Sept 28 -Oct 1 , 2017
L a C r o s s e ’ s 5 7 t h
Oktoberfest
Celebration
Five things to know before you go :
1 ) The Golden Keg The Tapping of the Golden Keg is held on Friday morning and is a festival highlight for many . Craft Beer Night is held the evening before the Tapping , so if you can handle both of these events , along with the Maple Leaf Parade on Saturday , you are a true Oktoberfest professional and ( perhaps ) deserve your own button .
2 ) Maple Leaf Parade 100,000 people come to watch this 3 mile parade throughout La Crosse . Marching bands and floats ensure there is plenty of music , clapping , and laughing . Coolers come filled with a multitude of beverages , and the jovial mood is shared by all . Where else can you Polka with strangers ?
3 ) Torchlight Parade This is a must for families , and now marks the first night of the fest . If you have never attended an evening parade , you
must experience it . Watch marching bands and floats go by all decked out in glow sticks . Everything is lit up , including houses along the route .
4 ) Celebrity Spotting The word is out nationally on how great this festival is , so you are bound to see celebrities . Do you ever watch the History Channel series , American Pickers , featuring Frank Fritz ? He loves Oktoberfest , too .
5 ) Men in Lederhosen You cannot deny there are a lot of people dressed in German clothing who walk around kissing strangers and handing out buttons . The website warns : “ Other patrons may dress in authentic garb as well so if you approach someone in German-style wear , please ask first if they are part of the Oktoberfest organization .” In other words , just don ’ t assume you can kiss anyone in German gear . Enjoy !
Find out more at www . explorelacrosse . com
18 | Summer 2017 | Travel Midwest
Sept 28 1,
-Oct
201 7
La Crosse’s 57 th
Oktoberfest
Celebration
Five things to know before you go:
1) The Golden Keg
The Tapping of the Golden Keg is held on Friday morning
and is a festival highlight for many. Craft Beer Night is held
the evening before the Tapping, so if you can handle both
of these events, along with the Maple Leaf Parade on Satur-
day, you are a true Oktoberfest professional and (perhaps)
deserve your own button.
2) Maple Leaf Parade
100,000 people come to watch this 3 mile parade through-
out La Crosse. Marching bands and floats ensure there is
plenty of music, clapping, and laughing. Coolers come filled
with a multitude of beverages, and the jovial mood is shared
by all. Where else can you Polka with strangers?
3) Torchlight Parade
This is a must for families, and now marks the first night of
the fest. If you have never attended an evening parade, you
18 | Summer 2017 | Travel Midwest
must experience it. Watch marching bands and floats go by
all decked out in glow sticks. Everything is lit up, including
houses along the route.
4) Celebrity Spotting
The word is out nationally on how great this festival is, so
you are bound to see celebrities. Do you ever watch the His-
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