Hunter Mountain’s free fall festival brings steins, bratwurst and a skyride to the Catskills
Entry and parking are free on two October weekends at Hunter Mountain, with Bavarian music, keg rolling and a chairlift ride to the summit.
Hunter Mountain Resort in the Catskills is hosting its free autumn festival, formerly called Oktoberfest, on the weekends of Oct. 10 to 11 and Oct. 17 to 18. Expect Bavarian food, live music, lawn games and a scenic chairlift ride up the mountain.
Hunter Mountain fall festival dates and themes
Each weekend has a theme. Oct. 10 to 11 is Authentic Oktoberfest, with traditional music and steins. Oct. 17 to 18 is a Costume Takeover with a spooky twist. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, around the Main Lodge.
Admission and parking cost nothing. DJ Frankie and Joe Adee & The Lugnuts are on the music lineup, and visitors can enter kids’ and adults’ steinholding contests and keg rolling. Bratwurst is on the menu.
Riding the Kaatskill Flyer skyride
Hunter Mountain opened its first chairlift in 1960. Its Kaatskill Flyer Scenic SkyRide is a high-speed lift with six-seat chairs that climbs 3,200 feet in 11 minutes. When the sky is clear, you can see past the state line to Vermont’s Green Mountains and the Berkshires of Massachusetts.
A marked trail leads from the summit to the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower and back, about 4 miles in all. The tower stands at 4,040 feet, and no other fire tower in the state sits higher. Wear sturdy shoes and leave time to return to the lift before the last ride down.
The resort lists skyride hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on operating days, with the last summit drop-off at 3:30 p.m. Skyride tickets are sold separately at the ticket window, and booking online ahead of time gets the best price. Bring the right crew: toddlers younger than 3 can’t board, and the same goes for any child who measures under 36 inches.
Getting there from NYC
The drive takes about 2.5 hours: take the NYS Thruway (I-87) north to Exit 20 in Saugerties, then NY-212 West and NY-214 North into Hunter. OvRride also runs charter buses from city pickups, including Union Square. For more autumn trips, see our fall foliage guide.
Quick answers
When is Hunter Mountain Oktoberfest 2026?
The festival runs Oct. 10 to 11 and Oct. 17 to 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Is Hunter Mountain's fall festival free?
Yes. Admission and parking are free. Skyride tickets are sold separately at the ticket window or online.
How old do you have to be to ride the Hunter Mountain skyride?
Kids need to be 3 or older and measure 36 inches or more to ride.
