Get a moo-ve on: Minocqua’s biggest fall tradition is almost here! Beef-A-Rama™ returns to downtown Minocqua for its 61st year on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
For more than 60 years, this one-of-a-kind celebration has filled downtown with the smell of roasting beef, live music, quirky competitions and plenty of good times. More than 12,000 people make their way to Minocqua for the event each year, so whether you’re a seasoned Beef-A-Rama™ pro or making your first trip, here’s what you need to know.
What is Beef-A-Rama™?
Beef-A-Rama™ is one of Minocqua’s longest-running and certainly one of its most unique traditions.
What started more than six decades ago has grown into a full day of beef, music, shopping, races, kids’ activities and Northwoods fun throughout downtown Minocqua. At the heart of it all is the Beef-A-Rama™ Roasting Competition, where local businesses, organizations and groups fire up their grills and compete for bragging rights.
And yes, dressing like a cow is completely acceptable. Encouraged, even.
When is Beef-A-Rama™?
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Downtown Minocqua
Beef-A-Rama™ takes place every year on the last Saturday in September. The event is free to attend, with activities happening throughout downtown Minocqua and Torpy Park.
What is there to do at Beef-A-Rama™?
Start the Day with the Rump Roast Run
Before digging into the beef, earn your appetite at the Lakeland Rotary Rump Roast Run. The morning includes 5K and 10K races that begin in downtown Minocqua, follow the Lake Minocqua shoreline and head toward the Bearskin State Trail. Younger runners can get in on the action with the Calf Mile race for kids ages 10 and under.
In true Beef-A-Rama™ fashion, the top overall male and female finishers in the 5K and 10K don't just earn bragging rights—they take home a beef roast.
Watch the Beef-A-Rama™ Roasters in Action
Follow your nose to Oneida Street, where the Beef-A-Rama™ Roasting Competition takes center stage. Dozens of competitors begin cooking early in the morning, preparing 10-pound USDA Choice inside top round roasts. Competitors go head-to-head in wood/smoke, charcoal and gas categories, with judges considering taste, appearance and texture.
But the beef is only part of the competition. Roasters go all-in decorating their stalls, dressing up and creating snacks to share with festivalgoers. Keep an eye out for samples along the way and vote for your favorites in the People’s Choice competitions.
The roasting awards take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Main Stage.
Grab an Official Beef Sandwich
You can't go to Beef-A-Rama™ without eating some beef.
Three official beef sandwiches are served around downtown:
- Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich at the Minocqua Lions Club Beer Garden in Torpy Park
- Shredded Beef Sandwich at the Cross Country Cruisers tent on Front Street
- Beef Brisket Sandwich at the Lakeland Rotary Beer Garden in a new location on the corner of W Chicago Street & Flambeau Street (Next to the Campanile Center For The Arts)
Sandwiches are typically available around 10 a.m. and are served until they're gone. They tend to sell out around 1–2 p.m., so don't wait too long to get your hands on one.
Our advice? Beef first. Questions later.
Shop the Prime Choice Art & Craft Show
Need a break between bites? Head to Torpy Park for the Prime Choice Art & Craft Show from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. More than 100 exhibitors will fill the park with handcrafted goods including original artwork, pottery, jewelry, clothing, photography, wood creations and more.
With Lake Minocqua as the backdrop, live music nearby and plenty of food throughout downtown, it's an easy place to spend part of your Beef-A-Rama™ day.
Get in on the Beef-A-Rama™ Fun
There's much more happening throughout the day than beef roasting. Cheer on competitors during the Beef Eating Contest, test your luck with the Lakeland Hawks Cow Pie Plop, catch live music throughout downtown, stop by the beer gardens, and find plenty of kids' activities for the younger members of the herd.
With something happening around nearly every corner, half the fun is simply wandering downtown and seeing what you find.
Getting to Beef-A-Rama™
With thousands of people heading downtown, one of the easiest ways to Beef-A-Rama™ is to use the FREE park-and-ride shuttles. Coming from the north? Park at Lakeland Union High School or the Trig's RV Lot. Coming from the south? Park at Truck Country. A handicap-accessible bus will also run from the Trig's RV Lot from 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Once you arrive downtown, Beef-A-Rama™ is easy to explore on foot.
Download the Beef-A-Rama™ App
Want event information right at your fingertips? Download the official Beef-A-Rama™ app for Apple or Android. Use it to help navigate the festivities and stay connected to Beef-A-Rama™ information throughout the day.
Make a Weekend of It
Beef-A-Rama™ may be the main event, but late September is a great time to explore the rest of the Minocqua Area, too.
Turn your Beef-A-Rama™ trip into a fall getaway with a scenic drive, hike or bike ride surrounded by changing leaves. Browse local shops, grab dinner after the festivities and spend another day exploring Minocqua, Arbor Vitae, Woodruff and Hazelhurst.
Beef-A-Rama™ draws a big crowd, so booking your lodging early is always a good idea. From cabins and cottages to resorts, hotels and vacation rentals, there are plenty of ways to make a weekend out of Minocqua's biggest fall tradition.
