2025 Event Schedule

DAY 1 – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025

7–9 am
Senior Breakfast | Heritage Hofbräu Haus – Fest Grounds

No admission wristband required

Eggs, pancakes, sausages, juice, milk and coffee.

Featuring LIVE music, a visit from the 2025 Oktoberfest Royal Family – hosted by WIZM News.

Sponsored by WIZM NEWS
11 am–2 pm
Special Fester Carnival | Copeland Park - Northside La Crosse

Free admission with a Special Fester Carnival wristband (required). Please contact [email protected] for more information. 

Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors!

Sponsored by Rivertown Dental and hosted by Mr. Eds Magical Midways
4 pm–12 am
Fest Grounds Open | 1 Oktoberfest Strasse

Oktoberfest admission wristband required

Thursday Presenting Sponsor: Gerrard-Hoeschler, Realtors
5–9 pm
Carnival | Copeland Park - Northside La Crosse

No Oktoberfest admission wristband required.

Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors!

Carnival one day all you can ride wristbands available online.

 

Sponsored by Advanced Plumbing Systems
4 pm–12 am
Student Night | Fest Grounds

Free admission for students with a valid college student ID on Thursday 9/25. Join us for Lederhosen Games, vendors, and dance hits played by Pop Rocks!

4–8 pm
Craft Beer Night | Fest Grounds

Oktoberfest Craft Beer Night Ticket Package Required

Sample from more than 20 craft breweries – check out participating breweries and more info here!

Sponsored by Samuel Adams, State Bank Financial, Festival Foods, Knutson Construction
5-7 pm
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

Sponsored by River Valley Media
7 pm
Torchlight Parade | Northside La Crosse

Kane & Gillette Streets to Clinton Street | Find more details on the route map and lineup here!

Presenting Sponsor Co-Op Credit Union
7:30–10:30 pm
Torchlight After Glow Bash | Copeland Park – Loggers Field

No admission wristband required

Free admission and families welcome; food and beverage available for purchase | Music and Gemütlichkeit featuring The Swing Crew following the Torchlight Parade

Money raised through sponsorships will support student programs at Logan and Central High Schools | Hosted by the Oktoberfest Parade Marshals

MUSIC

La Crosse Bierhaus Stage in the Heritage Hofbräu Haus
Altra Federal Credit Union Festplatz
9 pm - midnight

DAY 2 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

9 am–midnight
Fest Grounds Open | 1 Oktoberfest Strasse

Oktoberfest admission wristband required

 

Friday Presenting Sponsor: La Crosse Regional Airport
10 am
Stein Holding Finals | The Remainders Garden Stage - Fest Grounds

Oktoberfest admission wristband required to enter Fest Grounds

Sponsored by Samuel Adams
11 am
Tapping of the Golden Keg - Opening Ceremony | The Remainders Garden Stage

Oktoberfest admission wristband required to enter Fest Grounds

Join us for much-anticipated tapping of the Samuel Adams Golden Keg!

Sponsor of the official Oktoberfest Golden Keg: Samuel Adams
2–4 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

Sponsored by River Valley Media
5–9 pm
Carnival | Copeland Park - Northside La Crosse

No Oktoberfest admission wristband required.

Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors!

Carnival one day all you can ride wristbands available online.

Sponsored by Advanced Plumbing Systems

MUSIC

Altra Federal Credit Union Festplatz
11:30 am–2:30 pm
3–5:30 pm
9:30 pm–midnight
The Remainders Garden Stage
11:30 am–2 pm
8:30–11 pm
La Crosse Bierhaus Stage inside the Heritage Hofbräu Haus
11:30 am–2 pm
2:30–4:30 pm
5–8 pm
Solkela Polkela Band
8:30–11 pm

DAY 3 – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

7 am
YMCA Maple Leaf Walk Run | Riverside Park

Pre-registration required. Half marathon, 5-mile run, 5k walk and Kid’s Maple Mile.

FREE Oktoberfest Thursday Only wristband included with registration. Find more information here!

Hosted by La Crosse Area Family YMCA.

10 am
Maple Leaf Parade | Northside to Downtown

Find more details on the route map and lineup here!

Sponsored by Morrie's Auto Group
11 am–midnight
Fest Grounds Open | 1 Oktoberfest Strasse

Oktoberfest admission wristband required

Saturday Presenting Sponsor: Union Home Mortgage
12–9 pm
Carnival | Copeland Park - Northside La Crosse

No Oktoberfest admission wristband required.

Fest fun with carnival rides and food vendors!

