Metro Jam is an annual two-day festival of FREE music in downtown Manitowoc, bringing national, regional, and local acts to the city’s Washington Park. Metro Jam, now in its 43rd year, brings a very diverse lineup of music to the MetroStage including original and classic rock, Americana, alt-country, roots, folk, blues, jazz, reggae, ska, bluegrass, indie, alternative, pop and much more. The featured headliner for this year’s Metro Jam is The Producers who will be taking the stage (and bring you back to the ’80s) at 8:30pm on Saturday evening, June 17th.
The lineup will be as follows:
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023
“European Music Tribute Night”
5:15PM LLOYD GOSZ & THE MYSTIC MOODS (Polka)
6:35PM ATHAS (Traditional Irish)
8:00PM CREAM CITY HOTCLUB (Gypsy Jazz)
SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2023
12:00PM ALMOST.CERTAIN
1:15PM FRYIN’KIELBASA BROTHERS
2:30PM LADYBIRD
4:00PM THE KEYSTONES
5:30PM XPOSED 4HEADS
7:00PM TURN TURN TURN
8:30PM THE PRODUCERS
You’ll find MetroJam action right along what is once again Highway 42 (it was Business 42 until they re-did the routes in town) a few miles after the east end of U.S. 151 at I-43. The road brings you right to Washington Park! U.S. 10 also brings you within two blocks.
MetroJam Address:
Washington Park
1115 Washington Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220 Website
Polish Fest is the largest Polish cultural festival in America, and it’s right on Milwaukee’s lakefront! Authentic dancing, food, music, family activities, and plenty of other entertainment (accordions may be involved.)
Some of that extra entertainment includes vodka tastings, the annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition, folk arts and crafts, and plenty of children’s activities.
Polish Fest runs Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th from noon until midnight; Sunday the 11th from noon to 8pm. A Sunday Mass will also take place, with free admission. Gates open at 9:30am Sunday for the Mass.
Tickets are $7 in advance, $12 at the Summerfest Gate. Military personnel, both active and retired, are admitted FREE with military ID.
Check out these event highlights:
Sukiennice Marketplace
Filled by over forty different vendors, our Sukiennice Marketplace gives you a chance to buy Polish items, from traditional Polish toys for children to a new piece of pottery. The Sukiennice Marketplace is also your source for massage & acupuncture, home improvement, and genealogy research. Find everything from relaxation to the knowledge of your Polish roots.
Cultural Village
2022 Cultural Village Exhibits will feature folk artists demonstrating traditional Polish crafts, including wycinanki (paper cutting), pisanki (decorated eggs), wianki (floral head wreaths) and more. Polanki’s sales tent featuring handmade Polish pottery (Boleslawiec), Christmas ornaments, recipe books and other folk art are both located in the Cultural Village. The Polish Genealogical Society and the Milwaukee County Genealogical Society will again be at Polish Fest in a new location, east of the demonstrator tent.
There’s also the Polish Forum, click here for a schedule of speakers.
Cooking demonstrations will abound, too: check out this schedule of events.
Polish Fest Schedule:
As you enter the festival grounds, you will be entertained by:
Friday Noon – 4:00 Jimmy Locke & Friends
4:30 – 8:30 Vern Tretow Band
Saturday Noon – 4:00 Jimmy Locke & Friends
4:30 – 8:30 Bryan O’Donnel Band
Sunday Noon – 3:30 Jimmy Locke & Friends
4:00 – 8:00 Roger Boll
Friday – June 9
Miller Stage
5:00 Shut the Front Door
6:00 Opening Ceremony
7:00 Shut the Front Door
9:00 The First Wave
Non-Stop Polka Stage
Noon Eddie Wojcik Tribute
3:20 I.P.A. Tribute Band
4:00 The Boys
4:40 I.P.A. Tribute Band
5:20 The Boys
6:00 I.P.A. Tribute Band
6:40 The Boys
7:20 Polka Country Musicians
8:00 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
8:40 Polka Country Musicians
9:20 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
10:00 Polka Country Musicians
10:40 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
11:20 Polka Country Musicians
Sobieski Cultural Stage
12:30 Larry Lynne – Decades
1:00 The Britins
2:00 Larry Lynne – Decades
3:00 The Britins
4:30 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble / Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble Regina, Canada
6:00 Capuchins Walk For The Hungry
7:30 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble / Polonia Polish Folk Dance Regina, Canada
8:30 Korona Band From Canada
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Children’s Stage
1:00 Animated Illusionist Arden James
2:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
3:00 Animated Illusionist Arden James
4:00 Wayne & Wingnut
5:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
6:00 Accompany of Kids
7:00 David Seebach’s Wonders of Magic
Saturday – June 10
“The Big Boomski Fireworks” at 10:15pm
Miller Stage Noon John Gora & Gorale
1:30 SqueezeBox with Mollie B & Ted Lange
2:30 John Gora & Gorale
3:30 SqueezeBox with Mollie B & Ted Lange
5:00 Brett Newski
9:00 Almighty Vinyl
Non-Stop Polka Stage Noon The Maroszek Brothers
12:40 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
1:20 The Maroszek Brothers
2:00 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
2:40 The Maroszek Brothers
3:20 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
4:00 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
4:40 Polka Family
5:20 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
6:00 Polka Family
6:40 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
7:20 Polka Family
8:00 Polka Country Musicians
8:40 The Boys
9:20 Polka Country Musicians
10:00 The Boys
10:40 Polka Country Musicians
11:20 The Boys
Sobieski Cultural Stage Noon Song & Dance Ensemble Lajkonik
12:30 Polonia Dance Ensemble Regina, Canada / Song & Dance Ensemble Lajkonik
1:00 Whisper Center for Artistic Expression
2:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
3:00 Dolina Polish Dancers / Polonia Dance Ensemble Regina, Canada
4:00 Wesloly Lud Polish Dance Company of P.R.C.U.A. Zakopane Polish Dance Ensemble / P.R.C.U.A and Southwest Center of Polish Dancing P.R.C.U.A.
5:00 Wawel Polish Dancers
5:30 Song & Dance Ensemble Lajkonik
6:00 PFDAA Polish Folk Dance Gala
8:30 The Silver Orkiestra
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Children’s Stage
1:00 Syenka Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
2:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
3:00 Juchasi Polish Highlaner Dance Group
5:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
6:00 Wayne & Wingnut
7:00 David Seebach’s Wonders of Magic
Sunday – June 11
Miller Stage
Noon The Music Connection
1:30 John Gora & Gorale
2:30 The Music Connection
3:30 John Gora & Gorale
5:00 Jessie Marie & The Rippers
Non-Stop Polka Stage
Noon Polka Family
12:40 Polka Generations
1:20 Polka Family
2:00 Polka Generations
2:40 Polka Family
3:20 Polka Generations
4:00 D Street Band
Sobieski Cultural Stage
10:00 Mass Prelude
10:15 Mass
1:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
2:00 Stas Venglevski
3:30 Al White
6:00 Depot Express
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Children’s Stage
Noon Little, Jr., Teen & Teen Polish Fest Pageant
3:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
4:00 Wayne & Wingnut
5:00 Accompany of Kids
Copperfest celebrates Wisconsin’s “Copper Country” in Oconto with tons of fun activities, history, food, a big lineup of live music, and more. Come join the fun on June 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2023, it’s easy access off U.S. 41 and Highway 22.
Live music , the Artist Village is back, as well as the Car Show.
Most events will take place at the American Legion Post 74 Park, 709 Madison Street in Oconto.
FRIDAY – Ten Cases Later @ 7 PM
SATURDAY – Wet Possum @ 11:45 AM
SATURDAY – Warden @ 3:30 PM
SATURDAY – Michigan Shivers @ 7:30 PM
SUNDAY – Aaron Socha Livewire @ 11:30 AM
Entertainers, UTL Wrestling, trout pond, Artist Village (crafts & vendors), car show, children games and bouncers and much more!!
Artist Village: Friday 5PM-9PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM. 120 artists and crafters from all over the state! For more information or to get an application please call 414-324-6193.
The parade begins at 10am Saturday, with a beach theme! The Car Show runs Saturday from 10am to 2pm in the Holy Trinity Church parking lot. Plenty of fantastic models to peruse!
U.S. 41 and Highway 22 bring you there! You’ll find Oconto at the eastern end of Highway 22, right at U.S. 41. It’s about eight miles east of U.S. 141 and 10 miles south of Highway 64. Copperfest is in town, and just east past downtown is the shores of Green Bay, with lakeside parks and piers and a view across the bay to Door County. It’s only about half an hour from the city of Green Bay and twenty minutes from Marinette.
Oconto Copperfest Address:
American Legion Post 74 Park
709 Madison Street
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 604-3636 Website
Marshfield features its 42nd annual Dairyfest Friday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 4th at venues all across the city. This is Hub City’s annual honor of the agricultural industry and Wisconsin’s hardworking dairy farmers! This community tradition has been providing fun for the whole family, during these “dairy-licious” days.
The Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI) puts on the event, which includes a wide variety of fun activities across the three-day weekend.
Dairyfest Info & Schedule of Events:
What is Dairyfest?
Held annually the weekend after Memorial Day, Dairyfest is a fun community celebration that honors the agriculture industry and local dairy farmers. Dairyfest features a lot of fun events, including the annual Dairyfest Breakfast, a parade, kids’ activities, a Picnic in the Park, and much more. The theme of this year’s celebration is “To the Moo-n Back”!
Thursday, June 1
3:00-5:00pm /Kick-Off to Summer & Giveaways: Held at the Wenzel Family Plaza come for the ceremonial start of the water fountain and the Vandehey Waters giveaway and the Wisconsin Dells giveaway!
Friday, June 2
5:30-9:30am / Dairyfest Breakfast: Held at the Expo Building at the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 513 E. 17th St., this traditional event welcomes nearly 2,000 people every year. This year’s menu includes a scrambled egg special, hot coffee, white or chocolate milk, and more. The first 1,000 attendees will receive a commemorative ceramic coffee mug. Carry-out orders are accepted but must be placed ahead of time.
11:00-8:00pm / Food Truck Friday and Picnic in the Park: Food trucks will be at Columbia Park, 201 W. Arnold St., until 5:00pm and a variety of food booths will be available throughout the evening. Join the fun in the Park including inflatables, petting zoo, coin & candy hunt, educational games by Richfield 4-H, Reis Martial Arts, Main Street Conservatory of Dance, and the Marshfield Civic Band. And don’t miss out on Movie in the Park at sundown!
7:00-9:00pm / Hub City Concert Series Kick-Off: Join the fun at the Wenzel Family Plaza and enjoy food trucks and outdoor games. Live music starts at 7:00pm with NEWSKIES.
Saturday, June 3
Additional activities scheduled for Saturday include:
9:00am-3:00pm / Fishing For Kids Hosted by the Lions Club at Wildwood Park & Zoo Upper Pond. Kids 12 and under; $1 fee
10:00am-3:00pm / Pie Social at Upham Mansion, 212 W. 3rd St.
10:00am-4:00pm / Center City Fun Day at Wenzel Family Plaza
11:00am / Dairyfest Parade
Food trucks / Friday & Saturday
Softball /Friday & Saturday at The Marshfield Fairgrounds
Disc golf tournaments / Registration starts from 7:00-8:30am at Braem Park
3:00pm-11pm / Nutz Deep Dairyfest Beer Garden at 809 S. Central Ave.
Marshfield Dairyfest Address:
Various locations around town, including the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
513 E. 17th Street
Marshfield, WI 54449 Website
South Milwaukee hosts quite a cool thing Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th: Crusherfest! Named for native son and professional wrestler Reggie “Da Crusher” Lisowski, Crusher Fest is a Wild combination of fun and competitive activities, promising “cold beer, polka, live wrestling, and more!”
Mr. Saloon Competition
Da Crusher loved talking about his days growing up around saloons on the rough and tumble blue collar streets of South Milwaukee, and new this year, the Mr. Saloon Competition salutes this with Keg Holding, Trivia, Throw-the-Drunk, Sausage Eating, and Beer Drinking – among other things – all in the pursuit of being crowned Crusherfest’s Mr. Saloon and walking away with a championship belt. The event will take place at Crusherfest on Sunday, June 4th starting at 1pm. Men and women are welcome to participate. Participants must be over the age of 21 and bring a photo ID with their birthdate to the event. Participants must bring a smartphone to the event. Give it a try!
Crusherfest welcomes vendors offering everything from cigars to retro outfits, jewelry to signs and artwork. They include Hollyville, Thurston’s, Lake Country Cigars, The Lamb Shop, All in a Jar, Minimalist Martha, Say It Louder, Rhubarb and Ice, Twisted Tree Creations, Ron Dunn Art, Finch’s Vendor Expo, and Bellajack Design. Find out more about them here.
Meet wrestling stars “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr., Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine, Al Snow, Marty Jannetty, and Ted DiBiase. Real wrestling happens Saturday night at 6pm before the final matchup with Da Crusherfest Showdown Sunday afternoon at 3pm. The wrestling events require ticketed admission, which you can buy here. You can also do meet & greets with the wrestlers; we do not suggest you try and wrestle them. Full details.
Live Music & Great Food
Crusherfest features live music both days, including:
Saturday, June 3rd:
11am – 1pm Larry Lynne
1pm – 2:30pm Size 5’s
2:30pm – 4:30pm Bad Behavior
5pm – 7pm Jesse Haines
7pm – 9pm Fire & Ice
Sunday, June 4th:
10am – Noon Jeff Winard
Noon – 2pm The Squeezettes
2pm – 3:30pm Blues Addiction
3:30pm – Close Bad Boy
Food vendors include everything from savory BBQ to sweet treats. Among them are the South Milwaukee Lions Club, Sweet Delight, Bakehouse 23, Carries Crispies, Short & Sweet Desserts, BeBe’s Bistro, Smokin’ C’s, The Gutt Truck, Smiling Dawgs, and Atwood HWY BBQ. Find out more about them here.
