Sunday, October 12th, 2025
11am – 6pm
(Rain date: Monday, October 13th, 2025)
The Harvard Square Business Association is excited to announce the return of the 46th Annual Oktoberfest and the raucously madcap 20th Annual HONK! Parade on Sunday, October 12th, 2025. Come be a part of this unique, irreverent, family-friendly tradition were musicians and spectators “reclaim the streets for horns, bikes and feet”!
Back for it’s 4th year is the enormously popular Filipino American Festival – a celebration of Filipino music, food and culture!
Harvard Square’s Oktoberfest features food from all over the world, arts, crafts, vintage goods, free samples, and one-of-a-kind gifts. In addition, Oktoberfest boasts beer gardens hosted by Alden & Harlow, El Jefe’s Taqueria, Charlie’s Kitchen and The Comedy Studio.
This annual celebration of fall features live music, a Passim stage and an all HONK! Review on the Main Stage! Dancing in the streets is encouraged!
Don’t let the parade pass you by! Street activists, horn aficionados and their comrades will strut down Massachusetts Avenue. The parade leaves Davis Square at noon and arrives in Harvard Square at approximately 1pm.
Happy 20th Birthday to HONK!
Since 2006, HONK! festivals large and small have popped up throughout the world. Every October, the founding band of the HONK! phenomenon, the Good Trouble Brass Band (fka Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band), continues to share its home town with kindred spirit street bands from all over the U.S. — and from other countries as well.
Stroll down Church Street to witness the exceptional, yet fleeting, art at The Rotary Club of Cambridge’s “Chalk on the Walk”. This installation will transform the street into a colorful display of artistry and creativity.
Oktoberfest in Harvard Square was stated in 1978 by the late Frank Cardullo, a Square mover, shaker and owner of the renowned Wurtshaus, which served up traditional German food from 1917 to 1996. The early festivals were in keeping with old world customs. Over the years, the festival has taken on a more discerningly Cambridge vibe to become an Oktoberfest unlike any other
Oktoberfest 2025 Partners include:
AARP, Alden & Harlow, Atomic Coffee Roasters, C4 Energy, Charlie’s Kitchen, The Comedy Studio, El Jefe’s Taqueria, Gazit Globe Horizons, Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance, Herbwell Cannabis, Irving House, Suzanna Krmzian/Lamacchia Realty, Veggie Grill, Verizon, Window Nation
Entertainment Schedule
Main Stage
(located directly in front of the Harvard Square Kiosk)
11am Chica Fuego and The Gringos Chica Fuego and The Gringos are delighted to be returning to the main stage at Oktoberfest with their signature blend of Latino-Americana music, *en Ingles y Espanol!* Come groove with us as we share songs of love, resistance, compassion, and the seasons of Halloween & Dia de Muertos. Vamos todos!
12pm Corduroy What started out as a weekly jam amongst friends has developed into something more. Corduroy will take you back to a simpler time, when lush, smooth sounds filled the airwaves. With a repertoire loosely based in the “Yacht Rock” genre, Corduroy covers a wide range of artists from the 60’s through today with the main focus on the 70’s. Artists from Christopher Cross to Sade and everything in between.
1:00p HONK! Parade
2:00p Boston Music Project
2:08p Clamor & Lace Noise Brigade
2:16p Extraordinary Rendition Band
2:24p Forward! Marching Band
2:32p Bread & Puppet Circus Band
2:40p The Party Band
2:48p May Day Marching Band
2:56p Rude Mechanical Orchestra
3:04p The Brass Balagan
3:12p Good Trouble Brass Band
3:20p Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band
3:28p Brasscals
3:36p Hartford Hot Several
3:44p Kandjanwou Rara
3:52p The J.P. HONK Band
4:00p Leftist Marching Band
4:08p Black Sheep Ensemble
4:16p Expandable Brass Band
4:24p Yes Ma’am Brass Band
4:32p Greenbelt HONK! Situation
4:40p DC Activist Street Band
4:48p Brass Liberation Orchestra
4:56p Undertow Brass Band
5:04p Dirty Water Brass Band
5:12p HONK! Family Band
5:20p Brass Solidarity
5:30p All for One Brass Band
5:40p School of HONK
Eliot Triangle Stage
2:00 The Brass Balagan
2:30 Yes Ma’am Brass Band
3:00 Fly By Brass Band
3:30 Bread & Puppet Circus Band
4:00 Brass Solidarity
4:30 Hartford Hot Several
5:00 Black Sheep Ensemble
5:30 Extraordinary Rendition Band
Charlie’s Kitchen Stage
(10 Eliot Street)
2:00 L Train Brass Band
2:30 School of HONK
3:00 The J.P. HONK Band
3:30 HONK! Family Band
4:00 Brasscals
4:30 May Day Marching Band
5:00 Expandable Brass Band 5:30 Brass Liberation Orchestra
Church Street Stage
(at the intersection of Church Street and Massachusetts Avenue)
2:00 Band Together Pickup Band
2:30 Rude Mechanical Orchestra
3:00 Dirty Water Brass Band
3:30 Clamor & Lace Noise Brigade
4:00 Undertow Brass Band
4:30 Good Trouble Brass Band
5:00 Leftist Marching Band
5:30 Forward! Marching Band
Palmer Street Stage
2:00 Ideal Maine Social Aid and Sanctuary Band
2:30 Kandjanwou Rara
3:00 Greenbelt HONK! Situation, DC Activist Street Band
3:30 All for One Brass Band
4:00 Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band
4:30 Rude Mechanical Orchestra
5:00 Conical Cacophony
5:30 The Party Band
Rachael Solem Memorial Stage
Sponsored by Irving House
Curated by Passim
(at the intersection of Brattle & Church Streets)
12:00 Nora Meier
1:00 Elizabeth Burke
2:00 Borus
3:00 Mercedes Escobar
4:00 Eva James
5:00 Nicolas Emden
Mount Auburn Street Stage
(By Winthrop Park at the corner of Mt. Auburn and JFK Streets)
11am -Pilates. Redef1ned at Oktoberfest!
