On October 3, 1981, the first Fredericksburg Oktoberfest produced by Pedernales Creative Arts Council (PCAA) was held at Markplatz. This Friday October 3, 2025, PCAA will celebrate the 45th anniversary of our Oktoberfest, which according to USA Today readers, is the 5th best in the USA. To celebrate the Chamber will have a Ribbon Cutting ceremony to commemorate this Meilenstein.

The roots of PCAA trace back to 1886 when the Fredericksburg Casino Society was formed. At that time one of the definitions of casino was a social club and was often related to arts and entertainment. The society’s stated purpose was “cultivation of the fine arts, especially dramatic and musical arts, and the intellectual stimulation of its members.”

The PCAA’s goal for Oktoberfest is to create a festival that celebrates Fredericksburg’s rich German heritage while serving as a fundraiser for local art projects and scholarships for Gillespie County students pursuing studies in the arts.

PCAA has successfully created a festival atmosphere that is best described using the German word Gemütlichkeit, which conveys a feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.

Key traditions and events attendees enjoy:

• An abundance of music with five stages with continuous live entertainment, focusing on traditional German oompah, polka, and waltz music. A highlight is the family-favorite "Hauptstrasse Chicken Dance."
• A wide array of German and American foods, including bratwurst and potato pancakes, along with more than 50 varieties of German, American, and Texas beers as well as a selection of local wines.
• A variety of contests and activities, such as a polka contest, a waltz contest, a "42" domino tournament, a Samuel Adams Beer Stein Hoist, and a lederhosen and dirndl contest.
• Booths showcasing local artisans and artists who continue the PCAA's mission to support the arts. 
• Games and activities for children in Kinder Park enhancing the family-friendly event.

Funds raised from Oktoberfest weekends generate important improvements on Marktplatz:

• In the 1990s, PCAA donated the funds for Oktoberfest Halle on Marktplatz.
• The Maibaum (Maypole) was designed and built by PCAA.
• Marktplatz improvements from Oktoberfest proceeds include the resodding of Markplatz, remodeling of restrooms, contribution to the renovation of the old City Hall Annex building into  an event space (at the NW corner of Marktplatz).
• Today, the PCAA is leading efforts to build a Glockenspiel Clock Tower on Marktplatz, a marker of the rich German cultural heritage brought to Fredericksburg by its founders. 

For 2025, PCAA awarded 10 scholarships to Gillespie County students and 23 grants to local charities, schools and cultural organizations. 

Congratulations to the PCAA board and all the Oktoberfest volunteers for such an incredible event that provides amazing ongoing benefits to our community.