Crusherfest runs Saturday, June 3rd from 11am – 9pm and Sunday, June 4th from 11am – 6pm.
Chippewa Falls’ annual Springfest hits the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds the weekend of May 19-20, 2023! It’s a family friendly event with over 40 exhibitors showing and selling their Spring and Summer products and services. Enjoy great food, from deep fried cheese curds to State Fair French fries, brick oven pizzas, prime rib sandwiches and so much more!
There’s plenty of family fun including a petting zoo, inflatables, a bonfire, and plenty of other activities for kids and grown-ups alike.
Plenty of live music will be available too, in either of two heated tents, the Main Stage and the Kwik Trip Party Tent. Here’s the main lineup so far:
Friday, May 19th, 7:30pm, Boogie & the Yo-Yo’z
Saturday, May 20th, 7:30 pm, The John Stone Band from Nashville
Tickets can be purchased at The Leinie Lodge, Select Kwik Trip Stores in the Chippewa Falls area, The Chippewa YMCA or online at the Chippewa Falls Rotary Club’s Facebook page.
Springfest Tickets and Pricing:
Friday, May 19th:
FREE General Gate Admission
FREE Parking
Gates open at 4pm
Vendors Open at 4 – 8 pm Expo Hall A
5pm: Brady Luke Band in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
7:30pm: Boogie & The Yo-Yo’z on the Main Stage (Tickets)
11pm: Brady Luke Band (round two!)
Saturday, May 20th:
$5 General Gate Admission
FREE Parking
$20 Advance Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z Concert* (includes General Gate Admission)
$25 Day of Show Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z Concert (includes General Gate Admission)
$75 VIP Concert (Includes: Free Beverages & Snacks from 7-11pm, Exclusive Family Fare VIP Tent Access, Separate Entrance to Concert, Front of Stage Access During Show! Free parking & gate admission. Meet and Greet opportunity [Artist Approved])
Gates open at 11am
12 Noon: The Gators in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
2pm: Chi-Hi Wire Choir, the Chippewa Falls High School students take the stage in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
2:30pm: Howard “Guitar” Luedtke and Blue Max in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
5pm: Bumblefist in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
7:30pm headliner: The John Stone Band – the “King of Broadway” from Nashville (Tickets)
11pm: Bumblefist in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
You can find the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds just off Highway 124 on Edward Street, just north of the Leinenkugel Brewery and across from the beautiful Irvine Park & Zoo. It’s less than a mile north of downtown Chippewa Falls, where Business Highway 29 and Business U.S. 53 meet.
Chippewa Falls Springfest Address:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds (along Highway 124)
225 Edward Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 723-2861 Website
Lake Geneva celebrates winter like no other place. Winterfest is a brouhaha of shopping, dining, music, magic, refreshments, and activities including thrilling helicopter rides over the town and lake. It’s capped off, of course, by the amazing designs and creativity of the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition – right along the lake at the Riviera – where fifteen teams of the most talented snow sculptors and artists from around the country gather to compete for a national title. The entire competition is open to the public, so Winterfest attendees can actually watch the artists at work!
Be here to witness these teams at work during an epic 72-hour competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable, larger-than-life snow sculptures.
In addition to the snow sculpting competition, you’ll find more wintery fun during Winterfest week, including the 4th annual Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, Bonfires on the Beach, Fire & Ice Bar, a Cocoa Crawl and many more events, activities and specials around Lake Geneva and the surrounding area. It runs Wednesday through Sunday, February 1st-5th as part of Winterfest. The walk is just steps away from the snow sculpting competition, with dozens of artfully crafted ice sculptures adorning the front faces of shops, restaurants, and other businesses throughout the Downtown district. Ice sculptures will be installed Friday morning, February 4th and remain on display as long as the cold weather permits!
Avant Cycle Café | 234 Broad Street
Barrique Bistro & Wine Bar | 835 Wrigley Drive
Bloomingbyrds | 755 W. Main Street
Brick & Mortar Home | 832 Geneva Street
Brick & Mortar Home and Outdoor | 222 Center Street
Clearwater Outdoor Sports | 744 W. Main Street
Cornerstone Shop & Gallery | 214 Broad Street
Egg Harbor Café | 827 W Main Street
Evr drygds | 719 W. Main Street
Fancy Fair Mall | 830 W Main Street
Geneva Gifts | 150 Broad Street
Haberdapper | 253 Broad Street
Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva | 300 Wrigley Drive
Interstate Insurance Group | 811 Wrigley Drive (Popeye’s)
Kilwins | 772 Main Street
Lake Geneva Lifestyle/Donna Brongiel | 703 Main Street
Lake Geneva Motel | 201 Wrigley Drive (Visitor Info Center)
Lake Geneva Spice Company | 255 Broad Street
Marigold | 725 W Main Street
Overland Sheepskin Co. | 752 W. Main Street
Queen Bee Artisan Market | 830 W. Main Street
Sopra Bistro | 724 Main Street
The Bottle Shop | 617 W. Main Street
The Candle Mercantile | 870 W. Main Street
The Olive Oil Shops | 221 Broad Street
Thumbs Up | 260 Broad Street
Winterfest activities focus on downtown Lake Geneva, which lies right along Highway 50. U.S. 12 and Highway 120 are close to the east and Highway 67 is a few miles to the west near Delavan. It’s easy to get to – and a total blast!
A horse-drawn carriage ride through Lake Geneva is perfect on a winter day.
Lake Geneva Winterfest & U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition Address:
Downtown Lake Geneva/Riviera Park
201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416 Website
Waukesha JanBoree is called “Wisconsin’s Premier Winter Festival” and it runs for ten days in 2023. This year, it’s “Channel the Flannel” for the 37th annual JanBoree from Friday, January 13th through Sunday, January 22nd.
JanBoree includes over 35 events throughout Waukesha, most of which are free. Events include disc golf, hockey, bocce ball, trivia and ComedySportz performances, a “Cosmic Colors” planetarium show, a variety of games, and more!
Opening Ceremonies are held Friday from 4-9pm at Waukesha’s Lowell Park, complete with fireworks. Details on this and other events below.
Events are held at various locations around the city, including Lowell Park, Minooka Park, the Waukesha Transit Center downtown, North High School, and more. See event pages here for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for specifics and maps.
Waukesha JanBoree Event Details:
Friday events on Opening Night include the Opening Ceremonies, an Ice Sculpting Demo, the Arctic Avalanche, the Carnival of Curiosities, a Fireworks Extravaganza, and the 350’ lighted toboggan run (reservations required.) NEW this year is the Glow Walk, a 1.7-mile walk around Frame Park – complete with a furnished glow stick!
The fireworks extravaganza tops it all off Friday night at 8pm at Lowell Park.
During the week, additional activities will include Frozen Footgolf, a snowman building contest, a goose chase scavenger hunt, airport tours, and special movie or planetarium shows.
Get all the details at the main JanBoree website. Waukesha can be a tricky city to navigate, but getting to it is easy. Follow U.S. 18, Highway 59, or Highway 164 to get there. I-94 and Highway 16 also bring you close to the city and all the fun JanBoree events.
Ice Castles are back in Lake Geneva! Tickets are on sale now.
Lake Geneva is beautiful and fun enough already, but with the Ice Castles coming again after such a crazy 2022, this winter it gets even better! Seven days a week starting soon through early March – weather permitting – the massive ice castles compound can be explored and enjoyed by the whole family. The artistic project got underway in November, one of several projects in North America by Ice Castles LLC, a Utah-based company with similar projects in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Utah. One of the most unique and amazing facts about the Ice Castles is that they are literally built by hand. They grow more than 5,000 icicles each day that they harvest and sculpt together. These Ice Castles create life-size winter playgrounds, with illuminated inside the castles at night with color-changing LED lights that twinkle to music. You can explore ice-carved tunnels, fountains, slides, frozen thrones, and towering ice formations. This is truly something to dazzle the entire family. This mega-complex of ice will be at the Geneva National Resort and Club, just west of downtown Lake Geneva off Highway 50, a little east of Highway 67. How long will it last? Depends on the weather, of course, but they’ll keep it open into March if they can. You can keep up with the construction of Ice Castles and weather conditions, which will be continuously updated, on their website.
Tickets are on sale now. Admission prices are:
WEEKDAYS (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $25 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $17 Children 3 and younger: Free
WEEKENDS (Friday – Sunday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $29 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $22 Children 3 and younger: Free
Be prepared to hit U.S. 12 or Highways 50, 67, or 120 to get to Lake Geneva and experience Ice Castles Wisconsin and the magic of the winter season!
Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/TheIceCastles
Ice Castles Lake Geneva Address:
Geneva National Resort & Club 1091 Hidden Cottage Circle Lake Geneva, WI 53147 (262) 248-4416 Website
Pulled from their website, here are some “Tips for a great experience” to Ice Castles Lake Geneva:
Wear Boots! The walking surface inside Ice Castles is made of crushed ice. Walking in boots is definitely best.
Buy Tickets Before You Arrive! When you buy a ticket, you buy an arrival time. They ask that you arrive within your 30-minute time window. Once you are inside Ice Castles you can stay as long as you’d like.
You can save some trees when you buy your tickets online; they’ll send you an email with a unique QR code, so there’s no need to print your tickets. They scan the code right from your phone.
Photos are encouraged (and they want to see them! #icecastles) but they ask that you please leave photography equipment such as tripods and lights at home.
Sleds are great, and they highly recommend bringing a small sled to pull children instead of a stroller. It is extremely difficult to push a stroller through Ice Castles – think of it like trying to push a stroller on a sandy beach)
The Plymouth Arts Center, touting Plymouth as the “Cheese Capital of the World,” is doing its 16th annual Big Cheese Drop and New Year’s Eve party on Saturday, December 31st and is ready for the biggest one yet!
This should make national news (again), since it’s been on the list for the top 10 things to do on New Year’s Eve for many years. All the details are on the Plymouth Arts Center website. While in downtown Plymouth, admire all the cool murals and decor along the historic downtown blocks, filled with great shops, restaurants, bars, and more.
Why is Plymouth the “Cheese Capital”? Well, it’s rooted in the fact that the price of cheese in the United States was designated at the Wisconsin Cheese Exchange in downtown Plymouth, beginning in 1918. The Cheese Exchange pricing and standards were the platform for cheese pricing until 1956. During these decades Plymouth became known as “Cheeseville” because of the cheese storage facilities, the processing of cheese and shipping of product throughout the country. Today, over 15% of the cheese consumed in the U.S. goes through the city.
Follow Highways 23, 57, or 67 to get to Plymouth and check out this unique way to ring in 2021. Check out a brief video clip of last year’s party below!
Address for the Big Cheese Drop in Plymouth for New Year’s Eve:
Plymouth Arts Center
520 E. Mill Street
Plymouth, WI 53073
(920) 892-8409 Website
Carp Fest: New York drops a lit ball at New Years’ Eve; Prairie du Chien drops a carp!
Yes, Prairie du Chien drops a real carp on New Year’s Eve. The carp, caught in the Mississippi, is named “Lucky”, and then frozen until New Years’ Eve. Lucky is then adorned with makeup and lights and lowered via crane. As soon as they ring in the New Year, people can kiss Lucky for good luck.
How’s that for a New Years’ Eve fish story?
Prairie du Chien, always down for a good, expanded party, has taken the original New Year’s Eve “Droppin’ of the Carp” and expanded it to a multi-day event with a variety of activities, many of which are quite family-friendly.
The BIG party for Carp Fest is the New Year’s Eve party that takes place on the west edge of downtown Prairie du Chien on St. Feriole Island Park by the Mississippi River. It starts at 9pm and culminates with the “Droppin’ of the Carp” a little before midnight to ring in 2020!
A earlier version of the carp drop for children and families – featuring “Lucky Carp Jr.” – takes place indoors at Hoffman Hall (1600 Wacouta Street.) The Family “Droppin of the Carp” takes place New Year’s Eve from 5pm – 6:30pm at Hoffman Hall featuring Arts & Crafts, Face Painting, Miniature Dairy Goats, and Carnival Games. You can also meet the Carp King & Queen, meet Master Gardeners & Bixby The Rabbit, and Exotic Animals from Ridgetop Rescue. Of course they’ll have noisemakers and hats, plus Carp Corn, Pizza, and Hot Carp Chocolate (yes, we’re curious too…) for $1 each. This event is sponsored by Valley Fish & Cheese, a State Trunk Tour favorite located just east of the Mississippi River bridge where eastbound Highway 27 begins. Check out the shop, owned by “Sturgeon General” Mike Valley, and its incredible selection of fresh fish, meats, cheeses, uniquely Wisconsin items, and more!
Hit U.S. 18 or Highways 27, 35, or 60 and check this out!
Carp Fest Address:
St. Feriole Island
900 W. Blackhawk Avenue
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
(608) 326-8602 Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
Start:
December 31, 2022 5:00 pm
End:
December 31, 2022 11:55 pm
Venue:
Downtown Prairie du Chien
Phone:
608-326-8602
Address:
400 W. Blackhawk, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821, United States
The 2nd annual Jingle & Mingle at City Green in downtown Sheboygan is a family-friendly event that includes entertainment, a marketplace, a brat fry, trolley rides, and of course, Santa!
Make plans to visit Santa and his elves from 12:30pm – 2:00pm and 2:30pm -4:00pm.
The Marketplace is open from Noon to 4 :00pm with crafters, sweet treats, and a traditional brat fry.
Warm up around the bonfire while you roast a tasty s’more or two.
Climb aboard the trolley for rides around town and mingle through the local shops. The Holiday Open House will be happening in select downtown, riverfront and South Pier businesses to help with your holiday shopping.
Help us decorate our tree with handmade ornaments or write your letter to Santa and we’ll deliver it to the North Pole.
Participate in the ugly sweater contest to win prizes.
