Could These MN and WI Oktoberfests Be America’s Best?

Raise your steins, because our neck of the woods is once again in the running for having some of the top Oktoberfest celebrations in America!

That's right, from Minnesota’s hearty celebrations to Wisconsin’s beer-soaked traditions, these three festivals are again being highlighted as some of the very best outside of Germany itself.

Why Minnesota and Wisconsin Became Oktoberfest Hotspots

Here in Minnesota, we're known for our 10,000 Lakes, but we're also no slouch when it comes to celebrating Oktoberfest. And seeing as a celebration about beer seems much more at home behind the Cheddar Curtain over in Wisconsin, it's no surprise America's Dairyland does Oktoberfest right as well.

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And while we've always known that living here in the upper Midwest, now the rest of the country is starting to catch on to our top-notch Oktoberfest celebrations as well. That's because three huge Oktoberfests-- one here in Minnesota and two over in Wisconsin-- are in the running for a spot on USA Today's 10 Best Oktoberfest list this year.

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Why Minnesota and Wisconsin Became Oktoberfest Hotspots

Minnesota and Wisconsin became a natural home for Oktoberfest celebrations thanks to the large number of German immigrants who settled in both states in the mid-1800s. History.com reports that the first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 when Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese, and they threw quite the beer-infused party to celebrate.

And carrying on their German heritage, those celebrations soon popped up here as well, and today, this German festival is recreated in cities across the United States each fall-- especially here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, History.com said.

This year, the USA Today 10 Best Oktoberfest list has identified 20 different Oktoberfest celebrations from across the country that are finalists and now in the running for a spot on its 10 Best list in 2026. Those in our neck of the woods include:

Which Minnesota and Wisconsin Oktoberfests Are Finalists?

Minnesota's New Ulm Oktoberfest - Visit New Ulm notes this massive festival is the largest in the state, with live music, a market, polka dancing, and plenty of German fare, its website notes.

Oktoberfest USA celebration in La Crosse, Wisconsin - Established in 1961 and billed as "the longest-running Oktoberfest in the Midwest," Oktoberfest USA (nicknamed Das Beste) offers fun for everyone, its website says.

Wisconsin's New Glarus Oktoberfest - This classic festival is loved by locals and visitors alike and is known for tons of fun in the form of live music, delicious craft beer from the New Glarus Brewing Co., traditional Swiss and German treats, and tasty bites, including Swiss-Wisconsin cheeses, according to its website.

You can vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, September 7 at noon ET. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, September 16. Whether you're staying in Minnesota or heading to Wisconsin, Oktoberfest is a great way to take part in one of the first fall festivals. And even though it's still August, speaking of great things to do in the fall in Minnesota, keep scrolling to check out 10 of the best corn mazes to get lost in this autumn as well!