Join Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on October 11-13, 2024 to celebrate the gifts of their vibrant community through Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest! Stay tuned for more information about family events, food, drink, music, and more! Block off this weekend and they hope to see you there!

Save October 11-13 for an Oktoberfest Artisan Fair Weekend Celebration! This weekend includes an artisan fair on Saturday and Sunday with art and handcrafted items. Plus live music, family-friendly art activities, cake walks, s’mores and campfire, beer garden, food, and more. Polka Mass at 4 p.m.

Our Lady of Lourdes (3722 S. 58th St. Milwaukee WI 53220) on the Southwest side of Milwaukee. Free admission & parking.

Note to Artisans:  They are looking for Artisans to join us to showcase and sell your amazing products.

The event focuses on intergenerational activities. All ages are invited to join in making art. The activities change from year to year. In the past, there has been pumpkin decorating, painting, and beaded bracelets to name a few. Most activities happen on Saturday afternoon, but check the schedule. You would not want to miss the campfire and s’mores, if weather permits!

The campus is busy with music, conversation, laughter, activities, and shopping. Sometimes it is nice to find a quiet, beautiful setting for a conversation and a sweet treat. The Black Forest Café is magical place to relax and indulge on decadent tortes, warm homemade apple strudel, cookies, and coffee. Visit several times!

Lines of people wait for apple strudel in The Black Forest Café, delivered piping hot from the oven.

Toni Osep’s apple strudel is legendary. She began making the strudel for the first Oktoberfest in 2009 after years of perfecting her technique for family and friends. As she aged, it became a challenge to stretch the dough over the top of the entire kitchen table. Her son, Ed, initially helped peel apples and in time progressed to learning how to stretch the dough. Toni mentored this process right up until she passed at age 97!

Ed now makes the famous apple strudel for Oktoberfest Artisan Fair. There are no shortcuts. It is a labor of love and Ed enjoys hearing how much people enjoy the homemade art!

The cake walks are fun. Twelve players move around a circle to music and conducted by our famous Grace! When the music stops, a number is picked. The winner chooses a homemade cake to take home or share at their table. Grace is often stopped out in the community, such as a grocery store, with an exclamation “You’re the cake walk lady! Will you be coming back again?” Yes she will!

Approximately 60 beautiful unique baskets are raffled out throughout the weekend of Oktoberfest, all donated by community businesses and parish members. There are assorted themes and guests are guaranteed to find something that excites them. Calling all wine and beer lovers, dog or cat parents, art buffs, coffee drinkers, or those with a sweet tooth. The tickets are an affordable $2 each.

Related:

All things FALL in Lake Country

2024 Fall Fest Guide