoberfest party decorations page.

Outfits, for twelve

• Budget route: a costume-grade lederhosen set, white-and-brown top with an attached waistcoat, brown pants, socks and a feathered hat, ran $34.95 on Amazon in sizes Medium through X-Large, rated 3.6 stars from 37 buyers⁶. A budget dirndl costume ran $29.79 on oktoberfesthaus.com⁷.
• Real-Tracht route: lederhosenstore.com’s own site listed men’s Lederhosen from $159.95 and women’s Dirndl from $139.95 as of September 2026, across several fabric tiers⁸.
• A plain white shirt and dark pants or a skirt works for anyone who would rather not buy either; nobody is checking at your door, the same way nobody checks at the real one.

The full honest breakdown of every tier between costume and Tracht is on my Oktoberfest costumes, honestly rated page.

Games, for twelve

• A short, sturdy log and a few dozen finishing nails, for Hammerschlagen; the official rules call for one continuous swing per turn, rotating around the log⁹.
• A dimpled one-liter stein you do not mind someone dropping, for Maßkrugstemmen, the arm-out stein-holding contest, held at arm’s length and parallel to the ground until someone spills¹⁰.
• A hammer for every two or three guests, so the line between turns does not stall the whole party.

The rest of the games, five more of them, are on my Oktoberfest party games page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much food do I need for twelve people at an Oktoberfest party?

Six whole chickens split into halves covers the classic “Hoibs Hendl” serving, plus two to three sausages per guest, a double batch of Obatzda, a full Brotzeitplatte board, and one pretzel per guest with extras.

How much beer should I buy for twelve guests?

Plan on one Maß, one liter, per beer-drinking guest for the first two hours, with extra on hand for anyone who returns for a second or third round.

Do I need real Lederhosen and a Dirndl for a party of twelve?

No. A costume-grade set for around $30 to $35 a person covers a single evening; buy or rent the real thing only if the group expects to wear it again.

What is the cheapest way to decorate for an Oktoberfest party?

Blue-and-white bunting or a pennant banner in the lozenge pattern, which runs under $20 for enough to cover a doorway or a yard.

Where can I find real German pantry items for an Oktoberfest party?

Aldi’s “Deutsche Küche” line carries frozen strudels, bratwursts, sweet mustard and dark sunflower-seed bread a couple of times a year, and it sells out quickly once it appears.

Do I need a stein for every guest?

Not necessarily. Twelve is generous; a smaller set that gets washed and refilled between rounds works for a more casual gathering.

Related Articles

Sources