The Marketplace is open from Noon to 6pm with crafters, sweet treats, and a traditional Sheboygan Jaycees Brat Fry. Marketplace Vendors include:
Comfort & Joy Wooden Ornaments
Crafters Attic (soaps, lotions & more)
Fat Cat 3D creations
Hope Church Bake Sale
Infernal Candles
Mz.Nita’s Kitchen (desserts & baked goods)
Nap Time Treasures (wire jewelry)
She Sews Creations (purses, wallets, backpacks, kids pouches)
Sit back and relax for a bit with some holiday entertainment.
Jingle & Mingle Schedule of Events:
12:15 PM: Storytime with Santa.
12:30 PM: The Kohler High School Madrigal Singers
1 PM: Ugly Sweater Contest
1:30 PM: South High School Singers
2 PM: Lutheran High School Chamber Choir
2:30 PM: Noah & Grace
3 PM: Livie
You can get to City Green and downtown Sheboygan via Highways 23, 28, or 42 in from I-43. Just head towards the lake and make your way to 8th Street, City Green is right at the New York Avenue intersection. While in Sheboygan, you can check out so many fun attractions, restaurants, and more. They include the John Michael Kohler Arts Center – practically adjacent to City Green – the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, also within blocks of City Green, the Harbor District along the Sheboygan River, North Beach, Maywood Environmental Park and 3 Sheeps Brewing on the north side (both just off Highway 42), and much more.
Jingle & Mingle Address:
City Green, downtown Sheboygan
710 New York Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 335-0060 Website
The Lincoln Park Zoo is a terrific free zoo in the “Coolest Coast” city of Manitowoc. Every holiday season, Lights In Lincoln Park dazzles with a “twinkly bright drive-thru wonder” from November 24th through December 9th on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and then resuming for EVERY evening from December 14th through the 28th, 2023.
Along with beautiful lights on trees, trellises and more, enjoy over 70 wild animal light displays, many with animated characters. Among them is animated elephant, a wood duck, a standing polar bear, an animated wolf, and whispering pine tree… just to give you an idea of what you’ll get to enjoy. This is the 10th annual Lights in Lincoln Park and they manage to add new features every year.
Admission is $5 per car and proceeds go to benefit zoo educational programs and enhancements to the Lincoln Park Zoo. You can enter from Waldo/Lincoln Boulevard, right where U.S. 10 and Highway 42 meet. It’s just north of downtown Manitowoc, about five minutes east of I-43, following the U.S. 10 (Waldo Blvd.) exit. It’s just west of Highway 42/Memorial Drive, which is a beautiful drive along the shores of Lake Michigan between Manitowoc and Two Rivers.
Lights In Lincoln Park Hours:
November 24th – December 9th: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm- Thursday, Friday and Saturday
December 14th – December 28th: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm- Every Night You can visit Santa on Cabin 1 on Friday nights: December 2nd, 9th, and 16th.
Lights in Lincoln Park Family Night Fun Walk is Friday December 29th, 2022 from 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm, featuring a fun walk through the Lincoln Park Lights. It’s a great way for the whole family to enjoy the lights and get some steps in! Admission for the Family Night Fun Walk is $5/person or $10/family.
Lights In Lincoln Park Address:
Lincoln Park Zoo
900 Quay Street (just off Highway 42, blocks from U.S. 10)
Manitowoc, WI 54220 Website
The Fall Art Tour is perfect for State Trunk Tourers with a love of the Driftless Area and art. It’s a self-guided driving tour where you can meet up to 45 area artists and watch them at work as you make your way through Baraboo, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Mineral Point!
Potters, weavers, glassblowers, woodworkers, painters, jewelers, quilters, photographers & sculptors are all part of it. Meet the artists, experience their work spaces, and witness as they create unique works of art. A wide variety of high-quality artwork is available for purchase in every price range. This is their 22nd Anniversary Tour and it’s become one of the most popular art events in the Midwest.
Highways 33, 130, 136, and 23 figure in this tour, as do many county and side roads. It’s a beautiful drive through the Driftless Area and a great behind-the-scenes look at artists’ studios!
Fall Art Tour Details:
More details can be had by calling (608) 356-9048 or checking out their website, http://www.fallarttour.com/.
Also, check out this video for a sample of what you’re in for!
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2022 is happening Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th, with a kickoff party at Topsy Turvy Brewery Friday night the 7th! The activity is centered in Flat Iron Park and throughout Downtown Lake Geneva.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT:
Playing at Flat Iron Park (Bring your own chairs)
Saturday, October 8th
Ed Wagner’s Lustige Blaskapelle, 12:30-3:00pm
Dunn Lumber Stein Hoisting Competition, 2:00pm
Grand Geneva Doxie Dash Race, 4:00pm
Steve Meisner Band, 4:00-6:00pm
Sunday, October 9th
Badger High School Jazz Band, 12:30-2:00pm
Dunn Lumber Stein Hoisting Competition, 2:00pm
The Phenix Band, 3:00-5:00pm
Grand Geneva Doxie Dash Race, 4:00pm
Also Saturday & Sunday
Playing throughout the downtown district and in the Flat Iron Park tent during band change overs.
Shows in the Rotary Club of Lake Geneva’s KIDS ENTERTAINMENT ZONE repeat throughout each day.
FREE PUMPKIN GIVEAWAY
U.S. 12 and Highways 50 and 120 bring you to Lake Geneva for all the fun.
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2022 Address:
Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416 Website
Windigo Fest is “a Festival of Folklore Freaks and ALL Things Halloween!” For 2022, this spine-chilling festival will take place at Manitowoc’s Expo Grounds, same place where the Manitowoc County Fair is held on the west end of town – there’s a lot of room on those grounds! All Hallows Eve enthusiasts with a hunger for the strange and unusual can experience a weekend filled with various seasonal activities including outstanding music, costume contests, dark art exhibits and contests, bizarre performances, and the historical cemetery bus tour. Windigo Fest kicks off Friday evening. After a day full of Halloween havoc, a parade will again display the Midwest’s best competitive costumes.
IT IS HALLOWEEN SO WEAR A COSTUME!!!!!
This is a huge event, with over 40 unique vendors with tons of Halloween and horror merch, plenty of creative art, unique oddities, and LOTS of live entertainment.
The Entertainment includes Kane Hopper, one of the actors who played Jason; ghost tribute band Absolution; Midgets With Attitude wrestling entertainment; EDM featuring Lockvibe; Blackened: Hellbilly Deluxe; Istra the Belly Dancer; and more.
Saturday features a Costume Contest & Halloween Parade for people of all ages! That starts around 6:07.
There’s also a Hearse & Rat Rod Auto Show, tons of food trucks, and plenty of vendors “Shop ‘Til You Drop Dead,” they say!)
Windigo Fest runs Friday, September 30th, Saturday, October 1st, and Sunday, October 2nd at the Manitowoc Expo Grounds. The grounds are easily accessible off I-43, at U.S. 151 and Highway 42 (Exit #149). U.S. 10 arrives in Manitowoc a few miles north of the Expo Grounds, which are accessible from U.S. 10 via I-43 or County R/Rapids Road (which was the original main highway – U.S. 141 – between Milwaukee and Green Bay before I-43 was built.)
The Gays Mills Apple Festival – the 63rd annual – runs September 23-25, 2022! Gays Mills is pretty much the apple capital of Wisconsin, and it celebrates the apple harvest with parades, carnivals, arts and crafts, flea markets, music, dancing, a 2K and 5K fun run/walk, food and festivities.
Get the rest of the details from their website or see the schedule below!
You’ll find Gays Mills in the heart of Wisconsin’s beautiful Driftless Area, where Highways 131 and 171 meet by the Kickapoo River. It’s worth going for the drive alone!
2022 Gays Mills Apple Festival Schedule of Events
FRIDAY EVENTS
Carnival: Wristband Night 5pm-9pm Fairgrounds
Lions Club Flea Market: 8am-5pm Fairgrounds
Main Street Vending: 10am-5pm Downtown
BMZ Church Food Stand:10am-5pm Fairgrounds
4-H Food Stand: Friday-Sunday Fairgrounds
American Legion Food Stand: 10am-5pm Fairgrounds
Societies Sons M/C: Music
Dante’s:Music Last Ride
Halver’s Town Tap: Music
SATURDAY EVENTS To See & Do:
Run and Walk:Registration 8am Main St Bridge, 2 & 5 Mi. Run; 2 Mi. Walk; ¼ Mi. Kids Fun Run: 9am
Lions Club Flea Market: 8am-5pm Fairgrounds
Main Street Vending: 9:30am-5pm Downtown
Cornhole Tournament
American Legion Volleyball Tournament: 9am 4-person Co-Ed Teams, 312 Main
Library Book Sale: 9am-5pm, 212 Main
Lions Club Arts and Crafts: 9am-5pm Fairgrounds
Carnival: 10am-5pm Fairgrounds
Open Horseshoe Tournament: Saturday Partner draw,Sunday 10 am registration and 11am start, Log CabinVillage Park
Societies Sons M/C: Music from American Standard
Fire Department: Raffle (Drawing in Nov.)
Dante’s: Music from Pilot of the Airwaves 3pm-7pm, Last Ride
Halver’s Town Tap: Music from Dylan Harris 2-6pm, DJ Robert 9pm – 1am
Inflatables:Downtown
SUNDAY EVENTS To See & Do:
Ride the FREE Trolley stops at Flea Market & Main! APPLE FESTIVAL PARADE 1:30 pm, Main Street to Riverside Park Lions Club Arts and Crafts & Flea Market: 8am-5pm Fairgrounds Main Street Vending: 9:30am-4pm Downtown Library Book Sale: 9am-3:30 pm 212 Main Carnival: 10am-5pm Fairgrounds Open Horseshoe Tournament: Saturday draw for partners, Sunday 10am registration, 11am start, Log Cabin Village Park Fire Department: Raffle (Drawing in Nov.) Inflatables: Downtown
Harvest Fair at Wisconsin State Fair Park features tons of fall-focused events, activities, live entertainment, competitions, scarecrow making and the much anticipated Pumpkin Bowling. It runs September 23-25, 2022 and has FREE admission.
Over 30 vendors will be there, selling everything from tasty food to cool crafts. Since it’s fall, imbibe in a pumpkin spice cream puff; enjoy pies from the Elegant Farmer; grab a cup of Kozie’s Harvest Stew; explore a multitude of Wisconsin cheeses; and The Micro will be offering over 60 varieties of craft beers. Prefer wine? No problem, Wineberry will be serving up red wines, white wines, even wine slushies.
Check out the Antique Tractors Display, the Backyard Circus, Camel and Pony Rides, a Farmers’ Market, Free Live Music, Giant Cookie Decorating, Hay Rides, a Kiddie Tractor Maze, “Make Your Own Caramel Apple” fun (they provide a lot of toppings), even a chance for kids to slide down the “World’s Largest Piggy Bank.” Free, lively entertainment is rocking stages all weekend long, including performances by the 5 Card Studs, Too Hype Crew, Rhythm Kings, The Toys and more will be on the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater with nightly entertainment presented by Bud Light. Plus, multiple Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows, presented by WaterStone Bank, are also on deck.
A major feature of Harvest Fair is the massive pumpkin patch, big enough to impress Linus from Peanuts (yes, we’re going old school here.)
Wisconsin State Fair Park is in West Allis, minutes west of downtown Milwaukee. I-94 and Highways 59 and 181 border the park; I-41, I-894, U.S. 18, U.S. 45, and Highway 100 all get you close.
Harvest Fair / Maker Faire Address:
Wisconsin State Fair Park
640 S. 84th Street (Highways 181 & 59)
West Allis, WI 53214
(800) 884-3247 Website
Monroe is an epicenter of cheesemaking in the heart of Green County – even their high school team name is the “Cheesemakers.” The city and county celebrates every other year Green County Cheese Days, a three-day hullabaloo filled with food, music, dancing, contests, crafts, cheesemaking, cow milking, yodeling, and even Wisconsin’s only parade led by Brown Swiss Cows. After skipping 2020 and 2021 (it’s an every-other-year festival, after all) Green County Cheese Days is back for 2022, happening September 16th through the 18th.
Monroe’s beautiful town square centers around the gorgeous Green County Courthouse and fills up with all the fun. From a beer and Limburger sandwich at Baumgartner’s to the 5K & 10K Cheese Days Chase, from arts & crafts to actual cow milking, Cheese Days is a blast.
Get the schedule and details on all of their events at the Cheese Days website, or below reprinted from their site. Scroll down for more details, including the schedule for the Main Stage lineup!
Highways 11, 59, 69, and 81 all bring you to Monroe. The three days of festivities are also right next to the Minhas Craft Brewery, which is worth a tour, and the lovely trappings of Green County, including New Glarus just up Highway 69. Make a weekend of it!
Green County Cheese Days Address:
1016 16th Avenue
Monroe, WI 53566
(608) 325-7771 Website
Green County Cheese Days Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, SEPT 16
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUS – $1 each trip. Park off site at Orchid (350 – 21st St.) & ride bus downtown. 5–10 pm
INFO TRAILER – SW Corner (near Baumgartner’s) – maps, schedules, ask questions, lost and found. 9 am – 7:30 pm
FOOD STANDS – Eat your way around the Courthouse Square! Menu/maps at INFO BOOTH. (10 am–9 pm)
CHEESE DAYS STORE – SOUVENIR TENT (Adenke Zält) – t-shirts & sweatshirts, collector buttons, International Harvester toy tractor, logo pint glasses, “udderly good time” drawstring backpacks, Wedgie bobbleheads, canvas tote bags, Swiss cheese earrings. SW corner cross from Baumgartner’s Cheese Store. (9 am–8:30 pm)
BEER and WINE STAND – SW Corner – near INFO TRAILER. (10 am–midnight) ****Proceeds from sales at the Cheese Days Beer & Wine Stand go toward the costs of tents, porta potties, electricity, stage entertainment and more – thank you for your support.****
HOSPITALITY TENT (Zält zum Höckle) Sponsored by Colony Brands. NORTH SIDE. Dining area with tables & chairs. Musical entertainment throughout the weekend. Open all weekend.
BIG RADIO DINING TENT – NORTHWEST CORNER. Dining area with tables and chairs. Open all weekend.
