2026 Royal Family Parade Schedule

It’s all relative: Some in Oktoberfest’s Royal Families have nuclear family connections

Being named an Oktoberfest Royal family member is an honor. And for some, it’s family tradition.

Here are the Royal Family members over the fest’s first six decades who have biological and nuptial family connections (as of 2025):

  • 1964 Festmaster Roy Kumm, father-in-law/father | 1984 Maple Leaf PM & 1989 Festmaster Russ Cleary, son-in-law/father | 2022 Mrs. O Sandy Cleary, granddaughter/daughter
  • 1969 Mrs. O Liesel Peterslie, mother | 1996 Maple Leaf PM TJ Peterslie, son
  • 1971 Maple Leaf PM Ed Quillin, father | 1983 Maple Leaf PM Phil Quillin, son/brother | 2000 Festmaster Lyle Quillin, son/brother
  • 1974 Maple Leaf PM Charlie Kearns, father | 2002 Maple Leaf PM Mike Kearns, son
  • 1978 Maple Leaf PM Dale Rudy, father | 2017 Maple Leaf PM Gary Rudy, son
  • 1979 Festmaster George Frost, father | 1991 Mrs. O Kathy Vehrenkamp, daughter
  • 1979 Mrs. O Ruth Rebhan, wife | 1985 Festmaster Cully Rebhan, husband
  • 1981 Festmaster Bob Mullally, father | 1983 Miss La Crosse-Oktoberfest Barb Mullally, daughter
  • 1984 Torchlight PM Terry Erickson, brother | 2006 Torchlight PM Scott Erickson, brother
  • 1985 Mrs. O Kay Taylor, wife | 1999 Festmaster Rollo Taylor, husband
  • 1986 Mrs. O Carol Tabel, wife | 1990 Festmaster Duane Tabel, husband
  • 1990 Mrs. O Marita Smith, wife | 2008 Maple Leaf PM George Smith, husband
  • 1992 Mrs. O Jan Moore, wife/mother | 1997 Festmaster Duane Moore, husband/father | 2015 Maple Leaf PM Chuck Moore, son
  • 1994 Maple Leaf PM Bob Marck, husband | 2000 Mrs. O Jean Marck, wife
  • 1996 Mrs. O Sandra Mc Cormick, sister | 2007 Maple Leaf PM Dave Clements, brother
  • 2001 Torchlight Parade Marshal Ken Wing, father | 2016 Mrs. O Sue Weidemann, daughter

The Moores are one of the numerous families who have biological and nuptial family connections in Oktoberfest’s Royal families. The Moores and their titles, from left, 2015 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal Chuck Moore; wife Susan; 1992 Mrs. Oktoberfest Jan Moore, wife and mother; and 1997 Festmaster Duane Moore, husband and father.

There he was: Longtime Miss America host Bert Parks took the Oktoberfest stage in 1983

After 10 years, Candyce “Candy” Anderson thought it was time for a new highlight to the Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest pageant.

As co-chair of the pageant, Anderson (who now goes by Candy Del Bello) suggested they pursue longtime Miss America host Bert Parks, who was abruptly let go of his duties a few years earlier, to emcee the 1983 competition.

“I said, ‘Why don’t we see if we can get Bert Parks.’” She called him in his East Coast home. When he answered, Anderson introduced herself, told him she was from La Crosse, Wisconsin, and invited him to emcee the Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest Pageant.

“Right away he said he remembered that La Crosse was the hometown of Joan Engh and that he’d never forget that charming woman,” Anderson recalls. “Then, he asked his wife if it was ok for him to emcee the pageant. And she said yes.”

Engh was named Miss La Crosse, Miss Wisconsin and runner up to 1963 Miss America in 1962. (Prior to 1964, Miss La Crosse and Miss Oktoberfest were separate titles.)

During the Miss America pageant, Engh was named swimsuit competition winner, but had to perform her talent unrehearsed because CBS and the pageant committee deemed her original act as too risqué when she removed her outer clothing to reveal a rhinestone-studded leotard.

And, when announcing the winner, Parks mistakenly gave Engh the Miss America title, before correcting the mistake which gave the crown to Miss Ohio Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer. Engh returned to La Crosse with a hero’s welcome and weeks later served as the 1962 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal.

When Parks arrived in La Crosse, Anderson picked the longtime host up at the airport and took him to his hotel. During the La Crosse Center performance on Saturday, Sept. 24, her shoe strap broke and she mentioned it to Parks. “He said, ‘Give me that shoe’ and took it and found a stapler, stapled it and gave it back to me,” she explains. The altered shoe held the rest of the evening.

