The church lot on White Chapel Boulevard, with a shuttle running to Town Square, isn't part of Oktoberfest Southlake this year. The festival's official FAQ says plainly that there will be no shuttle service in 2026. The 25th Oktoberfest Southlake runs Oct. 16–18 at Southlake Town Square, 285 Grand Ave. Anyone who drives in will park in one of two garages on the square.
That one change affects the rest of the weekend. It decides where you start, when you arrive, and which of Southlake's newest spots are easy to reach before or after.
The shuttle was part of the plan for years
The shuttle wasn't a recent extra. In 2017, when the festival was in its 16th year, the City of Southlake's announcement said extra parking and a shuttle would be available at White's Chapel United Methodist Church, with shuttles running continuously to and from Town Square. By 2022, Community Impact reported that the Southlake Chamber of Commerce expected 100,000 guests over the weekend. That year, a free shuttle ran from 185 S. White Chapel Blvd. from 4 to 11:15 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
For 2026, the organizer's guidance is different:
"No, there will be no shuttle service available this year. Visitors are encouraged to use ride-sharing services for convenience."
That answer comes from the Oktoberfest Southlake FAQ. The same wording appears on the Southlake Chamber's festival page. The count checks out, too. A 16th festival in 2017 makes 2026 the 25th, which matches the milestone the Chamber is celebrating.
Two garages, and the rules at the gate
Parking is still free. Admission is still free. The FAQ names two places to park:
- East Garage: 1451 Federal Way
- West Garage: 351 State St.
The FAQ doesn't give a capacity for either garage. We also found no 2026 notice of street closures around Grand Avenue, State Street or Federal Way, so this guide doesn't assume any.
A few rules apply once you're parked and walking in. Backpacks and large bags aren't allowed. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed. Leashed, well-behaved pets are welcome, and the FAQ singles out the dachshund races. Guests must be 21 or older with valid ID to drink alcohol. With no remote lot to fall back on, a bag turned away at the gate means a trip back to the garage, not a ride back to a church lot.
The hours set the shape of the weekend
The festival is open about 27 hours in total, but those hours aren't spread evenly. Friday and Sunday are seven hours each. Saturday runs 13, nearly half the weekend.
| Day | Festival hours | Set times on the schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Oct. 16 | 4–11 p.m. | Ashmore, 7:30–8:45 p.m.; Back in Black, 9:30–10:45 p.m.; Stein Hoisting Contest in the evening |
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | 10 a.m.–11 p.m. | Wiener Dog Costume Contest, 9:30 a.m.; Wiener Dog Race, 10 a.m.; Stein Hoisting Contest in the evening; Larger Than Life, 9:15–10:45 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 18 | Noon–7 p.m. | Shortest day; no headliner listed in the readable schedule |
Saturday's first scheduled event is the 9:30 a.m. costume contest, half an hour before the posted 10 a.m. opening. The race follows at 10, as the City's My Southlake News announcement describes. That makes the dog events the earliest start of the whole weekend. Without a shuttle, getting there for 9:30 means parking in a Town Square garage before the festival officially opens. The stein hoisting is listed only as Friday and Saturday evenings, without exact start times.
The nights end with tribute bands. Back in Black, the AC/DC tribute, closes Friday. It's also a familiar name. Community Impact listed the same band among the 2022 performers. Larger Than Life, which the organizer describes as a New York act, closes Saturday. Both sets end at 10:45 p.m., 15 minutes before the gates close. That means Friday and Saturday night crowds head back to the same two garages around the same time.
The festival uses three stages, with local dance groups and jazz combos alongside the headliners. There's also a children's area with games and face painting. The full stage-by-stage schedule is posted as an image on the festival's music page, and it's the place to check before you go.
A new coffee stop on the West Garage's street
If you park in the West Garage at 351 State St., the newest business on the square is on the same street. Community Impact reported on Oct. 8 that Ascension Coffee was set to open Oct. 9 at 100 State St., Ste. C1. It has a full espresso bar, seasonal coffee flights and a slow bar where baristas make pour-overs from rotating single-origin coffees. The food menu covers pastries, granola, sandwiches, wraps and salads.
That makes it a natural first stop before Saturday's 9:30 costume contest, or on Sunday, when the gates don't open until noon. Ascension's grand opening is Oct. 23, the Friday after the festival, according to the same Community Impact report, which cites a social media post from Mayor Shawn McCaskill.
For a meal away from the square
Not every festival plan includes eating in the crowd. Two openings from September offer other options for the same weekend.
Hudson House opened Sept. 14 at 1131 E. Southlake Blvd. in the Park Village shopping center. Community Impact's opening report lists burgers, sushi and a raw bar with oysters flown in daily from the East Coast. It also has the chain's "World's Coldest Martini," made with chilled Grey Goose. It sits on Southlake Boulevard in Park Village, off the square, for a Sunday dinner after the gates close at 7.
Game Show Studio opened Sept. 12 inside Red Door Escape Room at 280 Commerce St., Ste. 285. According to Community Impact, a trained host runs games like Survey Showdown and Wheel of Wonder. A full episode lasts an hour, costs $37.95 per person and holds up to 16 players. Smaller groups can join games that already have enough players. It's an indoor option for anyone looking for a break from the festival grounds on Friday evening.
The old shuttle lot has its own Saturday next week
The church that used to anchor the shuttle has an event of its own six days after the festival. The Yesterday to Today Car Show runs Oct. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Whites Chapel Methodist Church, 185 S. White Chapel Blvd. That's the same address the 2022 shuttle ran from. Community Impact's October roundup says the free show collects donations for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Local celebrities judge 10 award categories, and there are food trucks, bounce houses and a vote where kids pick their favorite car.
The same morning, the Southlake Library at 1400 Main St., Suite 130 hosts Repaint the World: Kids Art Workshops from 10 a.m. to noon, according to the City of Southlake calendar. The car show ends at 11 and the workshop runs until noon, so a family can make it to both.
The next date on the square is Holly Jolly Sip & Shop on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Southlake Town Square event page says tickets go on sale this fall. One announced restaurant is further out than that. Lupe Tortilla, at 2701 E. SH 114, received City Council approval Oct. 6 for a covered patio of almost 600 square feet. Its construction director told the council the building should be finished around the beginning of January 2027, and he added that getting operations open is beyond his control. Community Impact covered the update. Earlier reports had the restaurant hoping to open in late 2026.
Town Square's festival dates, from Oktoberfest to Holly Jolly, are part of what living near it means. If a move is on your mind, whether that means getting closer to the square or farther from it, the Darna Property Co. team can talk through how Southlake's streets and calendar fit what you're looking for. Book a Meeting, and enjoy the 25th.