Sponsored by Advanced Plumbing Systems
2–4 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

Sponsored by River Valley Media
9 pm
64th Oktoberfest Fireworks Celebration | Fest Grounds

Oktoberfest admission wristband required to enter Fest Grounds

Sponsored by Cleary Management & Oktoberfest USA

MUSIC

Altra Federal Credit Union Festplatz
11:30 am –1:30 pm
5:30–8:30 pm
9 pm–midnight
The Remainders Garden Stage
4:15–7:30 pm
La Crosse Bierhaus Stage inside the Heritage Hofbräu Haus
4:30–7:30 pm
8–11 pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2025

7:30–11 am
Pancake Breakfast | Terry Erickson Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, 1331 Clinton St.

Hosted by the Oktoberfest Parade Marshals | Pancakes, sausages, juice, milk and coffee

Cost: $7 per person (Children 6 and under free)

Tickets available in advance from former parade marshals or at the door.

Sponsored by Festival Foods & Kwik Trip
9:45 am
Ecumenical Service | Holy Trinity Parish (1333 13th St, La Crosse, WI, 54601)

Traditional Catholic Mass – All are welcome!

11 am-6 pm
Fest Grounds Open - Free Admission! | 1 Oktoberfest Strasse

No admission wristband required

Festing fun for the whole family! Starting with an opening ceremony with root beer provided by Rudy’s at 11:20, face painting, a chalk contest, vendors, music, and more!

Sunday Presenting Sponsor: Ehler Insurance
11 am
Brats for Seniors

Delivery of Fest brats and Gemütlichkeit to residents in our City of La Crosse housing facilities

Sponsored by Mid-West Family
12 pm
2025 Parade Award Ceremony | Heritage Hofbräu Haus

Help us recognize the 2025 Torchlight & Maple Leaf Parade award winners. NEW IN 2025 – We’re bringing gemütlichkeit to the streets with the brand-new People’s Choice Award at this year’s Oktoberfest Parades! For the first time ever, parade-goers get to vote for their favorite float and one lucky entry will take home the ultimate fan-voted prize!

Parade Award Sponsors: Select Custom Solutions & Edward Jones

MUSIC

The Remainders Garden Stage
11 am-2 pm
To Be Announced
La Crosse Bierhaus Stage inside the Heritage Hofbräu Haus
11:30 am-12 pm

SPECIAL FEST EVENTS

Sat. Sept 6 | 2-4 pm
AUTOBERFEST | Morrie's Onalaska Volkswagen / Audi - 331 Theater Rd

Help us kick off Fest season at Morrie’s Onalaska Volkswagen/Audi! Avoid the lines during Fest by purchasing tickets in advance. Plus food, music, and more!

Sponsored by Morrie's Auto Group
Begins on Sep 15
OKTOBERFEST USA MEDALLION HUNT

Check our Medallion Hunt page or social media for daily clues. $500 cash prize!

Sponsored by Emerj360
Mon. Sept 29 - Sat. Oct 4
VISITATION WEEK | La Crosse & Surrounding Areas

The 2025 Royal Family and other members of Oktoberfest will be busy spreading gemütlichkeit to local schools, living facilities, and businesses. Be sure to say hi and join in on an Ein Prosit if you see us!

Sponsored by Kwik Trip
Mon. Sept 29 | 11 am–1:30 pm
LADIES DAY LUNCHEON | Cargill Room, The Waterfront

Social 11 am-12 pm | Luncheon with program noon-1:30 pm

Program by Lisa David Olson – “Untangle my Pretzel (and how do you wash lederhosen?)”

Tickets available for $40 starting July 28, in advance only until September 22

Sponsored by Wichelt Imports, American Family Insurance/Ryan Sherry, Dairyland Power Co-Op, Hale Skemp Hanson Skemp & Sleik, Kramer's, Ship Shape, The Salon Professional Academy, Travel Leaders, Coulee Region Women Magazine

2025 ROYAL INTRODUCTIONS

Sat. Sept 6 | 4-8 pm
SPECIAL FESTER REVEAL | Oktoberfest Grounds

Join us at the Oktoberfest Grounds for the reveal of the 2025 Special Fester! All are welcome!

Sponsored by Brilliant Bodywork
Sat. Sept 13 | 6 pm
MISS LA CROSSE/OKTOBERFEST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | UWL Student Union - The Bluffs

Tickets on sale July 28!

Wed. Sept 17 | 4:45 pm
PARADE MARSHAL REVEAL | Logger’s Field

Doors open 4:45 pm | Program begins 5:15 pm

Tickets are $18 July 28 through Sept. 10. Prices increase to $20 beginning Sept. 11 and at the door. Includes meal.

 

Sat. Sept 20 | 5pm
MRS. OKTOBERFEST RECEPTION | UWL Student Union - The Bluffs

Tickets on sale July 28!

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Health System
Wed. Sept 24 | 4:30 pm
FESTMASTER’S BALL | The La Crosse Center South Hall

Featuring Brian Brueggen & The Mississippi Valley Dutchmen | Tickets on sale July 28!

Event schedule is subject to change