An estimated 100-thousand people made their way to College Avenue in Appleton today for the 35th annual Octoberfest celebration. But it was more than just the vendors of Fox Cities’ non profits that benefited from the crowds of out of town visitors. Local businesses love the big boost too.
The sale of food, beer, arts and crafts at Appleton's Octoberfest has benefited Fox Cities non profits to the tune of about 2 and a half million dollars over the years. But when the crowds plug College Avenue up, local businesses reap the benefits too.
The idea of bringing Octoberfest to Appleton was conceived back in 1981 and it's been one of the state's biggest block parties ever since.
“It's one of the favorite events for all the people that live in Appleton," says Vinnie Oestreich the manager of the Surfin Bird in Downtown Appleton.
And when you bring 100-thousand people to College Avenue and force them to leave their cars behind, businesses along the stretch notice the foot traffic.
"A lot of times people will be downtown and walking past things that they don't normally see because either their not part of the downtown area or just don't stop in very often because of work or whatever," adds Kathy Boettcher a studio assistant at the Fire art studio in downtown Appleton.
"Even though we have been here going on five years some people still don't know that there's a skate shop downtown," adds Oestreich.
Today an art studio that's been here for 10 years, The Fire, is brushing up on their public relations skills. Today they are telling folks who maybe haven't noticed them before what they're all about.
"We're open but many people come in for projects. It's mainly just to check out what we are. So they stop by and see all the cool stuff in the window and then come in and ask us what we're about, what we do," says Boettcher.
And just a couple hundred feet down the block the Surfin Bird has learned too, that while their shop may not roll in the cash on a day like today they do gain a lot of new interest thanks to the crowds.
"We do get a lot busier on days like this. Maybe not so much sales wise but we get a lot of people walking the avenue and they're finding out about us," says Oestreich.
So here's to Octoberfest for what everyone knows it for.
"Beer, brats and music, that's Octoberfest," says Oestreich who would be out there with the crowds if he didn’t have to work.
More than 100 vendors were selling food in downtown Appleton today as well. Most of which were run by volunteers that plug much of the profits made today right back into Fox Cities non-profits.
