OKTOBERFEST: Festmaster to be revealed Saturday night

One of the biggest secrets kept every year in La Crosse is the identity of the new Oktoberfest Festmaster.

Starting this year, the secret will be revealed in August – Saturday night, in fact – instead of September at the Maple Leaf parade.

The secret will be announced at the Festmaster’s Ball in the La Crosse Center.

Jerry Kember chairs the Oktoberfest board of trustees, and says the earlier ball is designed to correct the recent habit of leaving the Festmaster’s crowning until halfway through the festival.

“In the past, the festmaster was the last person introduced,” Kember said. “So, we had to rethink, would it make more sense to have the festmaster first, and he’ll be there for the introdcution for the rest of the royal family?”

Kember was the Festmaster in 2011. And, although we can’t tell you who the 2017 Festmaster is yet, he was, apparently, notified of the honor five months ago.

Another sign of fall in the air, a new Apple Annie will be chosen tonight for the La Crescent Applefest.

The Apple Annie Cabaret will be at the La Crescent Legion hall.