Oct 17-27: Oktoberfest

Not only does October herald the coming of autumn, it also brings Oktoberfest back to Beijing. Held at Kempinski’s Paulaner Bräuhaus, you are invited to take part in a lively mix of activities, such as singalongs and dance-alongs, as well as performances by the Alpine Bavarian Band. Of course, there will be classic German fare and free-flow Paulaner beer to pair with the Oktoberfest set dinner and free-flow soft drinks with the Oktoberfest Sunday buffet brunch. 

Thu Oct 17-Sun Oct 27, 11.30am (brunch), 6pm (dinner); RMB290 (brunch), RMB498 (dinner); Paulaner Bräuhaus, see event listing. 

Oct 18: 1950s Dance Party @ Queenie’s

Swing by Queenie’s this Friday in your best ’50s attire, and you might just win a special prize. Balboa is hosting a 1950s dance party, and everyone’s invited to boogie! Got two left feet? Don't worry, the free trial class will sort you out right away. 

Fri Oct 18, 7.30pm; Queenie’s, see event listing.

Oct 18: East Palace West Palace x Spectrum Formosus @ Zhao Dai

It’s about to get spooky! Zhao Dai is hosting East Palace West Palace again for a fabulous night of DJs and drag queens. This time, they’re teaming up with Taiwan’s LGBT festival Spectrum Formosus. The theme of the night is ‘Hoerror,’ so get ready for some killer queens serving thrilling looks, as well as a photo exhibition by Su Yang.

Fri Oct 18, 10pm-late; Zhao Dai, see event listing.

Oct 18 & 19: Jing-A’s 8x8 Brewing Project

Get ready for a boozy two days of craft beer. Famed Beijing brewpub Jing-A teams together eight breweries from Greater China and eight breweries from around the world to create eight special brews. Last year, the 8x8 Brewing Project featured collaborations with Northern European breweries, while this year’s iteration brings in brewers from Northeastern US and Canada. Each brewery will pour two of their own beers, plus the collaboration brews, giving you a total for 40 different free-flow beers to enjoy at each session. Get a three-hour session ticket for a taste, or an all-session pass to explore the world of brewing. 

Stay strong with tasty grub like burgers and fried chicken from Jing-A, dim sum and sandwiches from Furongji and The Bake Shop, loaded jianbing from Avocado Drum, spicy crayfish dumplings from HuDa, sushi from Hatsune and special beery recipes from Lingxia Gelato. There will also be tattoo artists and speedy massage stations on site, as well as vinyl-spinning DJs bringing the tunes for each session.

Fri Oct 18 & Sat Oct 19, various times; RMB150-688; Langyuan Vintage, see event listing. Buy tickets here. For more information, follow Jing-A on WeChat: jingabrewing.

Oct 19: Karl Long Challenge @ Great Leap

Great Leap Brewing is turning nine! Get ready to relive those wild university days and partake in the ultimate beer challenge on Saturday: knock back 15 pints of Great Leap brews across their four locations within one day and crown yourself king or queen of the 7th Karl Long Challenge (the original champ and GLB legend that drank a total of 16 beers). Think you’ve got what it takes? Register to participate for RMB300, or just stop by to watch the boozy competition take place. 

Sat Oct 19, all day; RMB300 (registration); all Great Leap locations, see event listing.

Oct 19: Inko Presents Deca Dance

Inko is bringing bellydancing troupe Deca Dance for a night of magic (and absinthe) at Aotu Space, which is currently hosting the dual solo exhibition of Crow and Shan He. The stunning performance will hypnotize with tribal bellydance inspired by the Greek goddess of the night, crows and the green fairy.

Sat Oct 19, 9pm; RMB150 (presale), RMB180 (door); Aotu Space, see event listing.

Oct 19: San Remo @ Dada Beijing

Sail away to the coastal city of Sanremo with Italian house, disco and techno at Dada Beijing this weekend. Catch European DJs Anto, Ludo V and Yauma take over the tables.

Sat Oct 19, 10pm-late; Dada Beijing, see event listing.

Looking ahead...

Oct 21 & 22: Dassai Sake Pairing Dinner @ Beyond Yakitori

Beyond Yakitori is collaborating with one of the trendiest Japanese sake brands Dassai to host two exciting sake pairing dinners (RMB698 for 15 courses). Starting at 7pm on October 21 and 22, enjoy dishes like chicken oyster and chicken heart yakitori paired with popular and limited edition Dassai sakes. A professional sake sommelier will be on hand to guide you through the entire experience. Dinner for each evening is limited to only 12 seats, so reservations are a must!

Mon Oct 21 & Tue Oct 22, 7pm; RMB698; Beyond Yakitori, see event listing.

Have an event to list? Head here to list your upcoming event. We’ll choose the best new additions to feature on next week’s edition of ‘Beijing Weekly Party Planner.’ Not sure where to start? Here's a full guide on how to list your upcoming events on our website.