Key West · October
Key West oktoBREWfest
Key West's beer festival has a new name and a new date. After more than a decade as a Labor Day weekend tradition, BrewFest rebranded as Key West oktoBREWfest and moved to Saturday, October 3, 2026, running 3 to 8 p.m. at the Southernmost Beach Resort at 1319 Duval, the same oceanfront setting as before.
The format still delivers: more than 60 vendors pouring 225-plus beers, from national craft names to Florida brewers, with an Oktoberfest lean in the fall edition. It is put on by the Key West Sunrise Rotary, and proceeds go back into local charities.
Quick Facts
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Time
- VIP 3 p.m., general admission 5 to 8 p.m.
- Where
- Southernmost Beach Resort, 1319 Duval St.
- Tickets
- GA $50, VIP $125, designated driver $20, via KeysTix
- Pours
- 60+ vendors, 225+ beers
- Benefits
- Key West Sunrise Rotary charities
GA or VIP
General admission is $50 and gets you unlimited samples from 5 to 8 p.m. VIP is $125 and is genuinely a different event: entry at 3 p.m., two hours before the crowd, a commemorative steel mug instead of the plastic sampler, and a Bavarian buffet to keep you upright. If you care about tasting the rare pours before kegs kick, VIP is the play. Designated driver tickets are $20.
What to expect on the sand
The festival spreads across the resort's beach and oceanfront lawn: vendor tents in rows, live music, food for purchase beyond the VIP buffet, and the Atlantic a few steps away. October in Key West still feels like summer, so treat it like a beach day that happens to have 225 beers on it.
- · Buy tickets ahead on KeysTix. The event has sold out its VIP tier before.
- · Pace yourself. Unlimited sampling plus October sun is a combination with consequences.
- · Sunscreen and a hat. Shade is limited on the beach side.
- · It is a short walk from anywhere in Old Town. Nobody should be driving to this one.
Why the date moved
BrewFest spent over a decade anchored to Labor Day weekend, which put it inside hurricane season's statistical peak and the island's slowest stretch. The shift to early October and the Oktoberfest rebrand freshens the event and nudges it toward the fall shoulder season. If you knew the old version, do not show up on Labor Day; the party moved a month down the calendar.
Want more on Key West oktoBREWfest?
Official details from the organizers, plus Keys Weekly's coverage from the newspaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Key West oktoBREWfest 2026?
Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Southernmost Beach Resort, 1319 Duval St. VIP entry starts at 3 p.m. and general admission runs 5 to 8 p.m.
Is this the same event as Key West BrewFest?
Yes. The longtime Labor Day BrewFest rebranded as oktoBREWfest and moved to early October, keeping the same venue, organizers and beer-heavy format.
How much are tickets?
General admission is $50, VIP is $125 with 3 p.m. early entry, a steel mug and a Bavarian buffet, and designated driver tickets are $20. All sold through KeysTix.
Who benefits?
The Key West Sunrise Rotary runs the festival and puts the proceeds into local charitable work.
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