Prost! The OktoberCrawl™ Brings a Progressive Oktoberfest Adventure to Des Moines Marina District, September 18
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
What happens when you combine Oktoberfest spirit, local restaurants, craft drinks, classic arcade games and a little mystery?
You get Prost! The OktoberCrawl™, the newest chapter in the Des Moines Crawl Series™, coming to the Marina District on Friday, September 18.
Produced by Seattle Means Business in partnership with Friends of Des Moines Marina Steps, the OktoberCrawl is a progressive food-and-drink experience designed to get people out, exploring local businesses and enjoying Des Moines one stop at a time.
The concept is simple: four official stops, one secret stop, great food and drinks, good company and a little adventure along the way.
🍻 Five Stops. One Big Night.
The evening begins at Quarterdeck, where crawlers will kick things off waterfront-style with drinks, German-inspired bites and the first taste of the evening.
From there, the group heads to Waterland Arcade, trading steins for joysticks with classic arcade games, craft beers, ciders and a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Next comes Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant, where the Oktoberfest theme takes an unexpected turn. Guests can expect Mexican-German-inspired bites and drinks at one of Des Moines’ local favorites.
The fourth official stop is Portovino Italian Restaurant, offering a late-night Italian appetizer with a German-inspired twist—along with a little something sweet to finish the evening.
And then there’s…
🤫 The Secret Stop
Even after four official stops, the night isn’t over.
A fifth location will remain secret until crawlers are ready to discover it.
Because what’s an OktoberCrawl without a little mystery?
🇩🇪 An Oktoberfest Experience With a Des Moines Twist
While the event takes its inspiration from Oktoberfest, Prost! The OktoberCrawl™ is distinctly local.
Rather than centering the experience around a single venue, the crawl invites participants to move through the Marina District, discovering restaurants and entertainment along the way.
It’s part food tour, part neighborhood adventure and part social experience—with each stop offering something different.
And costumes are encouraged. Lederhosen? Dirndl? Oktoberfest hat? Go for it.
The goal isn’t simply to eat and drink. It’s to experience the businesses, people and personality that make Des Moines special.
🍺 More Than a Crawl
The Des Moines Crawl Series™ was created around a simple idea: local businesses are more fun when people experience them together.
By bringing people into multiple establishments during one evening, the crawl creates opportunities for guests to discover places they may not have visited before while helping keep dollars circulating within the local community.
“The crawl is really about discovery,” says Bettina Carey, producer of the Des Moines Crawl Series™. “We want people to experience local businesses in a fun, unexpected way—to meet their neighbors, try something new and see Des Moines from a different perspective.”
That spirit is especially fitting for the Marina District, where waterfront restaurants, entertainment and neighborhood businesses come together within an easy walking experience.
🎟️ Get Your Crawl On
PROST! THE OKTOBERCRAWL™
📅 Friday, September 18, 2026
📍 Des Moines Marina District
⏰ Starts at 5 p.m. at Quarterdeck
Tickets:
$58 — First 75 guests
$68 — Through September 17
$78 — At the door
Ticket pricing includes tip and applicable taxes.
Tickets are non-refundable but transferable.
RSVP directly with Bettina Carey: 206-349-4297
With limited capacity and a secret stop waiting at the end, this is one Oktoberfest adventure you won’t want to miss.
So grab your crew, dress for the occasion, lace up your crawling shoes and get ready to explore the Marina District one delicious stop at a time.
Four official stops. One secret stop. Lots of reasons to PROST! 🍻🇩🇪🥨
Friends of the Des Moines Marina Steps is a private entity and is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the City of Des Moines government, or any of its agencies, departments, or services. The group is a community of friends dedicated to doing good for the town.
Learn more: Des Moines Crawl Series™