CARNIVAL in Spring Square Parking Lot (behind JoAnne’s Dress Shop) – all weekend.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER – Guided tours showcasing the history of cheesemaking. The past comes alive at the century-old Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. 2018 6th Ave, at intersection of Hwy 69 south and 21st St. (9 am–4 pm)
CHEESE TENT (Chäs Zält) – Cheese for sale. EAST SIDE of the Square. Presented by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn. Vendors: Emmi Roth USA, Edelweiss Creamery, Landmark Creamery, Klondike Cheese Company, Valley View Cheese, Chula Vista (V&V Supremo), Brunkow Cheese and Decatur Dairy. (9 am–8 pm)
MINHAS CRAFT BREWERY – guided tours and tasting – “Oldest in the Midwest” with brewing excellence since 1845. Visitor Center and gift shop. Beer & root beer samples. Herb & Helen Haydock’s Collection of Brewery Memorabilia. $12 admission includes guided tour and gift pack ($15 retail value). Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS MICRO DISTILLERY GUIDED TASTING– Hand–crafted, small–batch distilled spirits using old world methods & traditions. Guided Distillery and Liqueur Tasting $12 admission includes 2 cocktails, branded whisky tasting glass & gift bottle to take home. Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS WINERY WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING: Guided by Executive Chef Trisha Coughlin and her team, wines paired with different types of artisanal cheeses and other small bites. $12 admission includes guided tasting and food pairing and take home a branded wine glass. ($5 retail value). (10 am–6 pm)
COLONY BRANDS TENT – Celebrating more than 90 years in Monroe. Buy cheesecake-on-a-stick – made exclusively for Cheese Days! Stop in to learn more about the Colony Brands team, our 10 retail brands, door prizes and more! NE CORNER (10 am – 9 pm)
BARN QUILT and DAIRY FARM TOUR – Board a bus for a guided tour to one of Green County’s most beautiful family-operated dairy farms. You’ll meet members of the family and their Holstein herd, along with calves, a donkey, rabbit, chickens, guineas, peacocks, ducks, pigs, goats, dogs, and cats. On the way to the farm and back, you’ll see some of Green County’s barn quilts. We guarantee you’ll be entertained along the way by stories from tour guides Lynn Lokken & Kris Winkler – the volunteers who developed the Barn Quilt project. Admission of $5 charged for those 6 and older; ages 5 and under are free. (This is a 2-hour tour. You’ll be back downtown at the festival grounds at 1 pm, so you may want to eat lunch prior to departing.) TODAY – PURCHASE TICKETS AT INFO TRAILER NEAR THE BEER STAND – limited seating 50 tickets will be sold. (Saturday – tickets for sale at Family Farm Adventure Tent) (11 am)
MAIN STAGE (Grossi Bühni) – Yodeling, alphorns, polka bands, & Swiss heritage music during the day. Tonight’s street dance – BOOGIE AND THE YO-YO’Z. (Live music today on the main stage from noon til midnight)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen – Master Yodeler (Noon)
GREEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM – Housed in a Civil War era church. Donations suggested. One block north of Square. (Noon–5 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – John Waelti and Bobbie Edler Accordion Duo (1 pm)
GREENWOODS CEMETERY WALK – sponsored by Green County Genealogical Society and Green County Historical Society – led by local historians. Info: 608.328.7436 or 608.426.1796. (Registration 1 pm; walk at 1:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Keith Zweifel Band (1:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorn Entertainment (3 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Green County Harmony Chorus (2 pm)
FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT – Sponsored by Green Co. Farm Bureau, in partnership with 4–H, FFA & other ag groups. Check out a number of educational activities about agriculture; including milking a “cow”, AG Trivia Wheel, coloring station, crop boxes and “Cow Races” back by popular demand! On NORTHEAST corner of Square by First National Bank. (2–8 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Alphorns led by Heinz and George (2:45 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorns led by Heinz and George (3 pm)
OPENING CEREMONY – MAIN STAGE – MC – Scott Thompson of BIG RADIO. Presentation of Colors with Green County Sheriff Dept., ceremonial blowing of Alphorns, presentation of royalty, “Procession of Cheesemakers” (6 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Mascot Theory (Americana, Alt-Folk Rock) (7 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Monroe Swiss Singers (7:15 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorns led by Heinz and George (8:15 pm)
STREET DANCE (uf der Strass Tanze) – MAIN STAGE – Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z (8:30 pm–midnight)
SATURDAY, SEPT 17
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUS – $1 each trip. Park offsite at Orchid (350 – 21st St.) and ride the bus downtown. Other stops today include **Historic Cheese Center** and Green County Fairgrounds. (**Historic Cheese Center closes at 4 pm). (Shuttle runs 10 am–10 pm)
INFO TRAILER – SW Corner (near Baumgartner’s) – maps, schedules, ask questions, lost and found. 8:30 am – 7:30 pm
FOOD STANDS – Eat your way around the Courthouse Square! Menu/maps at INFO BOOTH. (9 am–9 pm)
CHEESE DAYS STORE – SOUVENIR TENT (Adenke Zält) – t-shirts & sweatshirts, collector buttons, International Harvester toy tractor, logo pint glasses, “udderly good time” drawstring backpacks, Wedgie bobbleheads, canvas tote bags, Swiss cheese earrings. SW corner cross from Baumgartner’s Cheese Store. (9 am–8:30 pm)
BEER and WINE STAND – SW Corner – near INFO TRAILER. (10 am–midnight) ****Proceeds from sales at the Cheese Days Beer & Wine Stand go toward the costs of tents, porta potties, electricity, stage entertainment and more – thank you for your support.****
HOSPITALITY TENT (Zält zum Höckle) Sponsored by Colony Brands. NORTH SIDE. Dining area with tables & chairs. Musical entertainment throughout the weekend. Open all weekend.
BIG RADIO DINING TENT – NORTHWEST CORNER. Dining area with tables and chairs. Open all weekend.
CARNIVAL in Spring Square Parking Lot (behind JoAnne’s Dress Shop) – all weekend.
FARMER’S MARKET – South of Middle School (8 am–4 pm)
“STREETS OF SWITZERLAND” European Sidewalk Café & Biergarten – Swiss specialties at Turner Hall. (8:30 am–7:30 pm)
CHEESE DAYS CHASE – 5 & 10 k run, & 2-mile fun walk. Presented by Monroe Youth Hockey with sponsor Klondike Cheese Factory. Check in 7:30 am. Race starts PROMPTLY at 9 am. (Kid’s Race at 8:30 am) Click for more info.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER – Guided tours showcasing the history of cheesemaking. The past comes alive at the century-old Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. 2018 6th Ave, at intersection of Hwy 69 south and 21st St. (9 am–4 pm) PARK AND RIDE SHUTTLE STOP TIL 4 PM
VINTAGE TRACTOR DISPLAY – Courtesy of Monroe area antique tractor owners. Take a step back in time and learn how farmers and their tractors played an important role in shaping the agricultural and cheese industry in Green County. You’ll see various “colors” (brands) – meet the owners & talk about their favorite toys! On 17th Avenue between banks and also in First National Bank parking lot. (9 am–5 pm)
MAKER’S MARKET – Just west of the Square; right behind Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern. Shop the booths of creators, fiber artists, hobbyists, wood crafters, photographers, painters, etc, who personally design and make what they sell. (9 am–8 pm)
VENDOR MARKETPLACE – Booths in Library Parking Lot – Commercial vendors, merchandise for sale, businesses & groups promoting products & services. (9 am–8 pm)
CHEESE TENT (Chäs Zält) – Cheese for sale. EAST SIDE of the Square. Presented by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn. Vendors: Emmi Roth USA, Edelweiss Creamery, Landmark Creamery, Klondike Cheese Company, Valley View Cheese, Chula Vista (V&V Supremo), Brunkow Cheese and Decatur Dairy. (9 am–8 pm)
COLONY BRANDS TENT – Celebrating more than 90 years in Monroe. Buy cheesecake-on-a-stick – made exclusively for Cheese Days! Stop in to learn more about the Colony Brands team, our 10 retail brands, door prizes and more! NE CORNER (9 am–9 pm)
HEART OF CHEESE DAYS – Exhibit & Sales – Meet artisans who create traditional Swiss folk art and view exhibits of Swiss artifacts and memorabilia brought to Green County by some of the area’s Swiss immigrants. Presented by Monroe Swiss Singers at Turner Hall. Free admission with 2020 CHEESE DAYS BUTTON (or $2 at the door). (10 am–4 pm)
GREEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM – Housed in a Civil War era church. Donations suggested. One block north of Square. (10 am–5 pm)
MINHAS CRAFT BREWERY – guided tours and tasting – “Oldest in the Midwest” with brewing excellence since 1845. Visitor Center and gift shop. Beer & root beer samples. Herb & Helen Haydock’s Collection of Brewery Memorabilia. $12 admission includes guided tour and gift pack ($15 retail value). Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS MICRO DISTILLERY GUIDED TASTING– Hand–crafted, small–batch distilled spirits using old world methods & traditions. Guided Distillery and Liqueur Tasting $12 admission includes 2 cocktails, branded whisky tasting glass & gift bottle to take home. Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS WINERY WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING – Guided by Executive Chef Trisha Coughlin and her team, wines paired with different types of artisanal cheeses and other small bites. $12 admission includes guided tasting and food pairing and take home a branded wine glass. ($5 retail value). (10 am–6 pm)
FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT – Sponsored by Green Co. Farm Bureau, in partnership with 4–H, FFA & other ag groups. Check out a number of educational activities about agriculture; including milking a “cow”, AG Trivia Wheel, coloring station, crop boxes and “Cow Races” back by popular demand! On NORTHEAST corner of Square by First National Bank. (10 am–8 pm)
CARNIVAL (Rummel Platz) – “Spring Square” south of the Courthouse Square (10 am–11 pm)
KIDS’ STREET (Chinder Schpil Strass) SPONSORED BY TDS – On 16th Avenue by Library. Demonstrations, activities and fun for kids – all free! (Kid’s Street Schedule)
MAIN STAGE (Grossi Bühni) – Yodeling, alphorns, polka bands, & Swiss heritage music during the day. Tonight’s Street Dance – Bella Cain! (Live music today from 10:30 am–midnight)
DAIRY FARM TOURS – Board a bus for a guided tour into Green County countryside to visit a family run dairy farm, and to see cows and calves and gain a better understanding of where cheese gets started. $5 admission charged for those 10 and older; under 10 are free. Tickets available in FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT. Length of tour ranges from 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (10:30 am til last bus departs at 3 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (10:30 am)
BARN QUILT and DAIRY FARM TOUR – Board a bus for a guided tour to one of Green County’s most beautiful family-operated dairy farms. You’ll meet members of the family and their Holstein herd, along with calves, a donkey, rabbit, chickens, guineas, peacocks, ducks, pigs, goats, dogs, and cats. On the way to the farm and back, you’ll see some of Green County’s barn quilts. We guarantee you’ll be entertained along the way by stories from tour guides Lynn Lokken & Kris Winkler – the volunteers who developed the Barn Quilt project. Special guest Alice in Dairyland will also be along for the tour! Admission of $5 charged for those 6 and older; ages 5 and under are free. (This is a 2-hour tour. You’ll be back downtown at the festival grounds at 1 pm, so you may want to eat lunch prior to departing.) PURCHASE TICKETS AT FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT ON NE CORNER – limited seating 49 tickets will be sold. (11 am)
MAIN STAGE – Meet the Cheese Days Royalty (11:20 am)
MAIN STAGE – Monroe City Band (Noon)
OLD WORLD CHEESEMAKING DEMONSTRATION (DIE ALT KASEREI “the old cheese factory”) Watch and learn as members of The Foreign Type Cheesemaker’s Association create a 200-pound wheel of Swiss cheese the old fashioned way, in a giant copper kettle. You’ll meet Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers Jeff Wideman and Gary Grossen, who will explain the process and demonstrate the steps. Spectators will have the opportunity to take a turn stirring the kettle with the “Swiss harp” (great photo opp!) After the cheese is “hooped” the cheesemakers will “plug” a block of cheese and demonstrate the grading and judging process using the criteria of the USA and World Championship Cheese Competitions. North of Courthouse. (Noon–4 pm)
COW MILKING CONTEST (Chueh Mälche Wettstriett) – An “udderly” good time thanks to area dairy farmers & their happy herds! Watch as teams compete for prizes – may the most milk win! Located by post office. (1 pm)
MAIN STAGE – David Austin Band (1:15 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – John and Bobbie Accordion Duo (2 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Accordion Four – John, Bobbie, Barb and Mary ( 4 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorn entertainment (4:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Cheesemaker Dancers (4:45 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Andy Yaun Ensemble (5 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (5:30 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – The Decade (Rock hits from the 70’s thru 90’s) (6:15 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Wheelhouse (7 pm)
STREET DANCE (uf der Strass Tanze) – MAIN STAGE – To Be Announced. (8:30 pm–midnight)
SUNDAY, SEPT 18
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUS – $1 each trip. Park offsite at Orchid (350 – 21st St.) & ride the bus downtown. Shuttle also stops at Historic Cheese Center until 4 pm. (Shuttle runs 10 am–5 pm)
INFO TRAILER – SW Corner (near Baumgartner’s) – maps, schedules, ask questions, lost and found. (9 am – 5 pm)
FOOD STANDS – Eat your way around the Courthouse Square! Menu/maps at INFO BOOTH. (9 am–6 pm)
CHEESE DAYS STORE – SOUVENIR TENT (Adenke Zält) – t-shirts & sweatshirts, collector buttons, International Harvester toy tractor, logo pint glasses, “udderly good time” drawstring backpacks, Wedgie bobbleheads, canvas tote bags, Swiss cheese earrings. SW corner cross from Baumgartner’s Cheese Store. (9 am–6 pm)
BEER and WINE STAND – SW Corner – near INFO TRAILER. (10 am–6 pm) ****Proceeds from sales at the Cheese Days Beer & Wine Stand go toward the costs of tents, porta potties, electricity, stage entertainment and more – thank you for your support.****
HOSPITALITY TENT (Zält zum Höckle) Sponsored by Colony Brands. NORTH SIDE. Dining area with tables & chairs. Open today til 6 pm.
