From Tribune files: La Crosse Oktoberfest through the years
Take a trip back in time to see photos of the region's biggest festival.
2025: Hoisting an empty Golden Keg
Jennifer Krisnowich and Candice Tlustosch hoist the Golden Keg after all the Oktoberfest beer within was dispensed in 2025.
2025: Maple Leaf Parade
Oktoberfest officials sing and dance down Second Street in La Crosse in 2025.
2024: Oktoberfest games
Festivalgoers compete in the stein holding competition on the Oktoberfest grounds in 2024.
2024: Tapping of the golden keg
An early Friday morning crowd at Oktoberfest 2024 cheers in anticipation of the tapping of the golden keg in La Crosse.
2023: Oktoberfest torchlight parade
Past festmasters and fraus float down the Oktoberfest torchlight parade in La Crosse in 2023.
2023: Craft beer night at Oktoberfest
From left, Susan Grinde, Nicole Belting and Julie Cline cheers their beer samplers at the Oktoberfest craft beer event in 2023. The Craft Beer Night featured over 20 brewers.
2022: Tapping the golden keg
Oktoberfest Festmaster Doug Kratt raises his beer stein after tapping the golden keg at the 2022 La Crosse event.
2022: Maple Leaf Parade
Oktoberfest royalty from previous years wave to the crow on Second Street during the 2022 maple leaf parade.
2021: Maple Leaf Parade
La Crosse & District Pipes a& Drums
2021: Torchlight Parade
Oktoberfest
2019: Maple Leaf Parade
UW-La Crosse Screaming Eagles
2019: Maple Leaf Parade
The Grenadiers make merry on Copeland Avenue during the 2019 Maple Leaf Parade. The 60th annual La Crosse Oktoberfest celebration has been cancelled due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, officials announced Monday night.
2018: Torchlight Parade
Members of the 2017 Oktoberfest Royal Family whoop it up on their float during the Torchlight Parade.
2018: Maple Leaf Parade
The Westby Norseman Marching band marches in the 2018 Maple Leaf Parade.
2017: Torchlight Parade
La Crescent eighth-grade marching band members are decked out in glow sticks as they march along the route of the La Crosse Oktoberfest Torchlight Parade in 2017.
2017: Tapping of the Golden keg
Miss Oktoberfest 2003 Katie Bjerke sings the National Anthem during the Oktoberfest opening ceremonies in 2017 at the South Side festgrounds.
2016: Tapping of the Golden Keg
Oktoberfest patrons gather for a sample of beer from the Golden Keg during the ceremonial tapping at the South Festgrounds.
2016: Opening Day Parade
2013 Mr. Oktoberfest, Roger Christians, left, and 2015 Torchlight Parade Marshal, Mark Terpstra , walk in the Edelweiss Parade.
2016: Torchlight Parade
The Oktoberfest float, lined by grenadiers, makes its way down the Torchlight Parade route on the North Side of La Crosse on Thursday night.
2015: Heritage Night
2009 Festmaster Todd Ondell chats with kids during Heritage Night in the La Crosse Center.
2015: Maple Leaf Parade
Central High School students lead the school's cheerleaders and marching band down Second Street Saturday during the Maple Leaf Parade.
2015: Mrs. Oktoberfests
Past Mrs. Oktoberfests make merry on their float Friday Friday during the Oktoberfest Edelweiss Parade.
2015: Heritage Night
Haley Barton, 13, dips Jack Christenson, 6, as they danced during Heritage Night at Oktoberfest in the La Crosse Center.
2015: Maple Leaf Parade
A man carries his chair through the fog on second st. early Saturday morning to get his spot for the Maple Leaf Parade.
2015: Opening Day Parade
Oktoberfest royalty, including 2011 Festmaster Jerry Kember, gestures to the crowd along Second Street during the Opening Day Parade.
2015: Opening Day Parade
Dave Sobkowiak dances with his daughter Jenna Mills Friday as they walk the Oktoberfest Opening Day Parade route with the grenadier.
2015: Tapping of the Golden Keg
1991 Fest Master Karl Friedline sings "Ein Prosit" to those gathered for the tapping of the Golden Keg.
2015: Torchlight Parade
Five-year-olds Grace Hengelsberg and Isaac Bachman walk the route with grenadiers during Thursday night's Torchlight Parade on La Crosse's North Side.
2015: Maple Leaf Parade
Grenadiers encourage spectators along the parade route to catch Oktoberfest spirit.
2015: Maple Leaf Parade
The Aquinas High School marching band makes its way down Second Street during the Maple Leaf Parade.
2014: Opening Day festivities
City Brewery Brewmaster Randy Hughes pours beer from the Golden Keg Friday during Oktoberfest opening ceremonies at the South Side Festgrounds.
2014: Maple Leaf Parade
The Aquinas High School marching band performs during the 2014 Maple Leaf Parade.
2014: Maple Leaf Parade
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse alumni band marches in the Maple Leaf Parade.
2014: Torchlight Parade
A giant flame lights up the 2014 Torchlight Parade.
2013: Maple Leaf Parade
Festmaster David Ring amps up the crowd at the 2013 Maple Leaf Parade.
2013: Bret Michaels
Former Poison member Bret Michaels performs in 2013 at the South Side Festgrounds.
2012: Maple Leaf Parade
A warm fall day made for big crowds at Oktoberfest's 2012 Maple Leaf Parade.
2012: Tapping of the Golden Keg
2009 Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest Raeanna Johnson waits for the tapping of the Golden Keg.
2011: Maple Leaf Parade
Past Mrs. Oktoberfests wave to the crowd during the 2011 Maple Leaf Parade.
2010: Opening Day Parade
Members of the Viroqua High School marching band make their way down Second Street during the Opening Day Parade.
2009: Maple Leaf Parade
Student from Misty's School of Dance perform during the 2009 Maple Leaf Parade.
1990: Maple Leaf Parade
This Oktoberfest scene from the Sept. 29, 1990, Maple Leaf Parade shows a parachutist descending over the parade near Second and Pearl streets. The parachutist landed safely near the parade route.
1964: Maple Leaf Parade
This scene from the Oct. 3, 1964, Oktoberfest Maple Leaf Parade shows a circus wagon with a calliope being played by Juanita Beck. Juanita (1909-1993) and her husband, Lance “Brownie” Beck (1896-1980), of La Crosse were widely known for appearing in fairs and parades around the Midwest with this circus wagon, featuring Juanita on the calliope while Brownie drove the hitch of six midget mules pulling the wagon. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136.
1964: Opening Day Parade
Festmaster Roy E. Kumm fills a large beer stein from the Golden Keg during the opening day festivities of La Crosse’s Oktoberfest on Sept. 30, 1964. The event took place at the old South Side Festgrounds, which were located on the southwest corner of Sixth and Vine streets — across the street from the old Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium. At right is Mary Kay Knudson, the 1963 Miss Oktoberfest who was then serving as retiring queen according to Tribune files.
