Head to Big Bear for These Three Fall Events

Fall in Big Bear hits that sweet spot between summer lake trips and ski season, and it’s shaping up to be a great excuse for an easy mountain weekend.

Between a legendary Oktoberfest, a for-a-cause bar crawl, and an after-dark zoo experience that stretches into the holidays, the next few months line up perfectly with a Big Bear getaway.

Beer, Bands, and Bavarian Tradition

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest has been named one of the best Oktoberfests in the country, and it runs on select weekends for nearly two months.

Expect German bands, food and beer, plus traditions like stein holding and log sawing, all set in the forested town of Big Bear Lake.

It’s an easy anchor for a weekend getaway, whether you’re planning around a specific weekend or just seeing where the mountain air takes you. With that many weekends to choose from, there’s no wrong time to make the trip.

Sip Your Way Through The Village

The Big Bear Bear Crawl turns an afternoon in The Village into a feel-good celebration.

A pass includes a commemorative glass and a complimentary drink at 10 participating bars and restaurants, with a costume contest and raffle rounding out the day.

Proceeds support the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and Grace’s Place Foundation, so every pour goes toward a good cause. It’s the kind of afternoon where a good time and a good deed go hand in hand.

Two Million Lights, One Magical Zoo

Once the holidays roll around, Alpine Zoo Wild Lights transforms the Big Bear Alpine Zoo after dark, with two million sparkling lights filling the grounds, including a 100-foot illuminated pine.

Stroll through a glowing forest of twinkling trees, shimmering snowmen, and radiant archways of color, all while giving you one more reason to plan a mountain weekend before ski season is in full swing.

It’s the kind of display that turns a simple zoo visit into a full-on holiday tradition.

See you there!

Between the beer gardens, the bar crawl, and a zoo lit up for the season, Big Bear is proving there’s plenty of reason to visit between summer and ski season.

📆 Events running September 2026 through January 2027
ℹ️ Get the full event lineup here

See you there, San Diego!