We are very excited to announce our partnership with New Ulm Oktoberfest to bring Steinholding to Minnesota! And we're going big with a Steinholding tournament that spans the state and culminates with the State Championship Finals on October 3rd, 2026 at 5:00pm during the downtown Oktoberfest in New Ulm, MN! The beer will be flowing, and the winner of the men's and women's competition finals will be crowned the State Steinholding Champions!
The State Champs will receive a fresh new pair of lederhosen or a dirndl from our sponsor partners at BavariaTrachten.com where you can use our extremely creative discount code STEINHOLDING to get an extra 10% off any purchase of lederhosen, dirndls, and other great festival apparel all season long! More importantly, the winners at States will be invited to the USSA National Steinholding Championship to compete for the $4,000 cash prize! They'll receive up to $500 personal travel reimbursement and two nights hotel stay in Cincinnati if they represent Minnesota at Nationals! But let's not get ahead of ourselves- they need to qualify for the State Finals first!
There are a limited number of spots available for the State Finals and you'll need to compete at one of our Qualifying Venue partner locations (listed below) to qualify for the finals and get your shot at the Steinholding glory.
Great question! We're partnering with breweries, bars, and festivals across the state who will host preliminary qualifying rounds at their locations. The winner of their men's competition and women's competition will be invited to represent each of these venues at the State Championship Finals. The different venues are listed below along with the dates and times for each competition and pinned on the map. If your favorite venue isn't hosting a competition, tell them to get registered so you can join the fun!
U.S. Steinholding Association Official Steinholding Rules will be used. There will be a team of official USSA-trained judges at the finals, so study up on the rules and spend some time training to make sure your form is clean, or you won't last long in the Championship Round!
Check out the initial competition map and venue list below. Don't see your favorite venue listed? Reach out to them and tell them that you DEMAND STEINHOLDING and they need to sign up! We'll be announcing more locations throughout the summer and fall so check back and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Remember- these venues will have limited spaces available for their qualifying rounds, so show up early and register in advance with the venue if you can!
| Venue | Address | Competition Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | New Ulm Polka Palooza Downtown | 206 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, MN 56073 | July 24th, 2026 at 7:00pm! |
 | Forbidden Barrel Brewing Co. | 900 3rd Avenue, Worthington, MN 56187 | August 8th, 2026 at 3:00pm! |
 | Brown County Free Fair | 1201 North State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 | August 15th, 2026 at 3:00pm! |
 | Duluth Oktoberfestival | 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802 | September 18th, 2026 at 8:15-8:35 (women's match); 8:40-9:00pm (men's match) September 19th, 2026 at 7:15-7:30 (women's match); 7:45-8:00pm (men's match) |
 | Mineral Springs Brewery | 210 N Oak Ave, Suite 1, Owatonna, MN 55060 | September 18-19th, 2026, time TBD! |
 | Thunder Brothers Brewery | 801 Hwy 65 NE, Isanti, MN 55040 | September 19th, 2026 at 4:00pm! |
 | Waldmann Brewery Oktoberfest | 445 Smith Ave N., St. Paul, MN 55102 | September 18-20th and 25-27th, 2026, times TBD! |
 | Mana Brewing - Oakdale | 7600 2nd St N., Oakdale, MN 55128 | September 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm! |
 | Voyageur Brewing Company | 233 West Highway 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604 | September 19th, 2026, time TBD! |
 | Luce Line Brewing Co. | 12901 16th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55441 | September 26th, 2026 from 12:30pm-2:00pm! |
 | Ursa Minor Brewing | 2415 West Superior Street, Suite B, Duluth, MN 55806 | September 26th, 2026 at 6:00pm and 7:00pm! |
 | Saint Peter Oktoberfest with Tremendous Brewing | Nicolet County Fairgrounds, 400 W. Union St, Saint Peter, MN 56082 | September 26th, 2026 at 5:30pm! |
 | Boathouse Brothers Brewing | 16211 Main Ave SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372 | Date/time TBD! |
 | New Ulm Oktoberfest | 1 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, MN 56073 | State Championship Qualifier: October 2nd, 2026 at 7:00pm!
State Championship Finals: October 3, 2026 at 5:00pm! |
Want to compete or host a competition in a State Championship tournament? Check out the buttons below for more information!
