It's graduation time of the year -- when scholarships are awarded -- and a fundraiser that helps raise money for 14 school scholarships is just about to close.

Forks and Corks is June 5, 2025, at the Waterfront Cargill Room. This is the largest fundraising event for the Gemütlichkeit Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the La Crosse Oktoberfest Festival.

Ticket sales end next week. A ticket gets a curated meal and wine pairing, the first views of the new Oktoberfest button, an auction of incredible gifts, and a lot of genuine Oktoberfest fun.

Oktoberfest Trustees Brian Rude and Doug Kratt joined La Crosse Talk to about how significant it is to raise funding for 14 area high schools and for the Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest Scholarship Program.

Rude attributes the scholarship program to why the pageant remains a top attractor for contestants to the scholarship provided.

Kratt said between ticket sales, generous donations for the silent auction, and the live auctioning of the first Oktoberfest button, the event is able to raise 14 - $1000 scholarships.

Auction items include boat trips, sports outings, gift baskets, and unique Oktoberfest experiences.

Tickets are $90 with sponsorships still available. Go to : www.festfoundation.com and click on “Forks & Corks 2025” in the upper right corner to purchase or bid on items even if you are not attending.