Friday, September 23, 2011 at 5:00 pm
La Crosse Center South Hall

This event announces the final member of the Oktoberfest Royal Family, bringing the entire family together publicly the first time. The Festmaster's Ball is one of the longest standing traditions for our festival and is generally the most formal. 

We start with a cocktail party, welcoming all of our guests including local festivals and festivals from as far away as Canada and Florida, our communities' local officials such as the mayor (burgermeister), police and fire chief and several sponsors and supporters of Oktoberfest. At the Festmaster's Ball, we honor all our previous Festmasters and announce our current year's Festmaster and Frau. 

The identity of the Festmaster is a closely guarded secret and his announcement generates as much speculation as our annual medallion hunt.  The announcement of our Festmaster can be an event in itself, sometimes as exciting as a fire engine bursting through a faux door or as confusing as decoy festmasters being planted in the crowd.  The party continues with a fantastic dinner and lots of Oktoberfest history and cheer.  We end dinner with an Ein Prosit to our new Royal Family and an opportunity for the public to meet and greet our new Festmaster. We even sneak in time for a turn around the dance floor or two! If you have never attended the Festmaster's Ball we invite you join us, there is always room for you!

2011 Sponsors of Oktoberfest Festmaster's Ball