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 the TastingTable, you’ll be happy you’re celebrating with one of the largest Oktoberfest in the Midwest!
Whether this is your 1st or 62nd 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 62!
Must See Events
General Admission tickets: $20 three-day pass
Day 1 : Thursday, September 28th
7 – 9:00 am SENIOR BREAKFAST | Morrie’s Heritage Hofbräu Haus – Downtown Fest Grounds *No admission pass required
11 am – 2:30 pm SPECIAL FESTER CARNIVAL | Copeland Park – Northside La Crosse *No admission pass required
4 pm – 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.
4 pm -11:00 pm DOWNTOWN FEST GROUNDS OPEN | $20 three-day general admission | $100 ticket VIP *VIP Pass not available for purchase after September 26.Craft Beer Night tickets sold separately
4 pm – 11:00 pm 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 – Oktoberfest Admission Pass & Craft Beer Night Ticket Required | Sample from more than 20 craft breweries, Special 15th annual Craft Beer Night commemorative button included! *Must purchase a VIP or GA ticket first
5 pm – 7:00pm LEDERHOSEN GAMES | Garden Stage Area – Fest Grounds *Oktoberfest pass 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!
7:15 pm PACKER PARTY WITH DJ TRIVIA | Morrie’s Heritage Hofbräu Haus – Fest Grounds *Oktoberfest admission pass required to enter Fest Grounds | Cheer on the Green Bay Packers as they compete against the Detroit Lions. Trivia, giveaways, and more!
7:30 pm – 11 pm TORCHLIGHT AFTER GLOW BASH | Copeland Park – Loggers Field – Free admission and families welcome
Day 2 : Friday, September 29th
9:30 am–Midnight DOWNTOWN FEST GROUNDS OPEN | $20 three-day Oktoberfest general admission ticket required
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 – 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. Pay One Price Wristbands Friday 4-9 pm: $35 per session per person
Day 3 : Saturday, September 30th
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- Midnight DOWNTOWN FESTGROUNDS OPEN *Oktoberfest admission pass required
12 pm – 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.
2 – 4:00 pm LEDERHOSEN GAMES | Garden Stage Area *Oktoberfest admission pass 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 62nd OKTOBERFEST FIREWORKS CELEBRATION | Downtown fest grounds *Oktoberfest admission pass required to enter Fest Grounds
Day 4 : Sunday, October 1st
ECUMENICAL SERVICE | Onalaska United Methodist Church
BRATS FOR SENIORS | Delivery of Fest brats and Gemütlichkeit to residents in our City of La Crosse housing facilities
12 pm – 4:00 pm SUNDAY CARNIVAL | Copeland Park – Northside La Crosse *No admission pass required. Carnival ride tickets available on site. | Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors!
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!”