Harvest a New Way of Moving this season with an outdoor Pilates debut you won’t forget! Led by Eloise Davis — certified Pilates instructor, runner, marathoner, yogi, and bodybuilder — this class blends strength, energy, and mindful movement with great vibes, inspiring beats, and the power of your breath.
Feel strong. Get energized. Move to the beat. Flow with your breath. All levels, all abilities welcome. Bring your mat, bring a friend, and let’s move to the beat and breath. And if you love the flow? Continue your journey at my home studio in the heart of Harvard Square inside the iconic Central Rock Gym. -Pilates. Redef1ned. Where community meets movement. @Flowithelo
12pm School of Rock Watertown
School of Rock Watertown’s House Band is an audition-based program for the advanced students at the school. The program provides professional development with performance opportunities locally, nationally and internationally, including guest spots at Summerfest (Milwaukee, WI) and Rock in Rio Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal). Their shows feature a mix of your favorite songs from classic rock and metal to Motown, soul and pop.
3:00pm – 5:00pm The Ultimate Jam Session with Boston Music Project & HONK!
Join us in Winthrop Square for a high-energy, hands-on music-making jam! Families and young people are invited to grab some sticks, percussion instruments, or even bring your horn and join in alongside special guest musicians from the HONK! Festival and Boston Music Project. No experience needed—just bring your energy and get ready to make some joyful noise together!
4th Annual Filipino American Festival
(in the Church Street Parking Lot)
Harvard Square Filipino American Festival Returns with Music, Food, and Family Fun!
The Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance (HSPAA) is thrilled to present the 4th Annual Filipino American Festival. This FREE celebration of Philippine History Month is bursting with flavor, rhythm, and community joy—and everyone’s invited! Whether you’re Filipino or just Filipino-at-heart, this is your chance to experience the warmth, flavor, and fun of the Philippines—right in Cambridge. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to celebrate!
This year’s festival is going BIG with a full day of music, games, and cultural pride. Headlining the main stage is none other than the Philippines’ King of R&B, Jay R, performing live in a show that’s sure to get the crowd dancing! Thanks to our partners at ABS-CBN and MYX Global, this is a rare U.S. appearance you won’t want to miss. Fans can grab exclusive Jay R merch after the show!
We’re also honored to welcome Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros as a special guest, joining the festivities and celebrating with the community.
Festival Highlights – Fun for All Ages!
• Live Performances & DJs – Non-stop entertainment from local and international talent
• Authentic Filipino Eats – From lumpia to lechon, enjoy mouthwatering dishes from food trucks and vendors
• Filipino Beer Garden – Sip on San Miguel, Red Horse, and tropical cocktails in a lively outdoor lounge
• Artisan Market – Shop handmade crafts, art, and goods from Filipino creators
• Filipino Games & Contests – Join the pancit and balut eating contests, flour relay races, and more! • Dance Trend Challenge – Show off your moves to Budots, Spaghetti, and Ocho Ocho hits
Oktoberfest is for Families & Fun at First Parish in CambridgeFirst Parish in Cambridge welcomes our Harvard Square neighbors to learn about our community services and invites children to participate in a fun, fall project – decorating your own mini-pumpkin! Volunteers will greet Oktoberfest visitors in our courtyard, located at the corner of Church Street and Massachusetts Avenue. From 12pm – 2pm, there will be tables and workspaces for each child to choose colorful markers and make their own pumpkin. Information on the church’s history and its many social justice and community activities, along with religious education programs will be available.
Grendel’s Den Oktoberfest After Party
Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar celebrates Oktoberfest again! Lederhosen, busty dresses, German beer, food and music all day on Sunday, October 12th. After the Harvard Square Oktoberfest at 6pm (ish) we will tap a ceremonial keg of Weihenstephaner Festbier and hold our twenty-third annual toast. Come find out who’s wearing the short, suede pants this year! First come, first served. No reservations.
Oktoberfest Trivia at Noir Partake in Noir’s Oktoberfest Trivia hosted by Phrenology Trivia, starting at 6pm. It’s free to join. Walk-ins are welcome and reservations can be made here.