Festivities kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 29 with License to Cruise
Appleton’s largest block party is back on Saturday, September 30, to celebrate “A Mile of Fun since 1981”. Appleton’s OctoberfestTM, an event of the Fox Cities Chamber, brings more than 200,000 people to College Avenue in downtown Appleton to enjoy a day full of food, live music, family-friendly activities and arts and crafts.
License to Cruise on Friday at 3 p.m. – earlier start time
License to Cruise will kick off Appleton’s Octoberfest weekend celebration on Friday, Sept. 29. Due to the tremendous interest in this event, it will start three hours earlier and run from 3-9:30 p.m. More than 400 vehicles will be on display along College Avenue and rare-edition, or very-low-production vehicles will be displayed at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center indoor collection. There will be a few special surprises at the indoor car show that festival attendees won’t want to miss.
The event will also feature live music at Houdini Plaza from 3-9 p.m. This event is alcohol-free.
Appleton’s Octoberfest Festivities Begin at 9 a.m. Saturday
Appleton’s Octoberfest will get under way with the traditional Spaten beer toast at the Houdini Plaza stage at 9 a.m. The ceremonial toast is a tribute to the annual ritual Spaten keg beer tapping at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Spaten’s Oktoberfest has been brewed since 1872.
This year’s special guests include Jake Woodford, mayor of Appleton; Donald Merkes, mayor of Menasha; Anthony Penterman, mayor of Kaukauna; Octoberfest Champions, members of the Appleton’s Octoberfest Committee, and Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce staff.
The public is encouraged to come early and be a part of the toast.
Plan Your Transportation
There are several transportation options for event attendees.
Valley Transit
Valley Transit will be offering $0.25 fares on all bus routes and from Park & Ride lots on Saturday.
Park & Ride lots will run from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday.
- Appleton East High School – John St. parking lot
- Fox Valley Technical College. Parking in NORTH LOT ONLY. Then walk to bus shelter in East Lot near Entrance 1 to catch shuttle bus.
- Goodwill Appleton Road – North parking lot
Please note that there is no discounted fare on Friday.
Uber, Lyft, and Cabs
Catch a cab, taxi, Uber and Lyft on the north side of Washington Street from Oneida Street west to Superior.
Tanner’s Grill & Bar Shuttle from Kimberly and West Appleton
Tanner’s Grill & Bar will offer a continuous shuttle on Saturday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. from both Tanner’s locations. Last departure from downtown is 6:30 p.m. Cost is $10/ person
Handicap Parking
Handicap parking can be found at the following locations:
- South side of State St.
- South side of Walnut St.
- North side of Durkee St.
- Handicap ramp parking areas
Designated Driver Program
Complimentary Bud Zero will be available to anyone who chooses to be a designated driver on Saturday. Designated drivers must be at least 21 years of age and purchase a designated driver wristband for $3 at any wristband booth. Bud Zero will be available at all beer stands.
Sponsors
License to Cruise is made possibly by: Presenting Sponsors: CoVantage Credit Union, Festival Foods, and TDS; Platinum Sponsors Prevea Health and Tundraland; In Kind Sponsors 4imprint, A2Z Design, City of Kaukauna, Lamers, Menasha Corporation, Thundera Multimedia, and Perfect Hydration; In Partnership with the City of Appleton.
License to Cruise media sponsors 103.9 WVBO and 1280 WNAM.
Appleton’s Octoberfest is made possible by: Presenting Sponsor Spaten Oktoberfest; Platinum Stage Sponsor (College & Division) Fox Communities Credit Union; Family Fun Area Sponsor Ascension; Arts & Crafts Area Sponsor Renewal by Andersen; In Kind Sponsorship 4imprint, A2Z Design, City of Appleton, Appleton Downtown, Inc., Menasha Corporation, Thundera Multimedia, and Valley Transit.
Appleton’s Octoberfest media sponsors 95.9 KISS FM, 104.3 The Fuse, 105.7 WAPL, RAZOR 94.7 | 104.7, 95.3 | 99.1 The Score, and WHBY 1150.
About Appleton’s OctoberfestTM
Appleton’s OctoberfestTM is a two-day festival in Appleton, Wisconsin that started in 1981. Held on the fourth weekend of September, the festival is a celebration of food, fun and philanthropy. The mission of the first event was the same as it is today, to serve as a fundraiser for nonprofit organizations and support local small businesses. The event has grown to host 200,000 attendees annually, has more than 50 food booths supporting nonprofit organizations, arts and crafts, and entertainment for all. Funds raised from sponsorship and beverage sales are used for the competitive grant program that provides funding to nonprofits year-round. For more information and a complete event schedule visit octoberfestonline.org. Follow @WIOctoberfest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest news and updates. #AppletonOctoberfest
About the Fox Cities Chamber:
The Fox Cities Chamber captures the energy of one of Wisconsin’s most dynamic regions and transforms it into innovative programs and services for its business members. The Chamber serves all the Fox Cities communities within the counties of Outagamie, Calumet, and northern Winnebago, and plays a leadership role in regional economic development efforts in Northeastern Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.foxcitieschamber.com.