New Glarus Oktoberfest returns to downtown New Glarus Sept. 24-27, bringing four days of live music, food, local beer and family activities to the village. This year, visitors will also encounter several important changes involving where alcoholic beverages can be carried, how people can get home and which downtown streets will be closed.

The New Glarus Chamber of Commerce is promoting the annual festival as a celebration of Bavarian, Swiss and German traditions, with the main festival tent on First Street. Admission to the tent is free throughout the weekend, with music, food vendors, craft vendors, wagon rides and other activities planned.

One of the biggest changes for 2026 is the addition of an open-intoxicant district. For the first time, festivalgoers will be allowed to carry alcoholic beverages beyond the immediate festival tent and onto streets and sidewalks within a designated portion of downtown.

The district is bounded by Fourth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Second Street and Railroad Street. Alcoholic beverages must be in plastic cups. Open intoxicants will be permitted from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.