Expanding the festgrounds, 16 years ago.

In September of 2001, Oktoberfest organizers were speaking publicly about plans to enlarge the southside festgrounds.  Those plans included a cultural arts building, and extending the festival area east of the main gate on 2nd Street.  Those planned changes didn’t happen. 

The expansion was introduced the same week that parade marshals for the 2001 fest were announced.  Retired UW-L football coach Roger Harring was the Maple Leaf parade marshal, while the Torchlight Parade was led by Western Tech instructor Ken Wing.

Even though the Bobcats basketball team had gone out of business that year, the La Crosse Center still wanted a new basketball floor to replace the original one used since the Center opened in 1980.