While the popular event at the Queanbeyan Showgrounds has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, general manager of the Harmonie German Club Paul Berger says the celebration is too popular to ignore.

"This will be an Oktoberfest like we've never seen before, scaled down a little but we've got some great events happening here at the club and we're sure tickets will sell out quickly," Berger said. "We've got The Masters of Oompah in a couple of times during the week and they're considered the best oompah band in the country."

The official opening will be on October 26 with the traditional tapping of the keg. On Tuesday, October 27, there will be a celebration of food with Knuckles Restaurant taking over the club and serving a wide range of traditional foods for lunch and dinner.

Wednesday night is Bunter Abend, or colourful evening, with trivia, bingo and singing and dancing. Thursday is an Apres Ski Party, with schnapps, and Oktoberfest's regular DJ Rawson and a snow gear dress theme. Friday is the main event featuring the Mr and Miss Oktoberfest competition, games, traditional dress and Bavarian street food and drinks, from 6.30pm till late. And then recover at the Black Forest Breakfast on Saturday, October 31.

BentSpoke kicks off its celebrations from September 29, with a special menu at the BrewPub in Braddon and a super weekend at the Cannery in Mitchell on October 3-4.

At the BrewPub enjoy four specially brewed German style beers paired with German food by head chef Bernd Brademann. Food specials include a pork knuckle katsu sandwich, Hanchen and Knodel. For the brave, there will also be a Bentwurst (currywurst) heat challenge, take on the hottest and earn a free beer.

At the Cannery, the 12-tap container bar will be pouring 12 BentSpoke beers, including four specialty German style beers. There will also be one litre steins available for the festival.

There'll be live music as well from The Masters of Oompah and German Music Show Band German food specials including pork, sauerkraut and sausage will also be served all weekend.

The specialty beers for both events include Farrah's Wheat (Hefeweizen), Goat (Doppelbock), Mort's Gold (German Pilsner) and Oscar the Rauch (Rauch bier). BentSpoke's line up of IPAs and limited release beers will also be on tap at both events.

The Bavarian is also hosting celebrations at their Belconnen and Woden venues. An Oktoberfest feasting menu ($39pp) will be available until Saturday, October 31. The generous menu incorporates classic dishes, such as buttery pretzels served warm from the oven, The Bavarian's legendary, golden-crackled pork knuckle; pork belly, served brick-thick and blistered with crackling; a trio of plump German sausages; and the most popular German dish of all, schnitzel, glistening with a golden crumb.

This value-packed platter includes all the traditional Bavarian trimmings of sauerkraut, red cabbage, mashed potato, apple compote and bier jus. Guests can end on a sugar-spice high with hus-made apple strudel, rich with flaky pastry, aromatic sweet spices, and served with vanilla ice cream.

A limited-edition Oktoberfest schnitzel ($26) will be available for the month of October, kicking off a monthly rotation of unique schnitzel variations. The Oktoberfest schnitzel comprises of a golden crumbed chicken breast loaded with sautéed potatoes, wurstsalat (sausage salad), pickled onions, mustard dressing and fries.

And of course, there's the range of German beers, from Hofbrau to Franziskaner.