Anderson also recalls her dress sticking because of static cling. As one who had been around pageants for decades — he hosted Miss America from 1955-79 — Parks told her to find a bathroom and sprinkle some water on her panty hose and undergarments. She did, and the problem was solved.

“He was so personable and so kind,” Anderson says. “I absolutely loved him. He was so much fun.”

Parks also altered his trademark Miss America song to “There she is, Miss Oktoberfest” when Barb Mullally was crowned Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest. She went on to become 1984 Miss Wisconsin the following summer. Her welcome home celebration included congratulatory wishes from Parks.

“I was very proud to be able to get him here,” she says. “It certainly helped to elevate the image of our event.”

The committee paid Parks $9,000 for his Oktoberfest appearance, travel and lodging. Admission was $6.

It was quite the coup for Anderson to land the face of the Miss America pageant for a quarter century. She became involved with the Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest Pageant in her hometown in 1975 while working for Heileman Brewing Co. Heileman’s Industrial Relations Manager, Jerry Miller, approached her to get involved with the committee on behalf of Russell Cleary, president of the company.

“Russ encouraged Heileman employees to be involved in many Oktoberfest functions,” she explains. “I really enjoyed it.”

Anderson knew very little about the Miss America program and its pageants before joining the Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest committee, eventually becoming its co-chair with Caryl Molzahn. “It was the scholarship aspect that drew me to the pageant,” she notes.

She served on the committee until 1985 when she moved to Heileman’s Lone Star brewery in San Antonio. Eventually, she moved to the company’s breweries in Baltimore, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon, before returning to La Crosse.

Anderson says contestants often came into the pageant never having worn high heels. She saw them gain self-confidence, interview skills and poise.

“I saw what a stretch it was for them. I sure found out it was a lot more than just a beauty pageant,” says Anderson, who worked with the pageant through 1985. “We became like mothers to them.”

Along with Mullally’s 1984 Miss Wisconsin title, 1981 Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest Gail Soller earned the 1982 Miss Wisconsin crown. Both were under Anderson and Molzahn’s tutelage.

-Info compiled by Brad Quarberg during an interview conducted with Candyce “Candy” Anderson Del Bello on Feb. 23, 2026.

Barbara Mullally, who was crowned Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest 1983 by longtime Miss America host Bert Parks, went on to become Miss Wisconsin 1984. When Mullally returned to La Crosse following the state pageant, she was welcomed home during a ceremony at the bandshell in Riverside Park that included a letter of congratulations from Parks.

Image courtesy of UW-La Crosse Area Research Center at Murphy Library

A La Crosse Tribune article announces longtime Miss America host Bert Park’s appearance at the 1983 Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest pageant.

Image courtesy of UW-La Crosse Area Research Center at Murphy Library

Growing up: From tapping of the Golden Keg to the Golden Can

It started as a radio station promotion in the late ’80s — a tongue-in-cheek nod to the region’s largest festival as it entered its fourth decade. The Tapping of the Golden Can — a takeoff on the Tapping of the Golden Keg — helped propel Oktoberfest’s opening day festivities to the festground’s busiest day decades later.

The Tapping of the Golden Can started in 1987 at the WKTY Radio substation south of the city of La Crosse on State Hwy. 35, near the Goose Island exit. The can — a 12-ounce, aluminum Old Style can painted gold with the year scripted in black — was the brainchild of radio show “Lead Balloon” hosts Mike Kearns and Roscoe Short. They invited local personalities and friends to witness the revelry, a staple of the show started by Kearns’ father, Charlie.

In the mid-90s Sue Drake, a sales associate for Midwest Radio, saw an opportunity to step-up the rising, in-studio popular tapping. She persuaded American Legion Post 52 Manager Dan Evenson to host the event for $580. Following two successful years, Evenson decided the event had run its course at the 6th Street location.

Drake then approached Dave Berger, owner of Sloopy’s Alma Mater. Berger agreed to host the event across town with the same terms of $580. The Tapping of the Golden Can had found a new home at 163 Copeland Ave. Since then, the revelry has continued to grow.

Berger believes the event called Sloopy’s its home because of the bar’s location between the northside and southside festgrounds in its early days. Sloopy’s also sponsored many sports teams and other activities which made it popular among diverse crowds. And Berger was also involved in many civic and public organizations, bringing the business attention.