BIG RADIO DINING TENT – NORTHWEST CORNER. Dining area with tables and chairs. Open today til 6 pm.
CARNIVAL in Spring Square Parking Lot (behind JoAnne’s Dress Shop) – all weekend.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER – Guided tours showcasing the history of cheesemaking. The past comes alive at the century-old Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. 2018 6th Ave, at intersection of Hwy 69 south and 21st St. (9 am–4 pm) PARK AND RIDE BUS SHUTTLE STOP.
VENDOR MARKETPLACE – Booths in Library Parking Lot – Commercial vendors, merchandise for sale, businesses & groups promoting products & services. (9 am–5 pm)
MAKER’S MARKET – Just west of the Square; right behind Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern. Shop the booths of creators, fiber artists, hobbyists, wood crafters, photographers, painters, etc, who personally design and make what they sell. (9 am-5 pm)
CHEESE TENT (Chäs Zält) – Cheese for sale. EAST side of Square. Presented by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn. Vendors: Emmi Roth USA, Edelweiss Creamery, Landmark Creamery, Klondike Cheese Company, Valley View Cheese, Chula Vista (V&V Supremo), Brunkow Cheese and Decatur Dairy. (9 am–5 pm)
COLONY BRANDS TENT – Celebrating more than 90 years in Monroe! Buy cheesecake-on-a-stick; made exclusively for Cheese Days. Stop in to learn more about the Colony Brands team, our 10 retail brands, door prizes and more! NE Corner. (9 am–6 pm)
MAIN STAGE (Grossi Bühni) – Yodeling, alphorns, polka bands, & Swiss heritage music. Daily schedule at INFO BOOTH. (Entertainment today 10 am–6 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Swiss Canton Fashion Show by Wilhelm Tell Usherettes (10 am)
GREEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM – Housed in a Civil War era church. Donations suggested. One block north of Square. (10 am–1 pm)
FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT – Sponsored by Green Co. Farm Bureau, in partnership with 4–H, FFA & other ag groups. Check out a number of educational activities about agriculture; including milking a “cow”, AG Trivia Wheel, coloring station, crop boxes and “Cow Races” back by popular demand! On NORTHEAST corner of Square by First National Bank. (10 am–5 pm; closed during parade)
MINHAS CRAFT BREWERY – guided tours and tasting – “Oldest in the Midwest” with brewing excellence since 1845. Visitor Center and gift shop. Beer & root beer samples. Herb & Helen Haydock’s Collection of Brewery Memorabilia. $12 admission includes guided tour and gift pack ($15 retail value). Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–5 pm)
MINHAS MICRO DISTILLERY GUIDED TASTING– Hand–crafted, small–batch distilled spirits using old world methods & traditions. Guided Distillery and Liqueur Tasting $12 admission includes 2 cocktails, branded whisky tasting glass & gift bottle to take home. Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–5 pm)
MINHAS WINERY WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING: Guided by Executive Chef Trisha Coughlin and her team, wines paired with different types of artisanal cheeses and other small bites. $12 admission includes guided tasting and food pairing and take home a branded wine glass. ($5 retail value). (10 am–5 pm)
CARNIVAL (Rummel Platz) – “Spring Square” parking lot – south of the Courthouse Square (10 am–6 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (10:30 am)
MAIN STAGE – Goodtime Dutchmen – 3rd Generation Family Polka Band (11:30 am)
THE SWISS COLONY CHEESE DAYS PARADE (Chäs Tag Umzug) – Steps off from fairgrounds at 12:30 pm, arrives downtown approximately 12:45 pm.
MAIN STAGE – UW Marching Band 5th Quarter! (after parade)
MAIN STAGE – Goodtime Dutchmen – 3rd Generation Family Polka Band (3:15 pm)
MAIN STAGE – New Glarus Mannerchor (Men’s Choir) (4:10 pm)
MAIN STAGE – New Glarus Jodlerklub (Yodel Club) (5 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (5:45 pm-6:15 pm)
The Pardeeville Watermelon Festival celebrates the fact that watermelon is delicious. But what do you do with the seeds? In Pardeeville, they reward you for spitting them out as far as you can! The longtime home of the U.S. Watermelon Speed-Eating and Seed-Spitting Championships, come and enjoy this fun festival in Pardeeville’s Chandler Park Saturday, September 10th! This festival has been taking place since 1968 and they make the most of it. Free watermelon is included (the seeds are free too) and there are contests for all ages. Watermelon carvings become pretty interesting, too. The Pardeeville Watermelon Festival officially opens at 10am in Chandler Park. There will be an Open Air Market, concessions, and rides at the Midway all day. The Open Air Market showcases art and craft vendors from all over the area, plus a flea market and commercial vendors such Avon, Scentsy, and Tupperware. The market runs from 10am until about 3pm. Typically there are about 30-40 vendors.
The Watermelon carving contest makes for some interesting creations in Pardeeville.
Wayne the Wizard will be there to provide children’s entertainment, there’s a free Hay Dive at noon, and the championship events for the U.S. Watermelon Speed-Eating and Seed-Spitting Championships begin at 1:30pm. Find out more about the actual speed-eating and seed-spitting events, including records like the 61 feet, inches one entrant spat a seed in 1988, here. It’s a fun and unique thing to watch!
Yes, they seriously spit seeds from watermelons as far as they can. There are contests for multiple age categories.
You’ll find Pardeeville along Highway 22, where it meets Highway 44 in Columbia County.
Pardeeville Watermelon Festival Address:
Chandler Park 208 Chandler Park Drive Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 535-9139 Website
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events › Festival
June 16, 2023 – June 17, 2023
Metro Jam Music Festival, Manitowoc
Metro Jam is an annual two-day festival of FREE music in downtown Manitowoc, bringing national, regional, and local acts to the city’s Washington Park. Metro Jam, now in its 43rd year, brings a very diverse lineup of music to the MetroStage including original and classic rock, Americana, alt-country, roots, folk, blues, jazz, reggae, ska, bluegrass, indie, alternative, pop and much more. The featured headliner for this year’s Metro Jam is The Producers who will be taking the stage (and bring you back to the ’80s) at 8:30pm on Saturday evening, June 17th.
The lineup will be as follows:
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023
“European Music Tribute Night”
5:15PM LLOYD GOSZ & THE MYSTIC MOODS (Polka)
6:35PM ATHAS (Traditional Irish)
8:00PM CREAM CITY HOTCLUB (Gypsy Jazz)
SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2023
12:00PM ALMOST.CERTAIN
1:15PM FRYIN’KIELBASA BROTHERS
2:30PM LADYBIRD
4:00PM THE KEYSTONES
5:30PM XPOSED 4HEADS
7:00PM TURN TURN TURN
8:30PM THE PRODUCERS
You’ll find MetroJam action right along what is once again Highway 42 (it was Business 42 until they re-did the routes in town) a few miles after the east end of U.S. 151 at I-43. The road brings you right to Washington Park! U.S. 10 also brings you within two blocks.
MetroJam Address:
Washington Park
1115 Washington Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
June 9, 2023 – June 11, 2023
Polish Fest
Polish Fest is the largest Polish cultural festival in America, and it’s right on Milwaukee’s lakefront! Authentic dancing, food, music, family activities, and plenty of other entertainment (accordions may be involved.)
Some of that extra entertainment includes vodka tastings, the annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition, folk arts and crafts, and plenty of children’s activities.
Polish Fest runs Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th from noon until midnight; Sunday the 11th from noon to 8pm. A Sunday Mass will also take place, with free admission. Gates open at 9:30am Sunday for the Mass.
Tickets are $7 in advance, $12 at the Summerfest Gate. Military personnel, both active and retired, are admitted FREE with military ID.
Check out these event highlights:
Sukiennice Marketplace
Filled by over forty different vendors, our Sukiennice Marketplace gives you a chance to buy Polish items, from traditional Polish toys for children to a new piece of pottery. The Sukiennice Marketplace is also your source for massage & acupuncture, home improvement, and genealogy research. Find everything from relaxation to the knowledge of your Polish roots.
Cultural Village
2022 Cultural Village Exhibits will feature folk artists demonstrating traditional Polish crafts, including wycinanki (paper cutting), pisanki (decorated eggs), wianki (floral head wreaths) and more. Polanki’s sales tent featuring handmade Polish pottery (Boleslawiec), Christmas ornaments, recipe books and other folk art are both located in the Cultural Village. The Polish Genealogical Society and the Milwaukee County Genealogical Society will again be at Polish Fest in a new location, east of the demonstrator tent.
There’s also the Polish Forum, click here for a schedule of speakers.
Cooking demonstrations will abound, too: check out this schedule of events.
Polish Fest Schedule:
As you enter the festival grounds, you will be entertained by:
Friday
Noon – 4:00 Jimmy Locke & Friends
4:30 – 8:30 Vern Tretow Band
Saturday
Noon – 4:00 Jimmy Locke & Friends
4:30 – 8:30 Bryan O’Donnel Band
Sunday
Noon – 3:30 Jimmy Locke & Friends
4:00 – 8:00 Roger Boll
Friday – June 9
Miller Stage
5:00 Shut the Front Door
6:00 Opening Ceremony
7:00 Shut the Front Door
9:00 The First Wave
Non-Stop Polka Stage
Noon Eddie Wojcik Tribute
3:20 I.P.A. Tribute Band
4:00 The Boys
4:40 I.P.A. Tribute Band
5:20 The Boys
6:00 I.P.A. Tribute Band
6:40 The Boys
7:20 Polka Country Musicians
8:00 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
8:40 Polka Country Musicians
9:20 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
10:00 Polka Country Musicians
10:40 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
11:20 Polka Country Musicians
Sobieski Cultural Stage
12:30 Larry Lynne – Decades
1:00 The Britins
2:00 Larry Lynne – Decades
3:00 The Britins
4:30 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble / Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble Regina, Canada
6:00 Capuchins Walk For The Hungry
7:30 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble / Polonia Polish Folk Dance Regina, Canada
8:30 Korona Band From Canada
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Children’s Stage
1:00 Animated Illusionist Arden James
2:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
3:00 Animated Illusionist Arden James
4:00 Wayne & Wingnut
5:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
6:00 Accompany of Kids
7:00 David Seebach’s Wonders of Magic
Saturday – June 10
“The Big Boomski Fireworks” at 10:15pm
Miller Stage
Noon John Gora & Gorale
1:30 SqueezeBox with Mollie B & Ted Lange
2:30 John Gora & Gorale
3:30 SqueezeBox with Mollie B & Ted Lange
5:00 Brett Newski
9:00 Almighty Vinyl
Non-Stop Polka Stage
Noon The Maroszek Brothers
12:40 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
1:20 The Maroszek Brothers
2:00 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
2:40 The Maroszek Brothers
3:20 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
4:00 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
4:40 Polka Family
5:20 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
6:00 Polka Family
6:40 Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
7:20 Polka Family
8:00 Polka Country Musicians
8:40 The Boys
9:20 Polka Country Musicians
10:00 The Boys
10:40 Polka Country Musicians
11:20 The Boys
Sobieski Cultural Stage
Noon Song & Dance Ensemble Lajkonik
12:30 Polonia Dance Ensemble Regina, Canada / Song & Dance Ensemble Lajkonik
1:00 Whisper Center for Artistic Expression
2:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
3:00 Dolina Polish Dancers / Polonia Dance Ensemble Regina, Canada
4:00 Wesloly Lud Polish Dance Company of P.R.C.U.A. Zakopane Polish Dance Ensemble / P.R.C.U.A and Southwest Center of Polish Dancing P.R.C.U.A.
5:00 Wawel Polish Dancers
5:30 Song & Dance Ensemble Lajkonik
6:00 PFDAA Polish Folk Dance Gala
8:30 The Silver Orkiestra
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Children’s Stage
1:00 Syenka Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
2:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
3:00 Juchasi Polish Highlaner Dance Group
5:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
6:00 Wayne & Wingnut
7:00 David Seebach’s Wonders of Magic
Sunday – June 11
Miller Stage
Noon The Music Connection
1:30 John Gora & Gorale
2:30 The Music Connection
3:30 John Gora & Gorale
5:00 Jessie Marie & The Rippers
Non-Stop Polka Stage
Noon Polka Family
12:40 Polka Generations
1:20 Polka Family
2:00 Polka Generations
2:40 Polka Family
3:20 Polka Generations
4:00 D Street Band
Sobieski Cultural Stage
10:00 Mass Prelude
10:15 Mass
1:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
2:00 Stas Venglevski
3:30 Al White
6:00 Depot Express
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Children’s Stage
Noon Little, Jr., Teen & Teen Polish Fest Pageant
3:00 Julie Sobanski – Magicienne & Escape Artist
4:00 Wayne & Wingnut
5:00 Accompany of Kids
Get more info and complete schedules at PolishFest.org!
Polish Fest Milwaukee Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
June 9, 2023 – June 11, 2023
Copperfest
Copperfest is back, June 9-11, 2023!
Copperfest celebrates Wisconsin’s “Copper Country” in Oconto with tons of fun activities, history, food, a big lineup of live music, and more. Come join the fun on June 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2023, it’s easy access off U.S. 41 and Highway 22.
Live music , the Artist Village is back, as well as the Car Show.
FRIDAY – Ten Cases Later @ 7 PM
SATURDAY – Wet Possum @ 11:45 AM
SATURDAY – Warden @ 3:30 PM
SATURDAY – Michigan Shivers @ 7:30 PM
SUNDAY – Aaron Socha Livewire @ 11:30 AM
Entertainers, UTL Wrestling, trout pond, Artist Village (crafts & vendors), car show, children games and bouncers and much more!!
Artist Village: Friday 5PM-9PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM. 120 artists and crafters from all over the state! For more information or to get an application please call 414-324-6193.
