Happy, and safe, Oktoberfest!

Happy Oktoberfest! The 56th annual Oktoberfest celebration gets underway today. The theme for this year’s fest is Family, Friends, Fun. And if past history is any guide, you’ll find all three at this year’s fest too. This is one of the biggest weekends of the year in La Crosse, with estimates of 100,000 people packing the parade route on Saturday. This event doesn’t happen by accident. Members of the Oktoberfest Board of Directors work hard to plan and organize the event. Police put in overtime throughout the weekend to keep us and our community safe. And once again an Aid Station downtown serves as a gathering point, a place to charge phones, or to get assistance. There are free shuttles being offered between the north and southside fest grounds. Other shuttles will transport revelers to campus areas and to Onalaska. They are working hard to ensure everyone remains safe. But we need to play a role too. Providing directions to visitors, keeping a close eye on our friends, and making sure we all stay well behaved. The beer will be flowing of course, but let’s not overdo it. That is true for college students new to the area, and to the many veteran Oktoberfesters. Enjoy the family, friends, fun, and the libations. But please do so responsibly, and make sure this four days of fest is safe for everyone. Prost!