The early morning Tapping of the Golden Can was not only appealing because of its uniqueness but also became a way for festgoers to experience and share Gemütlichkeit — and make new friends.

 

Making friends and the ‘The Button Lady’

Many who’ve gone to the early-morning fun have become long-time attendees, along with friends of Sloopy’s early tappers. One of those is Julie Geiger-Schutz, who in the past decade has become affectionately known as “The Button Lady.”

Geiger-Schutz, who lives upriver in Fountain City, attended the Maple Leaf Parade for years, handing out homemade buttons to friends. The longtime graphic artist recalls hearing about the tapping on the radio for years. Finally in 2011 she, along with friends Matt and Jackie Jurvelin, decided to head to Sloppy’s to see it in person. She brought along 100 buttons that said, “I TAPPED THE GOLDEN CAN 2011.”

The next year along with “I tapped” buttons, she started bringing ones with funny, creative sayings to choose from too — usually six different styles, 50 of each. Some include: “Shut up liver, you’re fine,” “These pretzels are making me thirsty” and a maple leaf in rainbow colors.

“I love making the fun buttons so people have a choice; something to say what Fest means to them,” she explains.

Geiger-Schutz and her friends originally walked around the bar handing out all the buttons. But in recent years, they walk around with the tapping buttons and people come to their table to choose a fun one.

“I have gained so many new Fest friends and have made a place to meet up with old friends who come from out of town,” she says. “I have people that come up to me every year with a hug wearing all the pins I have made.”

Geiger-Schutz doesn’t charge for any of the buttons, something that confuses some of first-time tappers. Rather, she says it’s the joy that is Oktoberfest that makes people happy —mainly her.

“I have given away thousands of buttons so that’s thousands of smiles in my heart,” she notes. “I’m pretty sure I’m ahead on the deal.”

That Gemütlichkeit and popularity caught attention. Oktoberfest officials floated the idea of making the can tapping an official event, but Berger decided to keep it separate. Instead, along with the new tradition laid out, Berger helped create a special tribute to Oktoberfest. He dedicated the back room of his bar, displaying official Oktoberfest plates and other memorabilia, along with photos and plaques recognizing the fest’s royal family members.

After Berger, who was named 1997 Torchlight Parade Marshal, sold Sloopy’s the plaques in the room remain. Every year, names of the newest Royal Family members are added, and photos are changed out to include the current Royal Family members. In summer 2024, Berger and others from the festival raised money to add a plaque recognizing the Special Festers from the festival.

 

‘On Tap’ back on the grounds

In the late ’90s Oktoberfest focused on an official tapping of the Golden Keg on the southside fest grounds. It has grown since and in 2024 an estimated 7,000 people walked through the festground’s gates for the official Tapping of the Golden Keg to experience Gemütlichkeit and a chance at free beer from the special keg. The numbers continue to grow.

But the fun has extended beyond the festgrounds and Sloopy’s. Many bars in the downtown area open by 6 a.m. for drink specials. Some sell Bloody Marys that include early-morning bratwurst. But since 2013, the biggest early morning bratwurst is served at the American Legion Post 52, a former home of the Tapping of the Golden Can.

The Legion’s “Slicing of the Golden Brat” features a large bratwurst nicknamed the B-52 that’s eight feet long and weighs approximately 80 pounds. Legionnaires cook the brat on a specially made grill throughout the night so it’s ready for the breakfast crowd.

In 2017, it was left unguarded in the early morning for a few minutes and was stolen. The brat was recovered a short distance away, but it wasn’t edible. It was only used for photos and regular brats were served instead. Since, the now closely guarded brat has become another opening day tradition.

So while the Golden Keg originally highlighted the special Gemütlichkeit Oktoberfest exudes, the Golden Can helped expand the festival’s Friday fun — and growing friendships and Gemütlichkeit cheer.

The sign outside Sloopy’s Alma Mater on Copeland Avenue announces the annual Tapping of the Golden Can in 2004. -photo by Dave Berger, 1997 Torchlight Parade and Owner of Sloopy’s, 1969-2009.

Sloopy’s Alma Mater on Copeland Avenue has been the home to the “Tapping of the Golden Can” for decades, where Gemütlichkeit and a little Old Style flow each Friday of Oktoberfest.  -photo by Dave Berger, 1997 Torchlight Parade and Owner of Sloopy’s, 1969-2009.