The parade begins at 10am Saturday, with a beach theme! The Car Show runs Saturday from 10am to 2pm in the Holy Trinity Church parking lot. Plenty of fantastic models to peruse!
For all the latest, check their Facebook page.
U.S. 41 and Highway 22 bring you there! You’ll find Oconto at the eastern end of Highway 22, right at U.S. 41. It’s about eight miles east of U.S. 141 and 10 miles south of Highway 64. Copperfest is in town, and just east past downtown is the shores of Green Bay, with lakeside parks and piers and a view across the bay to Door County. It’s only about half an hour from the city of Green Bay and twenty minutes from Marinette.
Oconto Copperfest Address:
American Legion Post 74 Park
709 Madison Street
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 604-3636
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
June 4, 2023
Dairyfest 2023, Marshfield
Marshfield features its 42nd annual Dairyfest Friday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 4th at venues all across the city. This is Hub City’s annual honor of the agricultural industry and Wisconsin’s hardworking dairy farmers! This community tradition has been providing fun for the whole family, during these “dairy-licious” days.
The Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI) puts on the event, which includes a wide variety of fun activities across the three-day weekend.
What is Dairyfest?
Held annually the weekend after Memorial Day, Dairyfest is a fun community celebration that honors the agriculture industry and local dairy farmers. Dairyfest features a lot of fun events, including the annual Dairyfest Breakfast, a parade, kids’ activities, a Picnic in the Park, and much more. The theme of this year’s celebration is “To the Moo-n Back”!
Thursday, June 1
3:00-5:00pm /Kick-Off to Summer & Giveaways: Held at the Wenzel Family Plaza come for the ceremonial start of the water fountain and the Vandehey Waters giveaway and the Wisconsin Dells giveaway!
Friday, June 2
5:30-9:30am / Dairyfest Breakfast: Held at the Expo Building at the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 513 E. 17th St., this traditional event welcomes nearly 2,000 people every year. This year’s menu includes a scrambled egg special, hot coffee, white or chocolate milk, and more. The first 1,000 attendees will receive a commemorative ceramic coffee mug. Carry-out orders are accepted but must be placed ahead of time.
11:00-8:00pm / Food Truck Friday and Picnic in the Park: Food trucks will be at Columbia Park, 201 W. Arnold St., until 5:00pm and a variety of food booths will be available throughout the evening. Join the fun in the Park including inflatables, petting zoo, coin & candy hunt, educational games by Richfield 4-H, Reis Martial Arts, Main Street Conservatory of Dance, and the Marshfield Civic Band. And don’t miss out on Movie in the Park at sundown!
7:00-9:00pm / Hub City Concert Series Kick-Off: Join the fun at the Wenzel Family Plaza and enjoy food trucks and outdoor games. Live music starts at 7:00pm with NEWSKIES.
Saturday, June 3
Additional activities scheduled for Saturday include:
Marshfield Dairyfest Address:
Various locations around town, including the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
513 E. 17th Street
Marshfield, WI 54449
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
June 3, 2023 – June 4, 2023
Crusherfest
South Milwaukee hosts quite a cool thing Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th: Crusherfest! Named for native son and professional wrestler Reggie “Da Crusher” Lisowski, Crusher Fest is a Wild combination of fun and competitive activities, promising “cold beer, polka, live wrestling, and more!”
Da Crusher loved talking about his days growing up around saloons on the rough and tumble blue collar streets of South Milwaukee, and new this year, the Mr. Saloon Competition salutes this with Keg Holding, Trivia, Throw-the-Drunk, Sausage Eating, and Beer Drinking – among other things – all in the pursuit of being crowned Crusherfest’s Mr. Saloon and walking away with a championship belt. The event will take place at Crusherfest on Sunday, June 4th starting at 1pm. Men and women are welcome to participate. Participants must be over the age of 21 and bring a photo ID with their birthdate to the event. Participants must bring a smartphone to the event. Give it a try!
Shop Some Great Vendors
Crusherfest welcomes vendors offering everything from cigars to retro outfits, jewelry to signs and artwork. They include Hollyville, Thurston’s, Lake Country Cigars, The Lamb Shop, All in a Jar, Minimalist Martha, Say It Louder, Rhubarb and Ice, Twisted Tree Creations, Ron Dunn Art, Finch’s Vendor Expo, and Bellajack Design. Find out more about them here.
Blizzard Brawl with Great Lakes Championship Wrestling, Meet & Greets, Bolo Bash, and Da Crusherfest Showdown
Meet wrestling stars “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr., Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine, Al Snow, Marty Jannetty, and Ted DiBiase. Real wrestling happens Saturday night at 6pm before the final matchup with Da Crusherfest Showdown Sunday afternoon at 3pm. The wrestling events require ticketed admission, which you can buy here. You can also do meet & greets with the wrestlers; we do not suggest you try and wrestle them. Full details.
Live Music & Great Food
Saturday, June 3rd:
11am – 1pm Larry Lynne
1pm – 2:30pm Size 5’s
2:30pm – 4:30pm Bad Behavior
5pm – 7pm Jesse Haines
7pm – 9pm Fire & Ice
Sunday, June 4th:
10am – Noon Jeff Winard
Noon – 2pm The Squeezettes
2pm – 3:30pm Blues Addiction
3:30pm – Close Bad Boy
Food vendors include everything from savory BBQ to sweet treats. Among them are the South Milwaukee Lions Club, Sweet Delight, Bakehouse 23, Carries Crispies, Short & Sweet Desserts, BeBe’s Bistro, Smokin’ C’s, The Gutt Truck, Smiling Dawgs, and Atwood HWY BBQ. Find out more about them here.
Crusherfest runs Saturday, June 3rd from 11am – 9pm and Sunday, June 4th from 11am – 6pm.
Crusherfest Address:
1101 Milwaukee Avenue
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
Crusherfest Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
May 20, 2023
Springfest, Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls’ annual Springfest hits the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds the weekend of May 19-20, 2023! It’s a family friendly event with over 40 exhibitors showing and selling their Spring and Summer products and services. Enjoy great food, from deep fried cheese curds to State Fair French fries, brick oven pizzas, prime rib sandwiches and so much more!
There’s plenty of family fun including a petting zoo, inflatables, a bonfire, and plenty of other activities for kids and grown-ups alike.
Plenty of live music will be available too, in either of two heated tents, the Main Stage and the Kwik Trip Party Tent. Here’s the main lineup so far:
Friday, May 19th, 7:30pm, Boogie & the Yo-Yo’z
Saturday, May 20th, 7:30 pm, The John Stone Band from Nashville
You’ll also be able to enjoy Leininkugel’s Springfest Kubb Championship! What’s Kubb?? Find out here!
NEW in 2023 is the Dinosaur Exhibit!
Tickets can be purchased at The Leinie Lodge, Select Kwik Trip Stores in the Chippewa Falls area, The Chippewa YMCA or online at the Chippewa Falls Rotary Club’s Facebook page.
Springfest Tickets and Pricing:
Friday, May 19th:
FREE General Gate Admission
FREE Parking
Gates open at 4pm
Vendors Open at 4 – 8 pm Expo Hall A
5pm: Brady Luke Band in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
7:30pm: Boogie & The Yo-Yo’z on the Main Stage (Tickets)
11pm: Brady Luke Band (round two!)
Saturday, May 20th:
$5 General Gate Admission
FREE Parking
$20 Advance Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z Concert* (includes General Gate Admission)
$25 Day of Show Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z Concert (includes General Gate Admission)
$75 VIP Concert (Includes: Free Beverages & Snacks from 7-11pm, Exclusive Family Fare VIP Tent Access, Separate Entrance to Concert, Front of Stage Access During Show! Free parking & gate admission. Meet and Greet opportunity [Artist Approved])
Gates open at 11am
12 Noon: The Gators in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
2pm: Chi-Hi Wire Choir, the Chippewa Falls High School students take the stage in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
2:30pm: Howard “Guitar” Luedtke and Blue Max in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
5pm: Bumblefist in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
7:30pm headliner: The John Stone Band – the “King of Broadway” from Nashville (Tickets)
11pm: Bumblefist in the Kwik Trip Party Tent
You can find the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds just off Highway 124 on Edward Street, just north of the Leinenkugel Brewery and across from the beautiful Irvine Park & Zoo. It’s less than a mile north of downtown Chippewa Falls, where Business Highway 29 and Business U.S. 53 meet.
Chippewa Falls Springfest Address:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds (along Highway 124)
225 Edward Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 723-2861
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
February 1, 2023 – February 5, 2023
Lake Geneva Winterfest & the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition
L
ake Geneva celebrates winter like no other place. Winterfest is a brouhaha of shopping, dining, music, magic, refreshments, and activities including thrilling helicopter rides over the town and lake. It’s capped off, of course, by the amazing designs and creativity of the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition – right along the lake at the Riviera – where fifteen teams of the most talented snow sculptors and artists from around the country gather to compete for a national title. The entire competition is open to the public, so Winterfest attendees can actually watch the artists at work!
Be here to witness these teams at work during an epic 72-hour competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable, larger-than-life snow sculptures.
2023 TEAMS:
• Block #1: Team Alaska: AK Department of Snow
• Block #2: Team Illinois 1: Cave People from Space
• Block #3: Team Colorado: Snicecarvings
• Block #4: Team North Dakota: Jay Ray w/SnoKraft
• Block #5: Team Vermont: The Pour Saps
• Block #6: Team Wisconsin 2: Up to Snow Good
• Block #7: Team New York
• Block #8: Team Iowa 2: The Driftless Snow Sculptors
• Block #9: Team Wisconsin 1: Sculptora Borealis
• Block #10: Team Illinois 2: Two Blondes and a Brunette
• Block #11: Team New Hampshire: Granite State Snow Sculptors
• Block #12: Team Minnesota 2: Snow Van Gogh
• Block #13: Team Michigan
• Block #14: Team Iowa 1: Butch St. Carvers
• Block #15: Team Minnesota 1: Team Kwe
In addition to the snow sculpting competition, you’ll find more wintery fun during Winterfest week, including the 4th annual Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, Bonfires on the Beach, Fire & Ice Bar, a Cocoa Crawl and many more events, activities and specials around Lake Geneva and the surrounding area. It runs Wednesday through Sunday, February 1st-5th as part of Winterfest. The walk is just steps away from the snow sculpting competition, with dozens of artfully crafted ice sculptures adorning the front faces of shops, restaurants, and other businesses throughout the Downtown district. Ice sculptures will be installed Friday morning, February 4th and remain on display as long as the cold weather permits!
Avant Cycle Café | 234 Broad Street
Barrique Bistro & Wine Bar | 835 Wrigley Drive
Bloomingbyrds | 755 W. Main Street
Brick & Mortar Home | 832 Geneva Street
Brick & Mortar Home and Outdoor | 222 Center Street
Clearwater Outdoor Sports | 744 W. Main Street
Cornerstone Shop & Gallery | 214 Broad Street
Egg Harbor Café | 827 W Main Street
Evr drygds | 719 W. Main Street
Fancy Fair Mall | 830 W Main Street
Geneva Gifts | 150 Broad Street
Haberdapper | 253 Broad Street
Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva | 300 Wrigley Drive
Interstate Insurance Group | 811 Wrigley Drive (Popeye’s)
Kilwins | 772 Main Street
Lake Geneva Lifestyle/Donna Brongiel | 703 Main Street
Lake Geneva Motel | 201 Wrigley Drive (Visitor Info Center)
Lake Geneva Spice Company | 255 Broad Street
Marigold | 725 W Main Street
Overland Sheepskin Co. | 752 W. Main Street
Queen Bee Artisan Market | 830 W. Main Street
Sopra Bistro | 724 Main Street
The Bottle Shop | 617 W. Main Street
The Candle Mercantile | 870 W. Main Street
The Olive Oil Shops | 221 Broad Street
Thumbs Up | 260 Broad Street
Winterfest activities focus on downtown Lake Geneva, which lies right along Highway 50. U.S. 12 and Highway 120 are close to the east and Highway 67 is a few miles to the west near Delavan. It’s easy to get to – and a total blast!
Lake Geneva Winterfest & U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition Address:
Downtown Lake Geneva/Riviera Park
201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 13, 2023 – January 22, 2023
Waukesha JanBoree
Waukesha JanBoree is called “Wisconsin’s Premier Winter Festival” and it runs for ten days in 2023. This year, it’s “Channel the Flannel” for the 37th annual JanBoree from Friday, January 13th through Sunday, January 22nd.
JanBoree includes over 35 events throughout Waukesha, most of which are free. Events include disc golf, hockey, bocce ball, trivia and ComedySportz performances, a “Cosmic Colors” planetarium show, a variety of games, and more!
Opening Ceremonies are held Friday from 4-9pm at Waukesha’s Lowell Park, complete with fireworks. Details on this and other events below.
Events are held at various locations around the city, including Lowell Park, Minooka Park, the Waukesha Transit Center downtown, North High School, and more. See event pages here for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for specifics and maps.
Friday events on Opening Night include the Opening Ceremonies, an Ice Sculpting Demo, the Arctic Avalanche, the Carnival of Curiosities, a Fireworks Extravaganza, and the 350’ lighted toboggan run (reservations required.) NEW this year is the Glow Walk, a 1.7-mile walk around Frame Park – complete with a furnished glow stick!
The fireworks extravaganza tops it all off Friday night at 8pm at Lowell Park.
On Saturday, check out trolley rides, a pancake breakfast that you can burn off with the Frosty 5K Walk/Run at Frame Park, geocaching, ice sculpting, Frozen FootGolf & S’Moorball at Moor Downs, Ice Bocce Ball, a penguin egg hunt, and plenty more all day!
Sunday features the “Dinosaurs Alive” Planetarium Show, an ice fishing clinic, horse-drawn wagon rides, or the Alaskan Malamute Dog Pull at Minooka Park, and of course the Arctic Avalanche and family ice skating continues.
During the week, additional activities will include Frozen Footgolf, a snowman building contest, a goose chase scavenger hunt, airport tours, and special movie or planetarium shows.
