OTTUMWA — The annual Ottumwa Oktoberfest celebration is upon us and will feature both the Kiddie Parade and the Main Parade.

The Kiddie Parade will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. along Church Street. Motorists should be aware of street closures between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. from the St. Patrick’s Church area to the Happy Joe’s area.

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Main Parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the intersection of Kitterman Avenue and West Main Street. From there, the parade will proceed east on Main Street to Green Street, north to East Second Street, then west to the Wapello County/City of Ottumwa Law Enforcement Center. In addition, the staging area will be closed to traffic from the intersection of West Main Street and West Second Street to the beginning of the parade route on West Main Street. Closure of the staging area is expected to begin around 7:00 a.m. with the route closure to follow approximately an hour later. Closures are expected to last until noon.

Motorists are encouraged to plan for both these events and exercise extra caution if traveling near the parade routes during these times.