Brisbane Oktoberfest cancelled for second year as Gold Coast event also falls victim to Covid-19

It’s the ‘wurst’ news for lovers of German beer, food and culture – Brisbane’s Oktoberfest has been cancelled for the second year in a row, but it’s not the only event that’s fallen victim to the threat of Covid-19.

It’s the “wurst” news for lovers of German beer, food and culture – Brisbane’s Oktoberfest has been cancelled for the second year in a row.

And the Gold Coast Oktoberfest along with it.

Thousands of tickets to The Only Oktoberfest Brisbane, which was to have been held at the Ekka showgrounds from October 15-17, and the inaugural The Only Oktoberfest Gold Coast which was slated for the Carrara Sports Precinct from October 29-31, had been snapped up, and the festival’s specialty beer was about to be brewed.

But festival director Boris Zoulek said he and wife Kim had made the ‘heartbreaking’ decision to call off the event for a second successive year due to Covid.

Brisbane's Oktoberfest will not be taking place in 2021.

Mr Zoulek said even though 95 per cent of festival patrons were from southeast Queensland, the risk from the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in NSW and Victoria was too high.

“The risk of a lockdown in close proximity to the festival (dates) or even it is just too high,” he said.

“We don’t have the insurance to underwrite that risk and in order to ensure the long-term survival of the festival, we’ve had to make the heartbreaking decision to postpone until next year.

“It’s very disappointing for us, our team, suppliers and patrons but the safety of everyone is paramount.”

Mr Zoulek said patrons could retain their tickets for 2022 or get a full refund through Ticketek.

It’s the latest major southeast Queensland event cancelled because of Covid, with the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast also this week falling victim to the pandemic.