Appleton, Wisconsin spells it Octoberfest, and it is a one-day downtown street festival on College Avenue, not a September-to-October tent festival. It is organised by the Fox Cities Chamber.
2026 Dates
- Saturday, September 26, 2026: the main Octoberfest. The traditional Spaten beer toast starts things off on the Houdini Plaza stage at 9 am, and the official site says beer service ends at 5:30 pm. Music starts as early as 9 am.
- Friday, September 25, 2026: License to Cruise, a classic car show (about 400 cars) starting at 3 pm.
- Where: College Avenue and downtown Appleton.
What to Expect
- Live music on five stages in different genres, including a new country stage on Morrison Street in 2026.
- Arts and crafts, a family fun area, and food booths run by local nonprofits.
- Outside beer is not allowed. Designated drivers 21+ can get a complimentary Michelob Ultra Zero.
- Bars and wristband booths are cashless. Wristbands were reported at $5 and good for the whole weekend; confirm on the official site.
Parking and shuttle details were not listed on the official page we checked, so see the Octoberfest site for the current parking map. 2027 dates had not been announced at the time of writing; the festival is typically held on a Saturday in late September.
Planning the Munich trip? See our Oktoberfest Beer Guide, the Table Reservations Guide and the 2026 Dates & Schedule. More US festivals: all major US Oktoberfest events.
Nearby and related: Oktoberfest Milwaukee, Oktoberfest La Crosse, WI, Oktoberfest Chicago, Oktoberfest Minneapolis, Oktoberfest Cleveland. See all US Oktoberfest festivals or Oktoberfest in Wisconsin.