Next week is the time to grab a partner and do the Schuhplattler (or maybe stick to the laendler if you don't want to sprain anything) because the Prairie du Chien Oktoberfest returns to St. Feriole Island.
The Prairie du Chien event will include various activities between Wednesday, Oct. 14, to Saturday, Oct. 17.
On Wednesday, things kick off with bingo at the Hoffman Hall Recreation Center at 1:30 p.m. Competitive types will want to head to the Eagles Club on Thursday, Oct. 15 for Lederhosen Games and Euchre and Chase the Ace card tournaments from 1-7:30 p.m.
Friday night, the Oktoberfest Committee will hold a Tapping of the Keg Party at the Backwater Bar & Grill at 6 p.m. to put this year's festivities into high gear. The Barefoot Becky Band will provide musical entertainment. Make sure to come early for a sample of this year's libations before O'zapft is!
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the real fun begins with a disc golf tournament at 7 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., competitors looking for a new event to dominate can take part in the Beer Stein Street Race. Thirty minutes later, the parade begins. Floats will march down Blackhawk Avenue to the island to officially kick off the good times.
At 11 a.m., the Prairie du Chien High School Band will play and the Boy Scouts will lead the Pledge of Alliegance. Kids activities, authentic German food and beverages will be available thereafter. The Oktoberfest car show also begins at 11:30.
And don't forget to try your hand at Hammerschlagen — just keep your fingers out of the way! Musical entertainment will be provided by the Guttenberg German Band in the music tent.
At high noon, the Star Power Dance Team join in the fun with a performance near the Fireman's Association Shelter. A half an hour later, the cornhole tournament will begin.
When 1:30 p.m. rolls around, the action will heat up. First, it'll be the Children's Root Beer Stein Holding Contest followed shortly by the Sauerkraut Eating Contest (contestants will want to hold their noses ‘cause das ist ekelhaft).
The Gary Breuggen Family Band take over the entertainment at 2 p.m., and Beer Stein Holding ensues at 3.
Fred starts up his Button Box at 3:30 p.m. while the La Crosse Oktoberfest Singers will be on stage from 4-6 p.m. to excite the crowd. The men's and women's Keg Toss, a perennial favorite of the event, starts at 4:30 p.m. to close out the official event's itinerary for 2026.
But that doesn't mean the fun stops. The Prairie du Chien Rotary Club will once again host the After Party starting at 5:30 p.m., with more food and beverages as well as the area's largest beer pong tournament starting at 6 p.m.
Admission for the event is $5. Tickets are available at City Hall, the Sawmill Saloon, Hoffman Hall, Tricor, Peoples State Bank, Hall of Fame Steaks, Starks, the Backwater Bar, Piggly Wiggly, the Eagles Club and Mississippi Meats.
Remember to bring your friends and family to prosit der gemutlich.
