Festivities start at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 26, with License to Cruise.
Appleton’s largest block party is back on Saturday, September 27, 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, SEPT. 26 AT 3 P.M.
License to Cruise will kick off Appleton’s Octoberfest weekend celebration at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 26. More than 400 vehicles will be displayed along College Avenue, and rare-edition or very-low-production vehicles will be showcased 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, including a collection of replica movie cars.
The event will also feature live music by Boogie and the Yo-Yoz at Houdini Plaza from 6-9 p.m.
NEW for 2025: Houdini Plaza Bar
For the first time in License to Cruise history, Houdini Plaza will also feature a bar, serving a variety of beer and cider, including Garage Beer — made famous by NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce. Garage Beer will only be available on Friday for the License to Cruise event.
APPLETON’S OCTOBERFEST FESTIVITIES BEGIN AT 9 A.M. SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
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.
The public is invited to participate in this year’s opening ceremony. Those who wish to participate in the toast should plan to arrive a little early to allow time to purchase a wristband and beer ticket.
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 six stages, and a full day of activities for kids in our Family Fun Area.
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.
Additionally, there are several new aspects and updates that organizers would like to bring to the public’s attention.
NEW for 2025:
- License to Cruise and Appleton’s Octoberfest wristbands and beverages are 100% cashless. To improve efficiency and reduce wait times, all wristband and beer ticket sales will be 100% cashless. Guests can pay with credit/debit cards or use tap-to-pay. Food vendors will continue to accept cash and cards; however, cash is preferred to help vendors avoid credit card fees.
- VIP Experience tickets are still available. The VIP lounge at the Fox Cities Chamber building offers a great experience, complete with special perks, including private bathrooms, beer and wine tasting, complimentary water, soda, and snacks, as well as 50% off beer tickets. The VIP lounge is open on Saturday during Octoberfest from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone interested can purchase a pass at the Fox Cities Chamber. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased online.
- Raffle for 2025 Yamaha WaveRunner JetBlaster and trailer. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the Fox Cities Chamber Office during regular business hours Monday – Thursday. Chamber staff will also be selling tickets during License to Cruise (in Houdini Plaza) and Octoberfest (corner of Superior and College). The winner will be drawn after Octoberfest on September 27 at 7 p.m. at the Fox Cities Chamber office (need not be present to win).
- A pop-up stage has been added featuring Fox Cities singer-songwriters, thanks to a grant from the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and support from EPS (Event Production Systems). The stage will be located on Durkee Street and feature performances by Fox Cities singer-songwriters, showcasing music across multiple genres, including folk, rock, indie pop, country, blues, and more. Full music line-up is here.
PLAN YOUR TRANSPORTATION
There are several transportation options for event attendees.
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 Grand Chute
Tanner’s Grill & Bar will offer a 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 and sign up is in person at each location. In addition, the Grand Chute location is offering 10% off orders at the bar for people using the shuttle.
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 Michelob Ultra 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. Michelob Ultra Zero will be available at all beer stands.
Sponsors
License to Cruise is made possible by Presenting Sponsor: Capital Credit Union; Specialty Car Sponsors: Club Car Wash and Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau; Stage Sponsor: TDS; Avenue Sponsor: Action Painting & Epoxy Coatings; Dash Sponsor: Meineke; Expo Sponsor: Wash Monkey Car Wash; License to Cruise media sponsors are Star 98, 103.9 WVBO, and 1280 WNAM.
Appleton’s Octoberfest is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Spaten Oktoberfest; Platinum Stage Sponsors Fox Communities Credit Union and TWL Powersports & Marine; Family Fun Area Sponsor Ascension; Wristband Sponsor: Amcor; Appleton’s Octoberfest media sponsors are 95.9 KISS FM, 104.3 The Fuse, 105.7 WAPL and WAPL Home Brewed, RAZOR 94.7 | 104.7, 95.3 | 99.1 The Score, and WHBY 1150.
In-Kind Sponsors: City of Appleton, Village of Little Chute, Appleton Downtown Inc., Lamers, Perfect Hydration, TWL Powersports & Marine, Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, EPS, and My Stage.
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About Appleton’s OctoberfestTM
Appleton’s Octoberfest™ is a vibrant two-day celebration held in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin, in the fourth week of September. Since 1981, it’s brought together over 200,000 attendees annually to enjoy local food, music, arts, and entertainment—supporting small businesses and nonprofits. With 70+ food booths operated by area nonprofits, proceeds from sponsorships and beverage sales fund a year-round competitive grant program. Octoberfest blends fun with philanthropy, creating lasting community impact. For full event details, visit octoberfestonline.org and follow @WIOctoberfest on Facebook and Instagram. #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 of 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.