Oktoberfest is a big money maker in La Crosse.
A new report from UW-Whitewater says the annual beer and brat fest is worth 26-million-dollars. Researchers say that includes all of the money spent at Oktoberfest, the gas, hotel rooms, other food and of course beer that visitors buy each fall. The report says a lot of the money goes to, or comes from local non-profits that then use the money raised for other good works. A.J. Frels, executive director of Explore La Crosse, says Oktoberfest is the area’s largest festival, and is an example of the hospitality that La Crosse has to offer.