Weekday Activities:
Monday, January 16, 2023
Snow Snake Workshop
“The Sum and Su Familia” Planetarium Show
Tuesday, January 16, 2023
Winter Tyke Hike
Snow Snake Workshop
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
LumberJackie & Jilly Time
All Out Flannel Community Workout!
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Upcycle Your Flannel
Friday, January 20, 2023
Lumberjack Jaunt – Glow Walk
The second weekend (January 21-22) will feature the Frosty 5K, an Ice-Sculpting Competition, and a Candlelight Hike in Minooka Park at sunset.
Get all the details at the main JanBoree website. Waukesha can be a tricky city to navigate, but getting to it is easy. Follow U.S. 18, Highway 59, or Highway 164 to get there. I-94 and Highway 16 also bring you close to the city and all the fun JanBoree events.
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 13, 2023 – March 10, 2023
Ice Castles Lake Geneva
Ice Castles are back in Lake Geneva! Tickets are on sale now.
Lake Geneva is beautiful and fun enough already, but with the Ice Castles coming again after such a crazy 2022, this winter it gets even better! Seven days a week starting soon through early March – weather permitting – the massive ice castles compound can be explored and enjoyed by the whole family. The artistic project got underway in November, one of several projects in North America by Ice Castles LLC, a Utah-based company with similar projects in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Utah. One of the most unique and amazing facts about the Ice Castles is that they are literally built by hand. They grow more than 5,000 icicles each day that they harvest and sculpt together. These Ice Castles create life-size winter playgrounds, with illuminated inside the castles at night with color-changing LED lights that twinkle to music. You can explore ice-carved tunnels, fountains, slides, frozen thrones, and towering ice formations. This is truly something to dazzle the entire family. This mega-complex of ice will be at the Geneva National Resort and Club, just west of downtown Lake Geneva off Highway 50, a little east of Highway 67. How long will it last? Depends on the weather, of course, but they’ll keep it open into March if they can. You can keep up with the construction of Ice Castles and weather conditions, which will be continuously updated, on their website.
Tickets are on sale now. Admission prices are:
WEEKDAYS (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $25 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $17 Children 3 and younger: Free
WEEKENDS (Friday – Sunday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $29 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $22 Children 3 and younger: Free
Be prepared to hit U.S. 12 or Highways 50, 67, or 120 to get to Lake Geneva and experience Ice Castles Wisconsin and the magic of the winter season!
Ice Castles Lake Geneva Address:
Geneva National Resort & Club
1091 Hidden Cottage Circle
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416
Website
Pulled from their website, here are some “Tips for a great experience” to Ice Castles Lake Geneva:
Find out more about Lake Geneva HERE.
Back to State Trunk Tour
December 31, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Plymouth’s New Years’ Eve “Cheese Drop”
The Plymouth Arts Center, touting Plymouth as the “Cheese Capital of the World,” is doing its 16th annual Big Cheese Drop and New Year’s Eve party on Saturday, December 31st and is ready for the biggest one yet!
This should make national news (again), since it’s been on the list for the top 10 things to do on New Year’s Eve for many years. All the details are on the Plymouth Arts Center website. While in downtown Plymouth, admire all the cool murals and decor along the historic downtown blocks, filled with great shops, restaurants, bars, and more.
Why is Plymouth the “Cheese Capital”? Well, it’s rooted in the fact that the price of cheese in the United States was designated at the Wisconsin Cheese Exchange in downtown Plymouth, beginning in 1918. The Cheese Exchange pricing and standards were the platform for cheese pricing until 1956. During these decades Plymouth became known as “Cheeseville” because of the cheese storage facilities, the processing of cheese and shipping of product throughout the country. Today, over 15% of the cheese consumed in the U.S. goes through the city.
Follow Highways 23, 57, or 67 to get to Plymouth and check out this unique way to ring in 2021. Check out a brief video clip of last year’s party below!
Address for the Big Cheese Drop in Plymouth for New Year’s Eve:
Plymouth Arts Center
520 E. Mill Street
Plymouth, WI 53073
(920) 892-8409
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
Prairie du Chien Carp Fest
Carp Fest: New York drops a lit ball at New Years’ Eve; Prairie du Chien drops a carp!
Yes, Prairie du Chien drops a real carp on New Year’s Eve. The carp, caught in the Mississippi, is named “Lucky”, and then frozen until New Years’ Eve. Lucky is then adorned with makeup and lights and lowered via crane. As soon as they ring in the New Year, people can kiss Lucky for good luck.
How’s that for a New Years’ Eve fish story?
Prairie du Chien, always down for a good, expanded party, has taken the original New Year’s Eve “Droppin’ of the Carp” and expanded it to a multi-day event with a variety of activities, many of which are quite family-friendly.
The BIG party for Carp Fest is the New Year’s Eve party that takes place on the west edge of downtown Prairie du Chien on St. Feriole Island Park by the Mississippi River. It starts at 9pm and culminates with the “Droppin’ of the Carp” a little before midnight to ring in 2020!
A earlier version of the carp drop for children and families – featuring “Lucky Carp Jr.” – takes place indoors at Hoffman Hall (1600 Wacouta Street.) The Family “Droppin of the Carp” takes place New Year’s Eve from 5pm – 6:30pm at Hoffman Hall featuring Arts & Crafts, Face Painting, Miniature Dairy Goats, and Carnival Games. You can also meet the Carp King & Queen, meet Master Gardeners & Bixby The Rabbit, and Exotic Animals from Ridgetop Rescue. Of course they’ll have noisemakers and hats, plus Carp Corn, Pizza, and Hot Carp Chocolate (yes, we’re curious too…) for $1 each. This event is sponsored by Valley Fish & Cheese, a State Trunk Tour favorite located just east of the Mississippi River bridge where eastbound Highway 27 begins. Check out the shop, owned by “Sturgeon General” Mike Valley, and its incredible selection of fresh fish, meats, cheeses, uniquely Wisconsin items, and more!
Hit U.S. 18 or Highways 27, 35, or 60 and check this out!
Carp Fest Address:
St. Feriole Island
900 W. Blackhawk Avenue
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
(608) 326-8602
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
December 3, 2022
Jingle & Mingle, Sheboygan
The 2nd annual Jingle & Mingle at City Green in downtown Sheboygan is a family-friendly event that includes entertainment, a marketplace, a brat fry, trolley rides, and of course, Santa!
Jingle & Mingle Schedule of Events:
12:15 PM: Storytime with Santa.
12:30 PM: The Kohler High School Madrigal Singers
1 PM: Ugly Sweater Contest
1:30 PM: South High School Singers
2 PM: Lutheran High School Chamber Choir
2:30 PM: Noah & Grace
3 PM: Livie
You can get to City Green and downtown Sheboygan via Highways 23, 28, or 42 in from I-43. Just head towards the lake and make your way to 8th Street, City Green is right at the New York Avenue intersection. While in Sheboygan, you can check out so many fun attractions, restaurants, and more. They include the John Michael Kohler Arts Center – practically adjacent to City Green – the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, also within blocks of City Green, the Harbor District along the Sheboygan River, North Beach, Maywood Environmental Park and 3 Sheeps Brewing on the north side (both just off Highway 42), and much more.
Jingle & Mingle Address:
City Green, downtown Sheboygan
710 New York Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 335-0060
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
November 27, 2022 – December 29, 2022
Lights in Lincoln Park, Manitowoc
The Lincoln Park Zoo is a terrific free zoo in the “Coolest Coast” city of Manitowoc. Every holiday season, Lights In Lincoln Park dazzles with a “twinkly bright drive-thru wonder” from November 24th through December 9th on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and then resuming for EVERY evening from December 14th through the 28th, 2023.
Along with beautiful lights on trees, trellises and more, enjoy over 70 wild animal light displays, many with animated characters. Among them is animated elephant, a wood duck, a standing polar bear, an animated wolf, and whispering pine tree… just to give you an idea of what you’ll get to enjoy. This is the 10th annual Lights in Lincoln Park and they manage to add new features every year.
Admission is $5 per car and proceeds go to benefit zoo educational programs and enhancements to the Lincoln Park Zoo. You can enter from Waldo/Lincoln Boulevard, right where U.S. 10 and Highway 42 meet. It’s just north of downtown Manitowoc, about five minutes east of I-43, following the U.S. 10 (Waldo Blvd.) exit. It’s just west of Highway 42/Memorial Drive, which is a beautiful drive along the shores of Lake Michigan between Manitowoc and Two Rivers.
Lights In Lincoln Park Hours:
November 24th – December 9th: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm- Thursday, Friday and Saturday
December 14th – December 28th: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm- Every Night
You can visit Santa on Cabin 1 on Friday nights: December 2nd, 9th, and 16th.
Lights in Lincoln Park Family Night Fun Walk is Friday December 29th, 2022 from 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm, featuring a fun walk through the Lincoln Park Lights. It’s a great way for the whole family to enjoy the lights and get some steps in! Admission for the Family Night Fun Walk is $5/person or $10/family.
Lights In Lincoln Park Address:
Lincoln Park Zoo
900 Quay Street (just off Highway 42, blocks from U.S. 10)
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
October 14, 2022 – October 16, 2022
Fall Art Tour in the Driftless
The Fall Art Tour is perfect for State Trunk Tourers with a love of the Driftless Area and art. It’s a self-guided driving tour where you can meet up to 45 area artists and watch them at work as you make your way through Baraboo, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Mineral Point!
Potters, weavers, glassblowers, woodworkers, painters, jewelers, quilters, photographers & sculptors are all part of it. Meet the artists, experience their work spaces, and witness as they create unique works of art. A wide variety of high-quality artwork is available for purchase in every price range. This is their 22nd Anniversary Tour and it’s become one of the most popular art events in the Midwest.
Highways 33, 130, 136, and 23 figure in this tour, as do many county and side roads. It’s a beautiful drive through the Driftless Area and a great behind-the-scenes look at artists’ studios!
Fall Art Tour Details:
More details can be had by calling (608) 356-9048 or checking out their website, http://www.fallarttour.com/.
Also, check out this video for a sample of what you’re in for!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
October 8, 2022 – October 9, 2022
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2022 is happening Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th, with a kickoff party at Topsy Turvy Brewery Friday night the 7th! The activity is centered in Flat Iron Park and throughout Downtown Lake Geneva.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT:
Playing at Flat Iron Park
(Bring your own chairs)
Saturday, October 8th
Ed Wagner’s Lustige Blaskapelle, 12:30-3:00pm
Dunn Lumber Stein Hoisting Competition, 2:00pm
Grand Geneva Doxie Dash Race, 4:00pm
Steve Meisner Band, 4:00-6:00pm
Sunday, October 9th
Badger High School Jazz Band, 12:30-2:00pm
Dunn Lumber Stein Hoisting Competition, 2:00pm
The Phenix Band, 3:00-5:00pm
Grand Geneva Doxie Dash Race, 4:00pm
Also Saturday & Sunday
Playing throughout the downtown district and in the Flat Iron Park tent during band change overs.
Shows in the Rotary Club of Lake Geneva’s KIDS ENTERTAINMENT ZONE repeat throughout each day.
FREE PUMPKIN GIVEAWAY
U.S. 12 and Highways 50 and 120 bring you to Lake Geneva for all the fun.
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2022 Address:
Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
September 30, 2022 – October 2, 2022
Windigo Fest
Windigo Fest is “a Festival of Folklore Freaks and ALL Things Halloween!” For 2022, this spine-chilling festival will take place at Manitowoc’s Expo Grounds, same place where the Manitowoc County Fair is held on the west end of town – there’s a lot of room on those grounds! All Hallows Eve enthusiasts with a hunger for the strange and unusual can experience a weekend filled with various seasonal activities including outstanding music, costume contests, dark art exhibits and contests, bizarre performances, and the historical cemetery bus tour. Windigo Fest kicks off Friday evening. After a day full of Halloween havoc, a parade will again display the Midwest’s best competitive costumes.
IT IS HALLOWEEN SO WEAR A COSTUME!!!!!
This is a huge event, with over 40 unique vendors with tons of Halloween and horror merch, plenty of creative art, unique oddities, and LOTS of live entertainment.
The Entertainment includes Kane Hopper, one of the actors who played Jason; ghost tribute band Absolution; Midgets With Attitude wrestling entertainment; EDM featuring Lockvibe; Blackened: Hellbilly Deluxe; Istra the Belly Dancer; and more.
Saturday features a Costume Contest & Halloween Parade for people of all ages! That starts around 6:07.
There’s also a Hearse & Rat Rod Auto Show, tons of food trucks, and plenty of vendors “Shop ‘Til You Drop Dead,” they say!)
Windigo Fest runs Friday, September 30th, Saturday, October 1st, and Sunday, October 2nd at the Manitowoc Expo Grounds. The grounds are easily accessible off I-43, at U.S. 151 and Highway 42 (Exit #149). U.S. 10 arrives in Manitowoc a few miles north of the Expo Grounds, which are accessible from U.S. 10 via I-43 or County R/Rapids Road (which was the original main highway – U.S. 141 – between Milwaukee and Green Bay before I-43 was built.)
Windigo Fest Address:
Manitowoc Expo Grounds
4921 Expo Drive
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(920) 683-4378
Website
A shot during the Cemetery Tours at Windigo Fest, Manitowoc.
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
September 23, 2022 – September 25, 2022
Gays Mills Apple Festival
The Gays Mills Apple Festival – the 63rd annual – runs September 23-25, 2022! Gays Mills is pretty much the apple capital of Wisconsin, and it celebrates the apple harvest with parades, carnivals, arts and crafts, flea markets, music, dancing, a 2K and 5K fun run/walk, food and festivities.
Get the rest of the details from their website or see the schedule below!
You’ll find Gays Mills in the heart of Wisconsin’s beautiful Driftless Area, where Highways 131 and 171 meet by the Kickapoo River. It’s worth going for the drive alone!
