One of Wisconsin’s largest free community festivals returns to downtown Appleton on Sept. 25-26, 2026, as Octoberfest Weekend 2026 brings two days of live music, food and drinks, classic and specialty vehicles, arts and crafts, family activities, and more to College Avenue.
Hosted by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, the weekend begins Friday at 3 p.m. with License to Cruise, a one-of-a-kind car show featuring more than 400 vehicles along College Avenue and inside the Fox Cities Exhibition Center. Festivities continue Saturday with the annual Octoberfest event, beginning with the traditional 9 a.m. Spaten beer toast in Houdini Plaza, followed by more than 15 live music performances, hundreds of food and drink options, more than 180 arts and crafts vendors, and a Family Fun Area.
New for 2026, Octoberfest will add a country music stage to its entertainment lineup. Attendees will also have a chance to win a 2025 Kawasaki Teryx4 S LE UTV, but only 400 raffle tickets will be sold.
“We intentionally spell Octoberfest with a ‘c’ because Octoberfest Weekend is all about community,” said Becky Bartoszek, president and CEO of the Fox Cities Chamber. “Every for-profit food vendor is partnered with a local nonprofit, so simply showing up and enjoying the food helps support organizations doing important work right here in the Fox Cities. And when you grab a beer or buy a UTV raffle ticket, you’re helping us keep Octoberfest free and open to everyone. It’s a celebration that gives back to the community that makes it possible.”
Octoberfest Weekend 2026 at a Glance
UTV Raffle and Drink Sales Help Keep Octoberfest Weekend Free
Octoberfest Weekend is free to attend, and organizers are committed to keeping it that way. Drink and wristband sales at the festival's street bars, as well as raffle ticket purchases, help cover the cost of putting on the event and keep the celebration free and open to the community, which is why carry-ins are not permitted.
This year's raffle features a 2025 Kawasaki Teryx4 S LE UTV, with only 400 raffle tickets available at $50 each. Every ticket purchased helps fund the festival and preserve the free community tradition for years to come. Raffle tickets and additional details are available at octoberfestweekend.com/raffle.
No carry-ins are allowed during Octoberfest Weekend. Beverages must be purchased from beer stands along College Avenue using drink tickets and wristbands. Beer ticket and wristband sales are cashless on both Friday and Saturday and can be purchased using a credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Many food vendors will continue to accept cash.
License to Cruise Returns Friday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m.
More than 400 vehicles will fill College Avenue and the Fox Cities Exhibition Center for the free car show. The event runs from 3-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 and typically draws more than 100,000 people to Downtown Appleton. Beyond the vehicles, attendees can enjoy live music, 14 food trucks, drinks, and downtown energy that appeals to families, groups of friends, and first-time attendees. Wristbands and drink tickets sold Friday night can be used again on Saturday for Octoberfest, but drink ticket and wristband sales and beer service end promptly at 9 p.m. on Friday.
Want to display your vehicle? Owners of vehicles from 2005 or earlier can bring their vehicle to College Avenue beginning at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Registration is $10 per vehicle to park and display along the Avenue. More information about participating in or attending License to Cruise is available at OctoberfestWeekend.com/license-to-cruise.
2026 License to Cruise Highlights:
350+ classic vehicles from 2005 and earlier displayed along College Avenue.
80+ specialty vehicles inside the Fox Cities Exhibition Center featuring this year's rare and remarkable low-production theme.
Handpicked specialty collections featuring hot rods, muscle cars, tuner and drift cars, motorcycles, and vintage bicycles.
Beer and beverages at Houdini Plaza available throughout the evening.
14 food trucks throughout the event.
Live music in Houdini Plaza featuring DJ Gold Medal Sound from 3-6 p.m., followed by Boogie and the Yo-Yoz from 6-9 p.m. on the WVBO & Star 98 stage at Houdini Plaza.