From left, Tim Larkin, 95.7 The Rock radio station, and Radio Station WKTY “Lead Balloon” hosts Roscoe Short and Mike Kearns gear up for Tapping of the Golden Can at Sloopy’s Alma Mater. The popular annual event was started by Short and Kearns in the late ’80s. -photo by Dave Berger, 1997 Torchlight Parade and Owner of Sloopy’s, 1969-2009.

 

The ‘Button Lady’

Buttons at Oktoberfest are a tradition as long as the fest itself. So the moniker “Button Lady” can’t be taken lightly.

Julie Geiger-Schutz, from Fountain City, Wis., has taken on that title in the past decade with her creative Oktoberfest Gemütlichkeit. The longtime graphic artist gave homemade buttons out to friends along the Maple Leaf Parade route on Copeland Avenue for years. But it was when she started attending the Tapping of the Golden Can up the street at Sloopy’s Alma Mater in 2011 when she became a renowned fester.

When she attended her first can tapping, she brought along 100 “I TAPPED THE GOLDEN CAN 2011” buttons. In subsequent years, she brought six different styles — 50 of each — to share with festgoers.

“I love making the fun buttons so people have a choice; something to say what Fest means to them,” she says. “I have gained so many new Fest friends and have made a place to meet up with old friends who come from out of town. I have people who come up to me every year with a hug wearing all the pins I have made for them.”

In Oktoberfest spirit, Geiger-Schutz doesn’t charge for the buttons. “I have given away thousands of buttons so that’s thousands of smiles in my heart,” she explains. “I’m pretty sure I’m ahead on the deal.”

A few years ago, Geiger-Schutz started making official Oktoberfest buttons too — the larger, three-inch buttons Royal Family members wear as part of their official Oktoberfest gear. She is paid for that as part of her professional job, which is making giftware for gift shops. Her business is saycheesedesigns.com.

Her Oktoberfest Gemütlichkeit doesn’t stop with creative buttons. It includes a special place to watch the Maple Leaf Parade. She remodeled an old horse trailer and converted it into a bar that she and friends park in the same spot on Copeland Avenue every year. They offer a large group of friends a featured cocktail, along with a standard beer or Bloody Mary.

“If you can’t tell, I love Fest,” Geiger-Schutz confesses. “I loving seeing old and new friends, retelling old stories and making new ones. Gemütlichkeit is real.”

Julie Geiger-Schutz, right, is known as “The Button Lady.” The Fountain City, Wis., longtime graphic artist gave homemade buttons out to friends along the Maple Leaf Parade route on Copeland Avenue for years. She moved the distribution up the street in 2011 after she began attending the Tapping of the Golden Keg at Sloopy’s Alma Mater. The renowned fester is pictured with 2016 Mrs. Oktoberfest Sue Wiedemann and Jackie Jurvelin, one of Geiger-Schutz’s friend who joined her when she attended her first Tapping of the Golden Can at Sloopy’s Alma Mater.

Oktoberfest Gives Back!

Oktoberfest USA Donates $216,618 Back to Local Organizations in 2025

Oktoberfest USA announces a total of $216,618 in direct donations to local veterans, volunteer organizations, marching bands, non-profits, and school groups following this year’s festival. Each year, the event relies on hundreds of volunteers and community partners to help bring the fest to life — from parade participants and grounds operations to musical performances in the parades and event support services. These donations represent a direct reinvestment in the people and organizations that make Oktoberfest possible.

In addition to these direct donations, Oktoberfest contributes nearly $26 million in annual economic impact to the La Crosse region through tourism, local business spending, and hospitality revenue. The direct donations announced this month are separate from that economic activity and represent funds going directly back into the community.

For information on how to get involved with Oktoberfest, visit www.oktoberfestusa.com/get-involved

Oktoberfest Board presents check to Coulee Region Organizations, October 2025

Oktoberfest Parade Marshals present check to La Crosse Confluence Band and La Crosse Logan Physical Education Program, November 2025

Oktoberfest Board and Staff present donation check to The Hunger Task Force, November 2025

 

