Media Release: October Pub Crawl

October 05, 2026

       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OSHKOSH POLICE DEPARTMENT

________________________________________

 

Date: 10/05/2026        

Time: 2:00 PM

Contact: Officer Kate Mann

Public Affairs/ Crime Prevention Officer

(920) 236-5742

Subject: October 2026 Pub Crawl

The Oshkosh Police Department is preparing for the upcoming fall Pub Crawl. Pub Crawl is an informal event in which large groups—primarily students and young adults—move between private residences and house parties near the UW–Oshkosh campus. This unsanctioned event is not sponsored by the City of Oshkosh or sanctioned by the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. It has increasingly been associated with disruptive and, at times, violent behavior, including excessive alcohol consumption, large crowds, and house parties that increase the risk of criminal activity and disorderly conduct.

Weapons-related incidents occurred during both the October 2025 and April 2026 events, emphasizing the ongoing public-safety concerns associated with Pub Crawl. The Oshkosh Police Department strongly discourages participation.

To help protect attendees, community members, and responding personnel, the City is dedicating additional planning and staffing resources to the event. In the weeks leading up to Pub Crawl, the Oshkosh Police Department has conducted proactive enforcement efforts and an extensive public-education campaign regarding the City’s Nuisance Party Prohibited Ordinance.

 

Nuisance Party Prohibited Ordinance

The new Nuisance Party Prohibited Ordinance gives officers an additional tool to address unsafe gatherings before they escalate. If a party creates a public-safety nuisance, officers may order the activity to stop and direct nonresidents to leave the property. If the participants don’t comply, tenants, occupants, and others in control of the premises may be cited for noncompliance. Repeated violations may also lead to enforcement under the City’s chronic nuisance premises ordinance.

 

Fall Pub Crawl Law Enforcement Response

Officers will strictly enforce applicable City ordinances and state criminal laws throughout the event. Enforcement action may include citations, arrests, and other appropriate measures when conduct threatens public safety, disrupts the community, or violates the law.

Several Oshkosh Police Department specialized teams will be deployed in residential neighborhoods near the UW–Oshkosh campus to provide a highly visible law-enforcement presence. They will be supported by officers from the UW–Oshkosh Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin State Patrol.

The Oshkosh Police Department urges students, parents, residents, and prospective participants to make responsible, informed decisions regarding Pub Crawl.

Short-term rental owners and hotels should be aware that individuals may attempt to rent properties specifically to host house parties during the event. The Oshkosh Police Department identified a similar situation last year and notified the property owners before the rental occurred. Those owners took appropriate steps to prevent the rental. Property owners are encouraged to carefully review rental inquiries, verify guest information, and remain alert to reservations involving large groups, local renters, or other indicators that a property may be used for an unauthorized party.

The Oshkosh Police Department remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our residents. We will continue to take swift, decisive action in response to conduct that threatens public safety. The safety and security of our community remain our highest priority.

 

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