Two days of workshops, music, fellowship, and Helen, Georgia at full Oktoberfest energy.
September 11th and 12th, 2026.
Join Us for Dulcimer Oktoberfest!
Dulcimer Oktoberfest, September 11th and 12th, 2026, brings the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association back to the charming town of Helen, Georgia, home of the long-running NGFDA Fall Festival.
This celebratory event brings dulcimer workshops, concerts, and jams right into the middle of Helen Oktoberfest, which kicks off the same weekend.
Gemütlichkeit is a German word that, in English, basically means “a state of warmth, coziness, friendliness, and social harmony.”
Isn't that a perfect fit for a dulcimer festival during Oktoberfest? Ein prosit..a toast. Der gemütlichkeit...to making music with friends. PROST!
Here's all you need to know about Dulcimer Oktoberfest. Where to stay (book early), how to register (only 45/100 spots available), and what to expect.
Featured Instructors
Stephen Seifert
Mountain Dulcimer
Susan Trump
Mountain Dulcimer
Mark Alan Wade
Hammered Dulcimer
Bing Futch
Mountain Dulcimer
Schedule
Workshop sessions are grouped into instrument blocks. A two-hour Mountain Dulcimer or Hammered Dulcimer block means the group stays in place while the teacher swaps out every hour. You can take as many workshops as you'd like, or step out to explore Helen and Oktoberfest.
Friday, Sept 11
7:30 am Doors open. Registration and vendor browsing (registration ongoing). Jam TBA (ongoing)
8:00–9:00 Workshop 1 (Mountain Dulcimer)
9:00–10:00 Workshop 2 (Mountain Dulcimer)
10:00–10:30 Vending break (30 minutes)
10:30–11:30 Workshop 3 (Hammered Dulcimer)
11:30–12:30 pm Workshop 4 (Hammered Dulcimer)
12:30–2:00 pm Lunch (90 minutes)
2:00–3:00 Workshop 5 (Mountain Dulcimer)
3:00–4:00 Workshop 6 (Mountain Dulcimer)
4:00–5:00 Workshop 7 (Mountain Dulcimer)
5:00–6:30 Dinner (90 minutes)
7:00–8:00 Concert (2 performers. 30 minutes each)
8:00 pm–? Explore and enjoy Oktoberfest. Jams TBA
Saturday, Sept 12
7:30 am Doors open. Vendor browsing. Jam TBA (ongoing)
8:00–9:00 Workshop 1 (Hammered Dulcimer)
9:00–10:00 Workshop 2 (Hammered Dulcimer)
10:00–10:30 Vending break (30 minutes)
10:30–11:30 Workshop 3 (Mountain Dulcimer)
11:30 am–1:00 pm Lunch (90 minutes). Oktoberfest Parade at 12:00 noon
1:00–2:00 Workshop 4 (Mountain Dulcimer)
2:00–3:00 Workshop 5 (Mountain Dulcimer)
3:00–4:00 Workshop 6 (Mountain Dulcimer)
4:00–5:00 Workshop 7 (Mountain Dulcimer)
5:00–6:30 Dinner (90 minutes)
7:00–8:00 Concert (2 performers. 30 minutes each)
8:00 pm–? Explore and enjoy Oktoberfest. Jams TBA
Workshops
Workshops at Dulcimer Oktoberfest are designed for all skill levels, with broad topics that allow both simple and more advanced approaches. Our instructors are experienced at teaching on a curve, so players at different levels can all find something useful, engaging, and challenging.
Like the old NGFDA core sessions, students stay put while instructors rotate. Workshops will run one at a time in grouped instrument blocks, with breaks for lunch, dinner, and vending, keeping the weekend simple and relaxed while also leaving time to enjoy Helen and Oktoberfest. Watch for full workshop details to be posted at a later date.
Venue and Lodging
Please reserve early. Helen fills very quickly for Oktoberfest opening weekend, and blocked rooms may be released before the final cutoff dates. Guests traveling alone are encouraged to share a room with another attendee when possible.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Helen
Primary host hotel. Group stay dates are September 10 to 13, 2026. Group rate is $329 per night plus 15% tax and a $5 nightly state fee. The room block includes Standard King, Standard Double Queen, and Double Queen Suite rooms. Complimentary breakfast and parking are included.
Guests should reserve under Mountain and Hammer Dulcimer Group by calling the Fairfield front desk or Marriott reservations. Guest cancellation policy is 72 hours before arrival.
Overflow Hotels
We've arranged for additional overflow rooms during this busy time, and guests must reserve directly with the hotel to receive these rates. These properties are separate from the Fairfield block, and availability is limited.
SureStay by Best Western Helen Downtown
$229 per night plus 16% tax and a $5 nightly Georgia flat tax. Complimentary breakfast is included. To reserve, call 706-878-2191 ext. 1 and ask for the Dulcimer Oktoberfest group rate. Cutoff date is August 11, 2026. Individual cancellation policy is 24 hours before arrival.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Helen
$309 per night plus tax. Free breakfast is included. 17 rooms per night are available for September 11–12, 2026, including 3 King rooms and 14 Queen/Queen rooms. Guests must reserve directly with the hotel. Individual reservations have a 24-hour cancellation policy.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Helen
$349 per night plus tax. Free breakfast is included. Final contract details are pending. Guests must reserve directly with the hotel.
Other Lodging Options in and Around Helen
If the blocked rooms fill, additional hotels, cabins, and motels in Helen may still have cancellations or open inventory. Guests can also search nearby areas such as Sautee and Cleveland for drive-in lodging options.
Campgrounds and RV Options
Guests who camp or travel by RV may also want to check local options such as Unicoi State Park, Creekwood Resort RV Park & Cabins, Cherokee Campground, Jenny’s Creek Family Campground, and Yonah Mountain Campground.
Room-sharing is encouraged. If you are traveling solo, consider pairing up with another attendee to help reduce costs and stretch the available room inventory. It cannot be overstated that Helen will begin selling out of rooms long before the cut-off dates, so be sure to book your lodging first, then register for Dulcimer Oktoberfest.
Event Hosted by OASIS
The North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association connects a network of satellite dulcimer clubs across the Southeast, including clubs in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Dulcimer Oktoberfest is being presented and hosted by the Orlando Area Stringed Instrument Society (OASIS). Founder and Director, Bing Futch, also serves as Satellite Liaison Director for the NGFDA. The OASIS mission is threefold: to preserve the heritage of dulcimer music, to present the mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer to the general public, and to promote awareness through concerts, workshops, festivals, and community outreach.
Return to Helen...For The First Time
Dulcimer Oktoberfest is inspired by the spirit of the NGFDA Fall Festival and shaped by the things that made gathering in Helen so meaningful: music, workshops, fellowship, and shared tradition. We see this weekend as a first step toward bringing that in-person experience back. We’d love for you to be part of it, and we look forward to sharing a memorable weekend with you in Helen!
Cancellations received on or before August 12, 2026, will receive a 50% refund. After that date, fees are non-refundable, but if you notify us before the event begins, your paid registration will be applied as a credit toward a future event. No refunds or credits will be issued within 14 days of the event or for no-shows. If the event is canceled by the organizer, a full refund will be issued.