2025 Group Donation Recipients:

7 Rivers Big Brothers Big Sisters
Altra Foundation
Amanda’s Dance Academy
Angel’s House of Healing
Aquinas Dance Team
Aquinas High School – Marching Blu-Golds
Arcadia High School – Arcadia High School Marching Band
Black River Falls High School – Marching Tigers
Blue Stars Alumni & Friends Drum & Bugle Corps
Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse
Caledonia Founder’s Days
Caledonia Jr. Prom
Caledonia Senior Party
Caledonia Soccer
Causeway Givers
Camp Decorah Ranger Crew
Crucifixion School
Dazzler Dance Team
Emerson Elementary PTO
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School Red Hawk Band
GECU Credit Union for Kids
Gemütlichkeit Foundation
Hmong2Hmong
Holmen Dance Team
Holmen High School Marching Vikings
Holmen Middle School Marching Band
Holmen Peru Trip
Holmen Show Choir
Holy Trinity
Hope Restore
Hunger Task Force
Knights of Columbus
La Crescent High School Band Boosters
La Crescent PTO
La Crescent Rotary Club
La Crescent-Hokah High School – Marching Lancer Band
La Crescent-Hokah Middle School Marching Lancers
La Crosse Area German Relations Association
La Crosse Builders Exchange
La Crosse Central High School – Central Riverhawk Marching Band
La Crosse Confluence
La Crosse Mississippi Sisters
La Crosse Show Choir
La Crosse Symphony Orchestra
La Crosse Logan Physical Education Program
Lancer Volleyball
Logan High School Marching Band
Longfellow Middle School – 8th Grade Marching Trojans
Luther High School – Marching Knights
Marine Credit Union Foundation
Mary Mother of Church Men’s Club
Melrose-Mindoro Mustang Marching Band
Mental Health Coalition of Greater La Crosse
Miss La Crosse Scholarship Organization
Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Organization
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association
North Side Business Association
OHS Band Parent Support Group
Onalaska High School Band Boosters
Onalaska High School – Marching Hilltoppers
Onalaska Show Choirs Parent Group
Rotary After Hours
Rotary Club of La Crosse
Rotary Works Foundation
River City Rough Riders Football
RUSH WI West
School District of La Crosse
Seven Rivers Disc Golf Club
Sparta High School – Sparta High School Marching Band
Sparta Show Choir
Star Center
St. Boniface School
St Joe’s Lions
Tabby Town
Tri-State Toe Picks
UW La Crosse – UWL Alumni Band
UWL Best Buddies
UWL Chemistry & Biochemistry Club
UWL Marching Band
UWL Psych Graduate Program
UWL Screaming Eagles
UWL Triathlon
UWL Women’s Frisbee
UWL Women’s Hockey Club
UWL Wrestling
WAFER
Warriors Baton
Warriors Performing Arts – Warriors Performing Arts
West Salem High School – Marching Panthers
West Salem Middle School Marching Panthers
West Salem Parents Class of 2026
Westby High School Marching Norse
Women’s Fund of La Crosse
Winona Humane Society

The Story Of Oktoberfest’s Traditional Lederhosen

When you think Oktoberfest, you may envision beer and pretzels, but most of all, the traditional fashion of the men’s lederhosen. Lederhosen are short or knee-length breeches made of leather. Traditional lederhosen are hand made of tanned deer leather which makes the pants soft and light but very tearproof. All variations usually consist of two side pockets, one hip pocket, one knife pocket, and a codpiece (drop front). An Oktoberfest lederhosen costume consists of the following:

  • Leather trousers in brown, dark green or black leather breeches, commonly short or knee-length but also as long ones called Bundhosen or Kniebundhosen, braided or embroidered
  • Suspenders in “V” or “H” style
  • White or light checkered shirt, usually in red, blue or green
  • Socks, usually in cream, grey or hunter green in knee-length, ankle-length or Loferl-style
  • Shoes “Haferlschuh” or “Haferl” in black or brown

Formerly, lederhosen were worn for pheasant work among men of the Alpine and surrounding regions, including Bavaria, Austria, the Allgäu, Switzerland, the autonomous Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (formerly part of Austria-Hungary) and Alpine area of today’s Slovenia.

La Couturière Parisienne, however, claims that lederhosen was originally not exclusively a Bavarian garment but was worn all over Europe, especially by riders, hunters, and other people involved in outdoor activities. The flap (drop front) may have been a unique Bavarian invention. The drop-front style became so popular in the 18th century that it was known in France as à la bavaroise, “in the Bavarian style.”

The popularity of lederhosen in Bavaria dropped sharply in the 19th century. They began to be considered as uncultured peasants’ clothing that was not fitting for modern city-dwellers. However, in the 1880s a resurgence set in, and several clubs were founded in Munich and other large cities devoted to preserving Bavarian culture with the lederhosen fashion. King Ludwig II was also a great fan of traditional costumes. His acceptance of lederhosen made it so popular that today Oktoberfest is not complete without it. Oktoberfest lederhosen represents the continued celebration, preservation, and pride of the Bavarian culture.