Carnival rides, cash raffles and a Friday fish fry are only part of the draw at Oak Creek LionsFest this Labor Day weekend. The four-day festival at American Legion Post 434 has quietly become one of the largest philanthropic engines in the city, with organizers estimating it has funneled somewhere between $3 million and $4 million back into Oak Creek and southeast Wisconsin over the decades.
That figure comes from Scott Koenig, who told TMJ4 News the festival's cumulative community investment is probably in that range. LionsFest is the Oak Creek Lions Club's largest annual fundraiser, and its proceeds flow into the Oak Creek Lions Community Foundation, which in turn supports larger projects the club takes on throughout the year, according to the same report. The festival itself, per TMJ4, offers free admission and free parking, runs on volunteer labor, and features three music venues, carnival rides, food and drink tents, meat raffles and cash raffles.
An $8,000 Raffle and a Weekend of Free Fun
This year's schedule, detailed by Patch, included an $8,000 “Big Money” cash raffle, carnival rides, a Sunday morning car show, meat raffles and the traditional Friday fish fry. Admission and parking remain free, Patch notes, even as the rides and raffles carry the fundraising weight. LionsFest runs through Monday, September 7, at American Legion Post 434 on Shepard Avenue, per TMJ4's report.
For Nitin Aggarwal, the festival has become a Labor Day tradition he attends with his family, according to TMJ4. He told the station it's a fun way to spend a long weekend, and he appreciates that the money raised supports investment in Oak Creek and southeast Wisconsin. Aggarwal also said the festival demonstrates volunteer opportunities to his daughter — a small but pointed example of how a carnival weekend translates into civic education for the next generation.
Ten New Defibrillators, One Big Donation
The clearest recent example of that investment landed on school grounds this year. The Oak Creek Lions Club invested $30,000 in outdoor AEDs, and Oak Creek schools now have 10 outdoor automated external defibrillators installed at all Oak Creek schools, according to TMJ4's reporting. Public board records reviewed by Citizen Portal show the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board of Education formally voted on May 18 to accept a $30,770 donation from the Lions Club to finance the AED project. The same board meeting also involved creating a special-education aide position and adjusting the asking price on district property, Citizen Portal reported. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services glossary, AED stands for automated external defibrillator.
The nonprofit machinery behind that gift has real financial scale. IRS Form 990-EZ filings reviewed by Cause IQ show the Oak Creek Lions Community Foundation, formed in 2010, held $341,808 in total assets and generated $107,458 in revenue during fiscal year 2025, with $34,516 of that coming from net gaming and fundraising event revenue. It's a reminder that LionsFest isn't just a weekend carnival — it's the annual fundraising event that keeps a foundation with six-figure yearly revenue running.
Food Pantries, Scholarships and a 67-Year Run
Beyond the AED project, LionsFest revenue supports local food pantries and funds scholarships, according to TMJ4. The club's broader charitable work is part of its community focus.
The Oak Creek Lions Club has now run the festival for 67 years, per TMJ4. Today, LionsFest is held at American Legion Post 434.
The club continues its community-service work.
Rooted in a City That Fought to Stay Independent
The club's civic role is reflected in its support for projects and causes in Oak Creek.
The club's community work extends beyond the festival. Whether rising festival operating costs will affect how much the club can distribute to the community in future years remains an open question, though for now, LionsFest continues to draw families like Aggarwal's back to Shepard Avenue every Labor Day.
