Festivities start at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 27, with License to Cruise.
Appleton’s largest block party is back on Saturday, September 28, 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.
License to Cruise will kick off Appleton’s Octoberfest weekend celebration at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 27. More than 400 vehicles will be displayed 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. This year’s specialty vehicle theme is “Trucks, Station Wagons, and Vans.”
The event will also feature live music at Houdini Plaza from 3-9 p.m.
- 3 – 5 p.m. A-Town Unplugged
- 6 – 9 p.m. FBI & The Untouchable Horns
NEW for 2024: License to Cruise Car Smash
Organizers are excited about a new event feature called Car Smash. From 5 – 8 p.m., participants can smash a car to help raise money for local nonprofits. For $10, participants will get three hits to smash a car with all fluids and glass removed. Participants must sign a waiver and wear the safety equipment provided and closed-toe shoes. The event is sponsored by The Breaking Point and Gibson Iron & Metal. Proceeds support the Octoberfest grant program.
This event is alcohol-free.
Appleton’s Octoberfest Festivities Begin at 9 a.m. Saturday
Appleton’s Octoberfest will kick off 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 local elected officials, Octoberfest Champions, Appleton’s Octoberfest Committee members, and Fox Cities Chamber staff.
The event features over 80 food vendors supporting local nonprofits, a variety of specialty beer and gluten-free beverages, more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, music on five stages, and a full day of activities for kids in our Family Fun Area.
In addition, there are several new aspects and updates that organizers would like to make the public aware of.
NEW for 2024: Appleton’s Octoberfest accepting card payments at wristband, ticket, and merchandise booths
Appleton’s Octoberfest is excited to announce the addition of a cashless payment option for all wristband, beer ticket, and merchandise sales at this year’s event. Attendees can now use debit/credit cards, digital payments, and cash for purchases.
During the event, which runs from 9 AM to 5:30 PM on College Avenue, wristbands are required for anyone 21 or older wishing to purchase or consume beer, and beer tickets must also be purchased. There are seven wristband and ticket booths along the Avenue, and each will now accept major debit/credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, as well as digital payment platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Look for the “Card Only” sign to pay using that method.
New merchandise this year includes a limited-edition Octoberfest 2024 t-shirt! Get yours at the merchandise booth outside of Octoberfest headquarters near Starbucks.
NEW for 2024: The Family Fun Area will move to Lawrence University grounds between Drew St. and Union due to the construction of the new Lawrence University and Trout Museum of Art building.
Plan Your Transportation
There are several transportation options for event attendees.
Valley Transit
NEW for 2024: Due to operational changes, Valley Transit will NOT provide special fares and park-and-ride service this year. Additionally, service ends early on Friday (6:15 p.m.) and Saturday 1:15 p.m.).
Uber, Lyft, and Cabs
Catch a cab, taxi, Uber, or 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. The last departure from downtown is at 6:30 p.m. Pick-up and drop-off are near the Uber/Lyft station. 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
Additional transportation details here: https://octoberfestonline.org/park-ride/
Designated Driver Program
Complimentary Bud Zero will be available for anyone who chooses to be a designated driver on Saturday. Designated drivers must be at least 21 and purchase a designated driver wristband for $5 at any wristband booth. Bud Zero will be available at all beer stands.
Sponsors
License to Cruise is made possible by Presenting Sponsors: Festival Foods and Network Health; Expo Center Sponsor: Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau; Stage Sponsors: Bam Coatings and Club Carwash; Dash Sponsor: Meineke; In-Kind Sponsors: Gibson Iron & Metal, Lamers, The Breaking Point; 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; Octoberfest Champions: Appleton Lathing Corporation and Touchmark; In-Kind Sponsors: 4imprint, A2Z The Agency, Menasha Corporation, Team Winnebagoland, and Walbec Group.
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 today: to serve as a fundraiser for nonprofit organizations and support local small businesses. The event has grown to host 200,000 attendees annually and has more than 60 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. #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.