Oktoberfest Party at Home: Tables, Benches, Beer, Heat

Oktoberfest is a big communal table. The party works because strangers sit next to each other, share a pretzel and clink glasses. That is easy to copy in a Chicago backyard or garage, and the fall weather helps: cool enough for a sweater, warm enough to be outside until dark.

This guide covers the tables, the food, the beer and how to keep guests warm.

Set up like a beer hall

The look comes from the seating. Long tables with benches, or long tables with stools, make a room feel like a tent in Munich. Skip the round tables.

• Table size. An 8-foot banquet table seats 8 to 10 with benches. A 6-foot table seats 6 to 8. See banquet table sizes.
• Benches. Not every rental company stocks benches, so ask. If you cannot get them, folding chairs on both sides still work. Picnic tables also fit the mood. See picnic tables for casual events.
• Spacing. Leave 4 feet or more between tables so people can walk behind the benches. Our table spacing guide has the numbers.
• Covers. Blue and white checks or plain white paper runners down the middle of each table are enough.

Food that works on a long table

Oktoberfest food is hearty and easy to serve in batches.

• Brats and sausages on a grill, kept warm in a pan with onions and beer
• Soft pretzels with mustard and beer cheese
• Sides: potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, spaetzle
• Dessert: apple strudel or pastries

Plan about 2 brats per guest, and a pretzel or two each. Our food per person guide has more numbers. If you grill for a crowd, see grill rental for events and keeping food hot outdoors. Serve on sturdy plates or trays. Paper boats work for brats, but dinnerware rentals save on trash for a bigger party.

Beer service

Beer is the star, so plan it before anything else.

• Cold tubs. A big tub of ice with bottles and cans is the easiest. Allow about 1 pound of ice per guest as a starting point. See how much ice for a party.
• A keg. A half-barrel keg holds about 165 12-ounce servings. It needs a tap, a tub with ice and a plan to return the keg. A smaller keg fits a smaller party.
• Glassware. Mugs make the party. Rent or buy mugs, and ask for plastic steins if the party is in a garage with a concrete floor. See glassware rentals.
• Drinks for everyone. Add non-alcoholic beer, root beer and cider.

In Illinois, rules apply to who can be served and who can sell. If you are charging for beer or selling tickets with drinks included, check the rules before you plan it. Read our guide to Illinois alcohol rules for private events and ask your village or city if you are not sure. Keep a plan for guests who should not drive.

A simple order for the day:

Heat for fall nights

In Chicago, September afternoons can be warm, but by October the sun sets before 6:30 pm and the evening gets cold fast. See our guides on patio heaters per guest count and heating a tent in fall. Check the heater type: a patio heater needs open air, while a tent heater needs the right clearance from the fabric. Ask about heating and cooling rentals.

Add string lights over the tables so the party does not go dark when the sun sets. See string light layouts.

Garage or backyard?

A garage can be a great beer hall. It holds heat, blocks wind and keeps rain out. Our guide to garage party layouts shows how to fit tables, and notes about ventilation and car fumes. Do not run a grill or a propane heater inside a closed garage. Cook outside and keep a window or door open.

What most hosts find out too late

• Benches are not always in stock. Ask early. If the rental company cannot get benches, use folding chairs on both sides.
• Propane may not be included. Heaters need fuel. Ask who supplies it and how long a tank lasts.
• Count steins at delivery. Glassware breaks, and a missing count is easier to fix at drop-off than at pickup.
• Level ground matters. Long tables rock on uneven pavers. Ask for shims or move the table. See table rental on level ground.
• Rain. Fall rain is common. A tent over the tables is better than a scramble. See rain plan with a tent.

Get your Oktoberfest rentals lined up

Book a free 15-minute planning call and we will help you pick tables, benches or chairs, heaters and glassware. Or get a quote with your date and guest count. We check the date with the rental companies for you.