It’s finally here! The entire La Crosse Region plus 100,000 excited Oktoberfest-loving travelers are making the journey to FEST with the BEST! Ranked & named #3 Best Oktoberfest in the U.S. by Viator, you’ll be happy you’re celebrating with one of the largest Oktoberfest in the Midwest!
Whether this is your 1st or 63rd Oktoberfest the three-day celebration is both thrilling and a tad overwhelming; we’re here to give you some tips on how to have fun and safe Oktoberfest. Note the Downtown Festgrounds are open to all, but you must be 21+ to consume the beer. The Maple Leaf Parade and other events are for festers of ALL ages! And don’t miss the carnival at Copeland Park!
Guide to Oktoberfest 63!
Must See Events
General Admission tickets: $25 three-day pass
Day 1 : Thursday, September 26th, 2024
7 am – 9:00 am SENIOR BREAKFAST | Morrie’s Heritage Hofbräu Haus – Downtown Fest Grounds *No admission wristband required.
11 am – 2:00 pm SPECIAL FESTER CARNIVAL | Copeland Park – Northside La Crosse *No admission wristband required.
4 pm -12:00 am DOWNTOWN FEST GROUNDS OPEN | $25 three-day general admission | $108 ticket VIP *VIP Packages available online only. Craft Beer Night tickets sold separately.
4 pm – 7:00 pm THE BIG GLOW UP | Logger’s Field, Copeland Park – Games, fun and food for families and children! *No admission wristband required, free event.
5 pm – 9:00 pm CARNIVAL | Copeland Park – Northside La Crosse – Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors! *No admission wristband required. Carnival ride tickets available on site.
4 pm – 12:00 am STUDENT NIGHT | Downtown Fest Grounds | Free admission for students 21+ with a valid college student ID.
4 pm – 8:00 pm CRAFT BEER NIGHT | Downtown Fest Grounds – Sample from more than 20 craft brew eries! *Oktoberfest Admission Wristband & Craft Beer Night Ticket Package Required.
5 pm – 7:00pm LEDERHOSEN GAMES | Garden Stage Area – Fest Grounds *Oktoberfest wristband required to enter Fest Grounds | Stein races, stein holdings, barrel roll, grain toss, Schokolade essen and scavenger hunt | Play games, have fun and win prizes
7 pm TORCHLIGHT PARADE | Northside La Crosse – Kane & Gillette Streets to Clinton Street | Find more details on the route map and lineup here!
7:30 pm – 11 pm TORCHLIGHT AFTER GLOW BASH | Copeland Park – Loggers Field – Free admission and families welcome. *No admission wristband required.
8:30 – 10:30 pm DJ TRIVIA | Morrie’s Heritage Hofbräu Haus – Fest Grounds *Oktoberfest admission wristband required. Free admission with a valid college ID.
Day 2 : Friday, September 27th, 2024
9:30 am – 12:00 am DOWNTOWN FEST GROUNDS OPEN | $25 three-day general admission | $108 ticket VIP *VIP Packages available online only. VIP and Military wristbands grant early access at 9 am.
10 am STEIN HOLDING FINALS | The Remainders Garden Stage – Fest Grounds *Oktoberfest admission pass required to enter Fest Grounds.
11 am OPENING CEREMONY | The Remainders Garden Stage – The much-anticipated tapping of the Sam Adams Golden Keg *Oktoberfest admission pass required to enter Fest Grounds.
2 pm – 4:00 pm LEDERHOSEN GAMES | Garden Stage Area | Stein races, stein holdings, barrel roll, grain toss, Schokolade essen and scavenger hunt | Play games, have fun and win prizes *Oktoberfest admission pass required to enter Fest Grounds.
4 – 9:00 pm CARNIVAL | Copeland Park – Northside La Crosse – Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors! *No admission pass required. Carnival ride tickets available on site and online.
Day 3 : Saturday, September 28th, 2024
7 am YMCA MAPLE LEAF WALK RUN | Riverside Park *Pre-registration required | Half marathon, 5-mile run, 5k walk and Kid’s Maple Mile.
10 am MAPLE LEAF PARADE | Northside to Downtown | Find more details on the route map and lineup here!
11 am – 12:00 am DOWNTOWN FESTGROUNDS OPEN | $25 three-day general admission | $108 ticket VIP *VIP Packages available online only.
12 pm – 9:00 pm CARNIVAL | Copeland Park – Northside La Crosse | Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors! *No admission wristband required. Carnival ride tickets available on site.
2 pm – 4:00 pm LEDERHOSEN GAMES | Garden Stage Area *Oktoberfest admission wristband required to enter Fest Grounds | Stein races, stein holdings, barrel roll, grain toss, Schokolade essen and scavenger hunt | Play games, have fun and win prizes.
9 pm 63rd OKTOBERFEST FIREWORKS CELEBRATION | Downtown fest grounds *Oktoberfest admission pass required to enter Fest Grounds.
Day 4 : Sunday, September 29th, 2024
7:30 – 11 am PANCAKE BREAKFAST | Terry Erickson Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, 1331 Clinton St. – Pancakes, sausages, juice, milk and coffee. *Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door and online. Children 6 and under are free.
9:30 am ECUMENICAL SERVICE | Our Redeemer Lutheran Church | 2135 Weston St, La Crosse
11 am – 6 pm FEST GROUNDS OPEN – FREE ADMISSION! | *No admission wristband required. Festing fun for the whole family! Balloon artist, face painting, vendors, and more!
11 am BRATS FOR SENIORS | Delivery of Fest brats and Gemütlichkeit to residents in our City of La Crosse housing facilities
What to Wear
The lederhosen leather shorts are Traditionally worn by the royal family and grenadier corps as well as the dirndl a dress style with a tight bodice, short sleeves, low neck, and gathered skirt. Be careful how you tie your apron, ladies. The apron bow lets everybody know your marital status and availability. Tie it on the right-hand side if you’re taken or left if you’re single.
If you’re not feeling the German traditional threads, TJ’s Cheedarheads Gift Gallery has an array of the perfect testing shirts to pick up before you hit the grounds!
Raise a Stein & Prost
Oktoberfest originates from Munich Germany in the 19th century and was celebrated for the first time in the La Crosse Region in 1961. Now this decade-long festival brings together our community in celebration of new and old traditions for years to come! back sure to brush up on our favorite german drinking song, —with the handy guide you won’t miss an “Ein!” or a “Drei!”
