LA CROSSE TALK PM: How did La Crosse’s Oktoberfest get started? Historian Quarberg tells the story

Brad Quarberg, a bit of a historian when it comes to La Crosse’s Oktoberfest, joined in the WIZM studio Tuesday.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:07 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)

Quarberg was the 2016 Oktoberfest Parade Marshall and Oktoberfest Board President back in 2001. He also was chief editor and one of the authors of the book, The Fest of Times, a look back on 50 years of Oktoberfest from back in 2010.

We talked on La Crosse Talk PM about how four golfing buddies started this major event 62 years ago and how things like the Maple Leaf and Torchlight Parades came to be.

We also discussed things like how becoming Mrs. Oktoberfest has evolved over the years. It would not go over well if it were the same competition it was back in the 1960s.