Fireworks approved again in River Point area for Oktoberfest

This may be the hottest week of the year in La Crosse, but the city’s annual fall festival is getting close. It’s only five weeks until Oktoberfest, and one city committee has already approved some preparations for the fest.

The city’s redevelopment authority will allow fireworks to be set off during Oktoberfest from north of the festgrounds, in the River Point district. City planner Andrea Trane says safety precautions will be taken.

“We do have no trespassing signs, will be installed as well, but if you remember we did also put a fence up in that area last year, and there were no issues,” said Trane, but for the sake of security, they plan to have temporary fencing again. Last year, the fence cost $7000.

In the past, Oktoberfest fireworks have been seen during the daytime Tapping of the Golden Keg as well as on nights of the event.

Oktoberfest is set for three days again this year, September 28th through 30th.

The redevelopment panel has approved the sale of some land at River Point, north of the La Crosse River, to the Driftless apartments for construction of housing. That would be the first actual home development project to be built on the site west of Copeland Avenue, which housed large oil tanks for many years.