Before You Jet—Don’t Miss This Oshkosh Dive Bar Gem
EAA AirVenture is just a week away and with at least 40+ years at AirVenture, I can say my excitement is building fast! AirVenture means not just airplanes, but a lot of friends from around the country (and the world) heading here for their Oshkosh experience.
I know your time at AirVenture is a great Oshkosh experience, but there is also a great Oshkosh experience waiting for you when you head into our wonderful little city and enjoy some of what us locals call the real “Oshkosh.”
What I really like to hear from friends at AirVenture is that their time in Oshkosh means visiting “old friends” like Ardy and Ed’s for cheese curds and ice cream; the Roxy for that supper club feel, or Parnell’s Place or TJ’s Harbor for fish and chicken.
These are the Oshkosh experiences we locals love to have you experience.
And here’s one of my favorites that I’d like to share for your 2025 Oshkosh experience-
Were you one of the thousands who stopped by Pete’s Garage Bar tent in the southwest corner of the main exhibit area at AirVenture 2024? Did you have one of those fantastic cheeseburgers? Did you get a kick out of the names of the food choices? Or look at all the license plates around the tent? Did it make you wonder what the real Pete’s Garage Bar is like?
While Pete did bring some of the decor from the bar to share with you on AirVenture grounds, you really need to take an afternoon or evening and visit the real thing.
Pete’s isn’t that far from the airport…just a short 2-1/2 miles to the north at 1514 Oregon Street. Considering it’s what we loving refer to as a dive bar, make sure you don’t walk past it since it’s not full of neon signs and fancy landscaping on the outside.
But…open the door…give your eyes a few seconds to adjust to the bar lighting, and have a gander at dive bar heaven. (Actually, you just walked in to the #1 Dive Bar in the country according to DiveBarRoadtrip.com )
And once in, you now know the reason there are license plates in the tent. Hang out for a while and you know why Pete’s is the place to go for good food, drinks and a good time. Of course, Pete’s has a reputation for snarky bartenders that will trash-talk you...so be prepared. But hey, it’s just just their unique way about making you feel at home in Oshkosh.
As you scroll through the photos, which hopefully not only give you a feel for the place, but also nudge you into visiting, take a look at that picture of owner Pete Haferman posing…tell me that isn’t something that should be on the cover of Tiger Beat!
The one downside for your visit to Pete’s during AirVenture is that you won’t see Pete behind the bar. He’s is the kitchen back at the tent on AirVenture grounds making sure that huge cheeseburger you ordered tastes as delicious as it looks.
And if you liked the uniqueness of Pete’s, Oshkosh is home to a lot of local bars that each give you a different look and feel for your Oshkosh Experience. Check out these videos from Discover Oshkosh here!
