1961: In May, the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce charges its Recreation Committee to begin an Oktoberfest, with an outline prepared by the G. Heileman Brewing Co. After more than four months of planning, the first event takes place in the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium parking lot downtown. Main activities include a queen pageant, parade, farm fair and German music. Festgoers devour 21/2 tons of bratwurst, and more than 50,000 people watch the Maple Leaf Parade. Oktoberfest USA is incorporated Dec. 15.

1962 Northside Banker Don Rice is named the first festmaster. Rice was among the original golf foursome who promoted a need for a La Crosse festival. The other three - Ray Ping, Roy Kumm and John Coleman - would be named to lead the fest in successive years. The Maple Leaf Parade route is changed to go past the WKBT-TV studios, making it the first parade in La Crosse to be seen on live TV.

1964 Nancy Zinn is crowned the first Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. The first three years of the fest had both a Miss La Crosse and a Miss Oktoberfest until the two titles were combined.

1968 After near-riots the year before, Oktoberfest leaders changed the image of the festival. Gov. Warren Knowles opens the fest serving milk and cheese instead of beer from a golden keg. Beer is not sold on festival grounds. The Royal Family is expanded to include a Mrs. Oktoberfest.

1971 Oktoberfest moves to the current fest grounds north of the former Allis Chalmers plant in downtown La Crosse. The Bier Hall is the first permanent structure built at #1 Oktoberfest Strasse. In an effort to better involve the city's North Side, Oktoberfest holds its first night parade, the Torchlight Parade. The Grenadier Corps is formed to assist the Royal Family in promoting La Crosse throughout the Midwest.

1984 In conjunction with the city, Oktoberfest builds the permanent shelter, used in winter as an ice rink, and adjacent warming house in Copeland Park. The festival intends to pay off the low-interest loan acquired by the city for the structure in 10 years. The mortgage is burned in 1992.

1989 Miranda Roberts of Onalaska is named the first Special Fester, an area child with special needs who is welcomed to participate in many Royal Family activities and oversees Special Fester Day, a weekday of free carnival rides and activities for area children with special needs.

1992 The city council passes an ordinance making it illegal to reserve Maple Leaf Parade spots before the day of the parade.

2000 USA Today proclaims La Crosse's Oktoberfest USA "...has earned a reputation as one of the best Old World folk festivals in the U.S." The fest moves to a two-weekend format. The Oktoberfest USA Gemutlichkeit Foundation Inc. is formed to promote the fest, fund grants and scholarships, and preserve the area's heritages. During the fest, members of Festival du Voyageur climb out of birchbark canoes wearing traditional red stocking caps, costumes and fur-lined boots at Pettibone Park in a historical program for students.

2007 In May, the Oktoberfest Board of Directors, with help from others, hold the first WienerFest on the Southside grounds. The annual spring festival helps fund year-round Oktoberfest activities.

2009 Planning begins for 50th festival in 2010.