File photo

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Berlin Town Council this week approved the municipality’s 2026 lineup of events, which includes favorites such as the Independence Day fireworks, Oktoberfest, the Christmas Parade, and the New Year’s Eve celebration.

 On Monday, Oct. 27, at the Berlin Mayor and Council meeting, Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, presented the dates for next year’s festivities, either sponsored by the municipality or by the Town of Berlin Main Street and Arts and Entertainment District.

The lineup is as follows:

• Berlin Restaurant Week from Jan. 19 to Jan. 26; Berlin Community Yard Sale on April 4; Berlin Little League Parade on April 11; Berlin Vintage and Vinyl on April 18; Take Pride in Berlin Week from April 19 to April 25.
• Memorial Day at Monument on May 24; Memorial Day Parade on May 25; Berlin Fireworks on July 3; National Night Out on Aug. 4; Oktoberfest on Oct. 17; Touch A Truck-N-Treat on Oct. 24; Christmas Tree Arrival on Nov. 16; Fall Glow Walk in Nov., specific date to be determined;
• Ice Ice Berlin and Tree Lighting on Nov. 27; Merry Marketplace on Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12, and Dec. 19; Christmas Parade on Dec. 3; Berlin Hanukkah Celebration on Dec. 10; New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31; and the Berlin Farmers Market every Sunday from May through October.

Some changes will be made for Oktoberfest in 2026, Wells said. Councilman Jay Knerr said while this year’s event was a great success, with local brews, music, and German-inspired food, he asked whether there was a way to minimize excessive beer lines.

“Is there a way to reduce that, like by having more beer trucks?” he asked.

Wells said that at Oktoberfest next year, her team intends to spread the beer trucks out and add more to redeuce the queues and congestion.

“Many of the people wanted Burley Oak beer, so they were waiting in line for Burley Oak, and that line started to go into the other beer lines,” she said. “We realized that Burley Oak is in high demand so they will be bringing extra beer trucks for next year.”

The economic and community development director added that for this most recent Oktoberfest, the town received permission from Taylor Bank to use the back section of their parking lot, behind J&M Meat Market, as a beer garden.

With grant funding, Wells and her crew purchased and placed 10 high-top bar tables, which she said were used and “loved” by attendees. However, it revealed to them a missed opportunity for more beer trucks, which they intend to take advantage of next year.

“We also realized it was a missed opportunity to have some beer trucks back there also, so that’s what we’re going to do,” she said. “What we discussed is that it’s going to be a ‘Berlin Makers Beer Garden’ for Burley Oak, Berlin Beer Company, and Forgotten 50. So, if you want something that was created here in Berlin, that’s where you would go.”

There was also discussion at Monday’s meeting about potentially pushing back the town’s ball drop on New Year’s Eve from 6 p.m. until around 8:30 or 9 p.m.

It was argued that with a drop time of 6 p.m., families come out to ring in the New Year a little early, but then roll out as soon as it’s over, and by 6:20 p.m., the town is empty.

Officials hope that adjusting the ball drop to around 9 p.m. will encourage Berlin residents and visitors to arrive in town for dinner, spend some money at the restaurants and shops, and then stick around to enjoy the New Year’s Eve tradition.

Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said the ball drop is scheduled each year at 6 p.m., because that’s midnight in Berlin, Germany. Still, staff said that they would not mind pushing the event back to bring in more revenue for the downtown businesses.

“I don’t have any problem changing the time of the ball drop,” Wells said.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said that the municipality should prioritize directing traffic to the town’s establishments, echoing the community development director.

“Our goal is, we want people in the restaurants before we have the festivities, or immediately following,” he said. “If we can adjust, I think we’re all open.”

Berlin’s 2026 events were approved, with the understanding that officials and staff will seek feedback from business owners to determine the best time to hold the New Year’s Eve ball drop.

“I think 9 p.m. at the latest because of the kids,” Wells said. “I don’t want parents to say, ‘You had it at 6 p.m. and now it’s at 9 p.m. and that’s too late.’ Because I know that my grandkids go to bed at 7 p.m.”

Further discussion will be held on the New Year’s Eve schedule, but residents and visitors should expect an amended ball drop start time to encourage downtown patronage.

“It’s not good for the town to clear out at 6:20 p.m.,” said Councilman Steve Green.