The Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe Arizona attracted more than 200,000 people over the three-day event last weekend and included families, young people who normally hang out on Mill Avenue on the weekend and everyone in between. 

Some attendees donned cultural garments to celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest, one attendee, Justin Abbot wore a Lederhosen and told Northeast Valley News his clothing is, “the traditional Oktoberfest outfit”—the clothing actually originates from the mountainous regions of German-speaking Central Europe, and features leather breeches also worn by men in South Germany, Austria, Bavaria and Slovenia. 

But the big draw of the weekend was The Black Moods, a rock band from Tempe consisting of guitarist Josh Kennedy, bassist Jordan Hoffman and drummer Chico Diaz. 

Best known for their acclaimed 2020 album “Sunshine” which earned the band four Top 30 singles–and their first-ever Top 20 charting hit title track, “Sunshine,” which peaked at #16 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock radio charts, June, 17, 2024

Tempe’s own The Black Moods are featured in a 2023 documentary, 500 days of Silence along with other artists and notables including Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Corey Taylor, Rick Springfield and Kevin Cronin and recalls the challenges of the musicians and artists trying to come back after the music was “shut down” during the pandemic. You can rent or buy 500 Days of Silence on streaming platforms like Apple TV+ and Prime Video. 

A 10k run was held during Oktoberfest where some marathoners competed in their Lederhosen. 

Another popular event was the Weiner (dachshund) dog race. 

Dachshunds are super-fast on short little legs, the “Weiner dog race” Oktoberfest tradition reportedly began in the 70’s.

By far though, the most popular incentive of the three-day Tempe Oktoberfest—the beer of course.