“Oktober” is coming early this year 🍂

Oktoberfest in New Glarus, WI
608today Oktoberfest
Do you hear that? New Glarus is calling and we must go to Oktoberfest. | Photo by 608today team
Don your lederhosen or dirndl + raise a stein — it’s time to celebrate Oktoberfest. It’s that time of year when the Isthmus starts feeling like our sister city — Freiburg, Germany. Embrace our region’s German roots at the highly coveted Autumn festival.

Taking place in New Glarus, WI — America’s little Switzerland + home of the famous brewery — the area’s largest Oktoberfest is kicking off this week. Here’s what to know.

🗓️ Make your plans
The four-day festival commences on Thurs., Sept. 22, and will continue through Sun., Sept. 25 with German beer, Bavarian food, pop-up shops, and entertainment. Check out the official schedule to plan your Oktoberfest-ivities.

The New Glarus Brewing Co. logo

Check when seasonal beers are being brewed on New Glarus’ online beer schedule.

Photo by @beertebo

🍻 Prost to the main events
King and Queen contest | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 8:30 p.m.
Enter the pageant with your best Oktoberfest apparel + help vote for the weekend’s royalty, rewarded with cash prizes and free beer.

Tap the wooden keg | Fri., Sept. 23 | 7 p.m.
Participate in the annual festival tradition + see brewery officials hammer a spout into a keg of Staghorn Octoberfest.

Chainsaw wood carver | Sat., Sept. 24 | 1-4 p.m.
See local master craftspeople create unique + holiday-themed works to commemorate this year’s fest. (Pro tip: This event is hosted off of the main strip at the intersection of 6th Avenue + Highway 69.)

Polka + other live music | All weekend | Times vary
Patrons should expect not only to don their best outfits, but their dancing shoes too. Listen to seasonal tunes + dance the weekend away during the eight live shows taking place throughout the festival.
Round up your Oktoberfest crew and send them this newsletter to start planning your trip to New Glarus.

Click here to have your event featured.

Today
  • PhotoMidwest Festival 2022 | Tues., Sept. 20 | 3:30-7 p.m. | Biopharmaceutical Technology Center, 5445 E. Cheryl Pkwy. Fitchburg | Free | View the 2022 Promega Fall Art Showcase featuring works from the PhotoMidwest Festival. 📸
  • FOOT-Loose Dance | Tues., Sept. 20 | 6-8 p.m. | Olin Park Pavilion, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct. | Free | Put on your dancing shoes to groove the night away with multiple dance styles + instructors.
Wednesday
  • Carts in Parks | Wed., Sept. 21 | 5-8 p.m. | North Star Park, 502 North Star Dr. | Free entry | Join the North Star Neighborhood Association for its last food cart night of the summer with eats from Propa Jerk & BBQ Jamaican Gourmet, Taquitos Marimar, and Thailand in a Truck. 🌳
  • Line Dancing | Wed., Sept. 21 | 6-8:30 p.m. | The Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave. | Free entry | Attend one of the early evening classes + enjoy a free dance period into the late evening.
Thursday
  • Michael Blaustein | Thurs., Sept. 22 | Comedy on State, 202 State St. | $29 | Hear a set from the co-host of the “Stiff Socks” podcast, also known from Amazon Prime’s “Inside Jokes”, MTV, and Montreal’s “Just For Laughs”. 🎤
  • Thursday’s Happier Hour | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 5-7 p.m. | High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave. | Free entry | Sit out on the patio with a cold beer and a free happy hour show.
Friday
  • Foraging Friday | Fri., Sept. 23 | 10 a.m. | Pinney Library, 204 Cottage Grove Rd. | Free | Join the Madison Public Library naturalist-in-residence for a day of local foraging + education. 🍄
  • Wine and Canvas | Fri., Sept. 23 | 6 p.m. | Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. | $50 | Learn from an experienced instructor during a step-by-step painting class while enjoying wine with community friends.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

Your usual coffee could never 💅

Super-Coffee-Sept-2022
Super Coffee is designed to impress your taste buds. | Photo provided by Super Coffee
Not-so-fun fact: One Starbucks Frappuccino contains 52 grams of sugar and 370 calories.

