Oshkosh and the Surrounding Area

UW Oshkosh is centrally located in the community, which is made up of more than 65,000 people. Oshkosh is a city on the water and has a river running through campus, offering opportunities for kayaking, water sport entertainment, fishing, sailing and more.

Downtown Oshkosh, less than one mile from campus, offers bistro-style coffee houses, dining, shopping and more. The Paine Art Center and Gardens, the Grand Opera House and the Leach Amphitheater, all within walking distance from campus, offer unique and accessible cultural and artistic performances and exhibitions. Oshkosh also is home to country and rock music festivals, which attract national artists each year, as well one of the world's largest aviation extravaganzas.

Activities

Students can enjoy affordable outlet shopping or watch hit movies at the local cinema. Live music can be found at Oshkosh’s large summer music festivals, Country USA, Rock USA and Waterfest.

Arts and Culture

For those interested in the arts, the Paine Art Center and Gardens and Grand Opera House offer unique cultural and theatrical events and presentations. Attracting over 800,000 people, Oshkosh is renowned for its Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture and Museum, the world’s largest aviation celebration.

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Community Resources

City of Oshkosh
Winnebago County
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau
Shopping
Restaurants
Attractions
Activities
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Appleton and Green Bay

Appleton

Within a half-hour drive from campus, you can attend a Broadway show at Appleton’s world-class Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC), visit the premier shopping center, Fox River Mall, or catch a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball game, a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Green Bay

An hour drive from campus, Green Bay offers additional entertainment options. Students can attend a major musical or theatrical performance at the Resch Center or Meyer Theatre, or enjoy a Green Bay Packers football game at historic Lambeau Field.

Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago

For day or weekend trips, Oshkosh is conveniently located within a two-hour drive of Milwaukee and Madison and within a three-hour drive of Chicago. These bigger cities offer a plethora of things to do — from attending sporting events and concerts to visiting museums and experiencing downtown shopping.

Beyond Wisconsin

While a student at UW Oshkosh, you can explore new cultures and lifestyles by studying or traveling to places around the globe. Many of our students study abroad through our more than 50 unique international study experiences in more than 25 countries. Students can experience English and theatre in Cambridge, England; explore nursing and healthcare in India; or study economic, social and political issues in Kenya. Though the National Student Exchange program, students can spend a semester or school year at one of more than 170 universities or colleges nationwide.

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