Octoberfest Begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26
The annual Appleton Octoberfest celebration begins Saturday with the traditional Spaten beer toast at 9 a.m. in Houdini Plaza. The opening ceremony pays tribute to the annual Spaten keg tapping at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Spaten’s Oktoberfest beer has been brewed since 1872, and media and the public are invited to participate in the Octoberfest Weekend tradition.
Following the toast, College Avenue comes alive with live music, food and beverages, arts and crafts, family activities, and entertainment throughout the day.
What’s New and What to Know for Octoberfest 2026
Country comes to Octoberfest. The festival brings back a much-requested country music stage featuring Wisconsin favorites The 308s, Grand Union, and Nashville Pipeline.
Your favorites at every bar. No more searching College Avenue for a specialty bar. Every Octoberfest bar will offer the same selection of craft beers, longtime favorites, hard teas, lemonades, and ciders, plus a few new beverages to try, including gluten-free options.
Food that gives back: Every for-profit food vendor at Octoberfest is partnered with a local nonprofit, with a portion of the vendor’s proceeds going directly to that organization. Every purchase helps support nonprofits doing important work throughout the Fox Cities.
More than 180 arts and crafts vendors will showcase their talents, allowing attendees to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces while supporting local artists. View the full lineup of arts and crafts vendors.
The Family Fun Area is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring face painting, bounce houses, live entertainment, and activities for children and adults. Learn more about the Family Fun Area.
Designated Driver Program Available Friday and Saturday
Attendees serving as the designated driver for their group can participate in the Octoberfest Weekend Designated Driver Program during both License to Cruise on Friday, Sept. 25, and Octoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Designated drivers must be at least 21 years old and can purchase a $5 designated driver wristband to receive unlimited Michelob Ultra Zero throughout the event. Michelob Ultra Zero will be available at festival beer stands.
Getting to and From Octoberfest
Several transportation options are available Saturday to make it easier for attendees to safely get to and from Downtown Appleton.
Tanner’s Grill & Bar Shuttle: Tanner’s Grill & Bar will offer continuous shuttle service to and from Downtown Appleton for $10 per person from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. The last departure from Downtown Appleton will be at 6:30 p.m. Downtown pickup and drop-off will be on Washington Street near the Uber/Lyft station.
Shuttle service will be available from both Tanner’s locations:
Uber, Lyft, and Cabs: A designated rideshare and taxi pickup area will be available on the north side of Washington Street, from Oneida Street west to Superior Street.
Accessible Parking: Attendees with accessibility needs can use City of Appleton parking ramps for convenient parking and access to the event.
Octoberfest Weekend Sponsors
License to Cruise is made possible thanks to these generous community sponsors:
Appleton’s Octoberfest is made possible by these generous community sponsors:
About Octoberfest Weekend
Presented by the Fox Cities Chamber, Octoberfest Weekend is one of Wisconsin's largest free community celebrations. Each year, the two-day event draws more than 350,000 people to Downtown Appleton and generates an estimated $42 million in economic impact for the region. The weekend begins Friday evening with License to Cruise, a classic car show, and continues Saturday with Octoberfest, a mile-long street festival featuring live music on multiple stages, food and beverage vendors, arts and crafts, and a family fun area. Since 1981, Octoberfest has brought together residents and visitors to celebrate community while advancing the Fox Cities Chamber's mission to promote employers and economic development and enhance the quality of life in the Fox Cities. For more information, visit octoberfestweekend.com.
About the Fox Cities Chamber
The Fox Cities Chamber is a nonprofit business-to-business membership organization that unites the regional business community for greater economic impact. Serving Outagamie, Calumet, and northern Winnebago Counties, we are the second-largest Chamber in Wisconsin and were named National Chamber of the Year in 2024. We also received a Wisconsin Innovation Award in the nonprofit category for our free membership level for small businesses.
Our organization proudly captures the energy of one of Wisconsin’s most dynamic regions and transforms it into innovative programs and services to champion employers, economic development, and quality of life. The Fox Cities Chamber celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024. For more information, visit https://foxcitieschamber.com/.