Oktoberfest – La Crosse, Wisconsin
oktoberfest usa annual celebration held la crosse wisconsin united state usually final week september beginning october one largest longest running oktoberfest celebration midwestern united state celebration first held today draw crowd people annually festival celebrates city brewing tradition german heritage festgoers often wear bavarian dirndl lederhosen germanamerican polka common celebration marked several annual event including parade ball pageant concert la crosse hosted winter carnival every year following economic difficulty around many civic leader favor renewing community wide festival similar rather contend regional winter festival unpredictable weather fall festival deemed favorable fall several official la crossebased g heileman brewing company also discussing annual promotion news discussion spread firm eventually reaching malt house two employee german origin suggested autumn festival similar oktoberfest held annually munich idea quickly accepted brewery official contacted la crosse chamber commerce proposed idea chamber member accepted agreed chamber would act sponsoring organization civic leader joseph becker carl mertens bruce hines dj petruccelli robert mehren ross hunt art dugan harold lee gerald heberlein dd dickson robert mccann brainstormed idea festival came five objective promote city pride obtain national publicity promote tourism involve lot people make fest financial success first oktoberfest la crosse held october – location post office mary e sawyer auditorium carnival area also set first federal saving loan parking lot th state st among festivity farm fair event including cow chip throwing greased pig contest antique steam engine demonstrated area early lumber industry activity included soccer match scenic boat bus trip youth tent well square dance german music “queen pageant” addition parade held mile three halfhour parade drew estimated spectator parade would given name “maple leaf parade” suggestion terry witzke teacher emerson elementary school appreciation la cross landscape year parade drew spectator around midwest parade drew second parade named torchlight parade added showcase north side la crosse name oktoberfest registered state wisconsin festival extended four day october – oktoberfest usa registered listed trademark federal government newly formed la crosse festival inc purchased asset oktoberfest chamber commerce officially became sponsoring organization north side fest ground created intersection rose clinton street copeland park coincide torchlight parade north side ground developed family ground featuring carnival ride game well small beer tent original fest ground known south side fest ground moved original location new location nd la crosse street oktoberfest straße permanent structure known “the bier hall” constructed inaugural burgermeister dinner held evolved became burgermeister breakfast breakfast honor mayor city council leader permanent shelter constructed copeland park used protection oktoberfest winter ice rink accompanying warming house first “special fester” area child special need named special fester participated many royal family activity oversaw special fester day weekday free carnival ride activity area child special need miranda robert onalaska first honoree festival expanded original day day named usa today article “one best oldworld folk festival us” first wienerfest held annual event held spring help fund oktoberfest activity festival shortened back original day due festival losing money three previous four year la crosse oktoberfest changed method entry originally festgoers able enter fest ground purchasing official oktoberfest usa button order better keep track number people entering ground developed printed pas bar code scanned prior entry oktoberfest usa cancelled first time year due covid pandemic deferred oktoberfest usa resumed oneyear hiatus oktoberfest celebration highlight city historically large number brewery presentday craft brewery significantly festival center upon german heritage many early immigrant region bavarian music food bratwurst sauerkraut traditional bavarian clothing dirndl lederhosen time additional festivity added celebration including traditional “tapping golden keg” ceremony officially begin oktoberfest golden keg accompanied edelweiss parade fest ground since also annual oktoberfest auto race held la crosse fairground speedway medallion hunt established later lady day luncheon lederhosen luncheon kartenspiele card game dachshund dash viener vogue hammerschlagen become outrageously popular craft beer night festival added maple leaf marathon known ymca maple leaf walkrun half marathon held saturday fest schedule event la crosse oktoberfest include tapping golden keg torchlight parade mapleleaf parade parade marshal announcement festmasters ball special fester ball mr oktoberfest reception miss la crosseoktoberfest usa scholarship pageant oktoberfest usa medallion hunt position festmaster created person chosen based contribution community well good family man reputation honesty integrity successful chosen profession along characteristic first festmaster rice president exchange state bank today festmaster head oktoberfest royal family ceremonially oversees event festivity queen pageant held since fests inception winner first pageant marlene schultz yearold winona mn miss la crosse pageant merged miss oktoberfest pageant become miss la crosse oktoberfest title mr oktoberfest created first winner joyce lindseth festmasters grenadier corp created appear oktoberfest event along royal family beer important part original oktoberfest celebration germany la crosse oktoberfest always beer tent part festivity g heileman brewing company official supplier beer fests early year beer tent worked early year fest beer tent marked “rowdiness excessive drinking” caused chaos aftermath swarm teenager mobbed bar downtown la crosse tent closed response festival organizer closed beer tent changed focus dairy product decision left festival financial deficit festival organization oktoberfest usa decided promote festival family event bringing back beer tent raised drinking age inside tent year old cut excessive drinking south side beer tent share issue especially problem beer throwing among younger beer tent crowd response festival increased security added local police quell habit