It’s almost time for New Glarus Oktoberfest! The annual festival, coordinated by the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce, will kick off on Thursday, September 23, and run through Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Thursday, September 23: 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Polka music by the Steve Meisner Band. 8:30 p.m., King and Queen Contest. You could be our Oktoberfest royalty for the weekend! Cash prizes, crown, free beer and bragging rights will be awarded to the King and Queen, so dress in your best Oktoberfest attire and let the people be the judges!

Friday, September 24: 6:00 p.m., Beer Tent, Food Stands, Craft Vendors and Farmers Market open. 6:00-8:00 p.m., Vintage Polka Vinyl by Stacy Harbaugh. 7:00 p.m., Tap the Wooden Keg, an annual Oktoberfest event! New Glarus Brewing Company will be tapping a wooden keg of Staghorn Octoberfest. 8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., music by Super Tuesday.

Saturday, September 25: 9:00 a.m., 5K/10K and 2-mile walk, http://www.glendakscott.com. 11:00 a.m., Beer Tent, Food Stands, Craft Vendors and Farmers Market open. 11:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Antique Tractor Pull on 4th Avenue. 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., live polka music. Noon-4:00 p.m., horse drawn wagon rides – pickup/drop off near Tofflers. 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Chainsaw Wood Carver at Highway 39 and Sugar River Trail. 4:00-7:00 p.m., music by Back Country Roads. 7:00 p.m., New Glarus Brewing Company will be tapping a wooden keg of Staghorn Octoberfest. 8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., music by Boogie and the Yo Yo’z.

Sunday, September 26: 11:00 a.m., Beer Tent, Food Stands, Craft Vendors and Farmers Market open. 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., music by Mascot Theory. Noon-4:00 p.m., horse drawn wagon rides – pickup/drop off near Tofflers. 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., music by The Jimmys.

The following street closures will take place over the long weekend:

Closure of 1st Street, between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, for festival tent from 12:01 a.m., Thursday 9/23, through 2:00 p.m., on Monday, 9/27.

Closure of 5th Avenue, between Railroad Street and 2nd Street, for vending from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, 9/24, through 8:00 p.m., on Sunday, 9/26.

Closure of 4th Avenue, between Railroad Street and 2nd Street, for tractor pull from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., on Saturday, 9/26.

Downtown residents are welcome to park in the Chamber of Commerce parking lot, at 418 Railroad Street, during the festival.

Shuttles to Monroe and Verona are sponsored by the New Glarus Brewing Company and New Glarus Chamber of Commerce, and local cab transportation is made possible by Mosher & Associates. Info on the shuttles and cab is available at https://www.swisstown.com/events.

The Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank the following major festival sponsors: New Glarus Brewing Company, Chalet Landhaus Inn & Restaurant, BNG Investments, Jack Link’s, BNG Investments, New Glarus Home, and Puempel’s Olde Tavern. Thank you for investing in your community!