Fortunately, there’s a better option — meet Super Coffee, the nation’s No. 2 bottle coffee brand behind Starbucks.

Think of it as the latest + greatest in latte innovation: Super Coffee is just as tasty (and caffeinating) as Starbucks, but with ten grams of protein, zero grams of sugars or artificial sweeteners, and nearly 200 fewer calories.

Bonus: 608today readers can try it for free — just pay shipping. ☕ *
SNAG YOUR SUPER COFFEE SAMPLE

Weather
  • 84º | Scattered thunderstorms | 50% chance of rain ⛈️
Health
  • Public Health Madison & Dane County rolled out new expanded hours + weekend availability for its COVID-19 booster program. To make an appointment, check local clinics’ availability + hours.
Open
  • Say hello to Boneset Records — the 608’s newest, women-owned record shop selling vinyl, VHS, and other vintage goods. Located at 222 North St., the shop is only holding weekend hours from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays. (The Cap Times) 📼
Cause
  • In collaboration with Schuster’s Farm, Little John’s is raising money for a new community kitchen. Already serving 17,000 meals to the community every week, the organization aims to produce 200,000 per week in its new space once funding is secured. (NBC 15)
Madisonian
Number
  • 16,833. That’s how many fans were at the Kohl Center cheering on the Badger volleyball program when the women’s team broke the NCAA record for regular season volleyball attendance. Don’t miss the next record breaker, get tickets for an upcoming home game. 🏟️
Holiday
  • Spooky season already? The City of Madison announced its Halloween event schedule for this year. Madisonians can expect State Street festivities on Wed., Oct. 26 + Sat., Oct. 29.
Plan Ahead
  • “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is coming to the Overture Center this fall. Hollywood’s favorite love story is coming to life, right here on the Isthmus, for one week only from Tues., Oct. 18-Sun., Oct. 23 — get tickets. 🎭
Listen
  • New Glarus Brewing Co. is launching its very own podcast with host Dan Carey — co-owner and brewmaster. Listen in to 30-45 minute episodes to learn about brewing, the company, and beer culture.
Shop
Eat
  • Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: 608today readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up. *
Travel
  • Going on vacation this fall and need to learn a new language fast? With Babbel, you could be speaking a new language in as little as three weeks. Bonus: Get 55% off your subscription for a limited time. 🌎*
Correction
  • In yesterday’s newsletter, we shared the Wisconsin Historical Society’s recent announcement. We noted the 300 block of East Washington being listed on the State Register of Historic Places, that was incorrect. Instead, we meant to share the correct location of Rubin’s, the 300 block of East Wilson.
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Here’s to top 50 🥂

Harvey House’s top 50 New York Times nomination
Harvey House's main floor bar
Pull up a seat at one of the nations most celebrated hospitality destinations. | Photo by 608today team
Cheers to you, Harvey House. One of the 608’s newest + most popular eateries was named on the New York Times’ list of best restaurants in the nation.

Among only 50 establishments selected from across the country, the eatery draws on the food, hospitality culture + history of supper clubs in Wisconsin.

Earlier this year, City Editor Ryan had a chance to sit down with Shaina Robbins Papach — creative director and co-owner of The Harvey House — an esteemed chef, culinary entrepreneur + hospitality guru. Here’s a peek at our conversation.

Q: What was the driver for the restaurant’s location?
A: We looked at newer places, but ended up falling in love with the old train station — it’s old and beautiful, but has wonderful bones for us to work with. I grew up in Madison going to Cafe Palms, I’ve always loved this location. This is part of the city I really love.

Read the full conversation.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ryan.

Editor’s pick: This past weekend I went to my first ever Willy Street Fair. From live folk music to parades with child acrobats on unicycles, the event kept the Wil-Mar neighborhood on its feet all weekend long. Need some September plans? Check out our roundup of more fairs + festivals happening this month.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We re-introduced ourselves as your 608today editors.
Read More
Connect with us.

Editorial: Ally Geiger, Ryan Waldman, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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