2022 Gays Mills Apple Festival Schedule of Events
FRIDAY EVENTS
Carnival: Wristband Night 5pm-9pm Fairgrounds
Lions Club Flea Market: 8am-5pm Fairgrounds
Main Street Vending: 10am-5pm Downtown
BMZ Church Food Stand:10am-5pm Fairgrounds
4-H Food Stand: Friday-Sunday Fairgrounds
American Legion Food Stand: 10am-5pm Fairgrounds
Societies Sons M/C: Music
Dante’s:Music Last Ride
Halver’s Town Tap: Music
SATURDAY EVENTS To See & Do:
Run and Walk:Registration 8am Main St Bridge, 2 & 5 Mi. Run; 2 Mi. Walk; ¼ Mi. Kids Fun Run: 9am
Lions Club Flea Market: 8am-5pm Fairgrounds
Main Street Vending: 9:30am-5pm Downtown
Cornhole Tournament
American Legion Volleyball Tournament: 9am 4-person Co-Ed Teams, 312 Main
Library Book Sale: 9am-5pm, 212 Main
Lions Club Arts and Crafts: 9am-5pm Fairgrounds
Carnival: 10am-5pm Fairgrounds
Open Horseshoe Tournament: Saturday Partner draw,Sunday 10 am registration and 11am start, Log CabinVillage Park
Societies Sons M/C: Music from American Standard
Fire Department: Raffle (Drawing in Nov.)
Dante’s: Music from Pilot of the Airwaves 3pm-7pm, Last Ride
Halver’s Town Tap: Music from Dylan Harris 2-6pm, DJ Robert 9pm – 1am
Inflatables:Downtown
SUNDAY EVENTS To See & Do:
Ride the FREE Trolley stops at Flea Market & Main!
APPLE FESTIVAL PARADE 1:30 pm, Main Street to Riverside Park
Lions Club Arts and Crafts & Flea Market: 8am-5pm Fairgrounds
Main Street Vending: 9:30am-4pm Downtown
Library Book Sale: 9am-3:30 pm 212 Main
Carnival: 10am-5pm Fairgrounds
Open Horseshoe Tournament: Saturday draw for partners, Sunday 10am registration, 11am start, Log Cabin Village Park
Fire Department: Raffle (Drawing in Nov.)
Inflatables: Downtown
Gays Mills Apple Festival Address:
Highways 131 & 171
Gays Mills, WI 54631
(608) 735-4341
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
September 23, 2022 – September 25, 2022
Harvest Fair
Harvest Fair at Wisconsin State Fair Park features tons of fall-focused events, activities, live entertainment, competitions, scarecrow making and the much anticipated Pumpkin Bowling. It runs September 23-25, 2022 and has FREE admission.
Over 30 vendors will be there, selling everything from tasty food to cool crafts. Since it’s fall, imbibe in a pumpkin spice cream puff; enjoy pies from the Elegant Farmer; grab a cup of Kozie’s Harvest Stew; explore a multitude of Wisconsin cheeses; and The Micro will be offering over 60 varieties of craft beers. Prefer wine? No problem, Wineberry will be serving up red wines, white wines, even wine slushies.
Check out the Antique Tractors Display, the Backyard Circus, Camel and Pony Rides, a Farmers’ Market, Free Live Music, Giant Cookie Decorating, Hay Rides, a Kiddie Tractor Maze, “Make Your Own Caramel Apple” fun (they provide a lot of toppings), even a chance for kids to slide down the “World’s Largest Piggy Bank.” Free, lively entertainment is rocking stages all weekend long, including performances by the 5 Card Studs, Too Hype Crew, Rhythm Kings, The Toys and more will be on the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater with nightly entertainment presented by Bud Light. Plus, multiple Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows, presented by WaterStone Bank, are also on deck.
A major feature of Harvest Fair is the massive pumpkin patch, big enough to impress Linus from Peanuts (yes, we’re going old school here.)
And, a lot more! Check their website for full schedules and details.
Wisconsin State Fair Park is in West Allis, minutes west of downtown Milwaukee. I-94 and Highways 59 and 181 border the park; I-41, I-894, U.S. 18, U.S. 45, and Highway 100 all get you close.
Harvest Fair / Maker Faire Address:
Wisconsin State Fair Park
640 S. 84th Street (Highways 181 & 59)
West Allis, WI 53214
(800) 884-3247
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
September 17, 2022 – September 18, 2022
Green County Cheese Days
Monroe is an epicenter of cheesemaking in the heart of Green County – even their high school team name is the “Cheesemakers.” The city and county celebrates every other year Green County Cheese Days, a three-day hullabaloo filled with food, music, dancing, contests, crafts, cheesemaking, cow milking, yodeling, and even Wisconsin’s only parade led by Brown Swiss Cows. After skipping 2020 and 2021 (it’s an every-other-year festival, after all) Green County Cheese Days is back for 2022, happening September 16th through the 18th.
Monroe’s beautiful town square centers around the gorgeous Green County Courthouse and fills up with all the fun. From a beer and Limburger sandwich at Baumgartner’s to the 5K & 10K Cheese Days Chase, from arts & crafts to actual cow milking, Cheese Days is a blast.
You can check out the Children’s Parade on Friday and the main Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade on Sunday.
Get the schedule and details on all of their events at the Cheese Days website, or below reprinted from their site. Scroll down for more details, including the schedule for the Main Stage lineup!
Highways 11, 59, 69, and 81 all bring you to Monroe. The three days of festivities are also right next to the Minhas Craft Brewery, which is worth a tour, and the lovely trappings of Green County, including New Glarus just up Highway 69. Make a weekend of it!
Green County Cheese Days Address:
1016 16th Avenue
Monroe, WI 53566
(608) 325-7771
Website
Green County Cheese Days Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, SEPT 16
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUS – $1 each trip. Park off site at Orchid (350 – 21st St.) & ride bus downtown. 5–10 pm
INFO TRAILER – SW Corner (near Baumgartner’s) – maps, schedules, ask questions, lost and found. 9 am – 7:30 pm
FOOD STANDS – Eat your way around the Courthouse Square! Menu/maps at INFO BOOTH. (10 am–9 pm)
CHEESE DAYS STORE – SOUVENIR TENT (Adenke Zält) – t-shirts & sweatshirts, collector buttons, International Harvester toy tractor, logo pint glasses, “udderly good time” drawstring backpacks, Wedgie bobbleheads, canvas tote bags, Swiss cheese earrings. SW corner cross from Baumgartner’s Cheese Store. (9 am–8:30 pm)
BEER and WINE STAND – SW Corner – near INFO TRAILER. (10 am–midnight) ****Proceeds from sales at the Cheese Days Beer & Wine Stand go toward the costs of tents, porta potties, electricity, stage entertainment and more – thank you for your support.****
HOSPITALITY TENT (Zält zum Höckle) Sponsored by Colony Brands. NORTH SIDE. Dining area with tables & chairs. Musical entertainment throughout the weekend. Open all weekend.
BIG RADIO DINING TENT – NORTHWEST CORNER. Dining area with tables and chairs. Open all weekend.
CARNIVAL in Spring Square Parking Lot (behind JoAnne’s Dress Shop) – all weekend.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER – Guided tours showcasing the history of cheesemaking. The past comes alive at the century-old Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. 2018 6th Ave, at intersection of Hwy 69 south and 21st St. (9 am–4 pm)
CHEESE TENT (Chäs Zält) – Cheese for sale. EAST SIDE of the Square. Presented by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn. Vendors: Emmi Roth USA, Edelweiss Creamery, Landmark Creamery, Klondike Cheese Company, Valley View Cheese, Chula Vista (V&V Supremo), Brunkow Cheese and Decatur Dairy. (9 am–8 pm)
MINHAS CRAFT BREWERY – guided tours and tasting – “Oldest in the Midwest” with brewing excellence since 1845. Visitor Center and gift shop. Beer & root beer samples. Herb & Helen Haydock’s Collection of Brewery Memorabilia. $12 admission includes guided tour and gift pack ($15 retail value). Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS MICRO DISTILLERY GUIDED TASTING– Hand–crafted, small–batch distilled spirits using old world methods & traditions. Guided Distillery and Liqueur Tasting $12 admission includes 2 cocktails, branded whisky tasting glass & gift bottle to take home. Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS WINERY WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING: Guided by Executive Chef Trisha Coughlin and her team, wines paired with different types of artisanal cheeses and other small bites. $12 admission includes guided tasting and food pairing and take home a branded wine glass. ($5 retail value). (10 am–6 pm)
COLONY BRANDS TENT – Celebrating more than 90 years in Monroe. Buy cheesecake-on-a-stick – made exclusively for Cheese Days! Stop in to learn more about the Colony Brands team, our 10 retail brands, door prizes and more! NE CORNER (10 am – 9 pm)
BARN QUILT and DAIRY FARM TOUR – Board a bus for a guided tour to one of Green County’s most beautiful family-operated dairy farms. You’ll meet members of the family and their Holstein herd, along with calves, a donkey, rabbit, chickens, guineas, peacocks, ducks, pigs, goats, dogs, and cats. On the way to the farm and back, you’ll see some of Green County’s barn quilts. We guarantee you’ll be entertained along the way by stories from tour guides Lynn Lokken & Kris Winkler – the volunteers who developed the Barn Quilt project. Admission of $5 charged for those 6 and older; ages 5 and under are free. (This is a 2-hour tour. You’ll be back downtown at the festival grounds at 1 pm, so you may want to eat lunch prior to departing.) TODAY – PURCHASE TICKETS AT INFO TRAILER NEAR THE BEER STAND – limited seating 50 tickets will be sold. (Saturday – tickets for sale at Family Farm Adventure Tent) (11 am)
MAIN STAGE (Grossi Bühni) – Yodeling, alphorns, polka bands, & Swiss heritage music during the day. Tonight’s street dance – BOOGIE AND THE YO-YO’Z. (Live music today on the main stage from noon til midnight)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen – Master Yodeler (Noon)
GREEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM – Housed in a Civil War era church. Donations suggested. One block north of Square. (Noon–5 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – John Waelti and Bobbie Edler Accordion Duo (1 pm)
GREENWOODS CEMETERY WALK – sponsored by Green County Genealogical Society and Green County Historical Society – led by local historians. Info: 608.328.7436 or 608.426.1796. (Registration 1 pm; walk at 1:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Keith Zweifel Band (1:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorn Entertainment (3 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Green County Harmony Chorus (2 pm)
FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT – Sponsored by Green Co. Farm Bureau, in partnership with 4–H, FFA & other ag groups. Check out a number of educational activities about agriculture; including milking a “cow”, AG Trivia Wheel, coloring station, crop boxes and “Cow Races” back by popular demand! On NORTHEAST corner of Square by First National Bank. (2–8 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Alphorns led by Heinz and George (2:45 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorns led by Heinz and George (3 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (3:15 pm)
“STREETS OF SWITZERLAND” European Sidewalk Café & Biergarten – Swiss specialties at Turner Hall (3–7:30 pm)
CARNIVAL (Rummel Platz) – “Spring Square” parking lot – south of the Courthouse Square (4 – 11 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Children’s Swiss Music Concert (4:15 pm)
CHILDREN’S COSTUME PARADE (Chinder Trachte Umzug) – Prince & Princess lead the parade (5 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (5 pm)
OPENING CEREMONY – MAIN STAGE – MC – Scott Thompson of BIG RADIO. Presentation of Colors with Green County Sheriff Dept., ceremonial blowing of Alphorns, presentation of royalty, “Procession of Cheesemakers” (6 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Mascot Theory (Americana, Alt-Folk Rock) (7 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Monroe Swiss Singers (7:15 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorns led by Heinz and George (8:15 pm)
STREET DANCE (uf der Strass Tanze) – MAIN STAGE – Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z (8:30 pm–midnight)
SATURDAY, SEPT 17
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUS – $1 each trip. Park offsite at Orchid (350 – 21st St.) and ride the bus downtown. Other stops today include **Historic Cheese Center** and Green County Fairgrounds. (**Historic Cheese Center closes at 4 pm). (Shuttle runs 10 am–10 pm)
INFO TRAILER – SW Corner (near Baumgartner’s) – maps, schedules, ask questions, lost and found. 8:30 am – 7:30 pm
FOOD STANDS – Eat your way around the Courthouse Square! Menu/maps at INFO BOOTH. (9 am–9 pm)
CHEESE DAYS STORE – SOUVENIR TENT (Adenke Zält) – t-shirts & sweatshirts, collector buttons, International Harvester toy tractor, logo pint glasses, “udderly good time” drawstring backpacks, Wedgie bobbleheads, canvas tote bags, Swiss cheese earrings. SW corner cross from Baumgartner’s Cheese Store. (9 am–8:30 pm)
BEER and WINE STAND – SW Corner – near INFO TRAILER. (10 am–midnight) ****Proceeds from sales at the Cheese Days Beer & Wine Stand go toward the costs of tents, porta potties, electricity, stage entertainment and more – thank you for your support.****
HOSPITALITY TENT (Zält zum Höckle) Sponsored by Colony Brands. NORTH SIDE. Dining area with tables & chairs. Musical entertainment throughout the weekend. Open all weekend.
BIG RADIO DINING TENT – NORTHWEST CORNER. Dining area with tables and chairs. Open all weekend.
CARNIVAL in Spring Square Parking Lot (behind JoAnne’s Dress Shop) – all weekend.
FARMER’S MARKET – South of Middle School (8 am–4 pm)
“STREETS OF SWITZERLAND” European Sidewalk Café & Biergarten – Swiss specialties at Turner Hall. (8:30 am–7:30 pm)
CHEESE DAYS CHASE – 5 & 10 k run, & 2-mile fun walk. Presented by Monroe Youth Hockey with sponsor Klondike Cheese Factory. Check in 7:30 am. Race starts PROMPTLY at 9 am. (Kid’s Race at 8:30 am) Click for more info.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER – Guided tours showcasing the history of cheesemaking. The past comes alive at the century-old Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. 2018 6th Ave, at intersection of Hwy 69 south and 21st St. (9 am–4 pm) PARK AND RIDE SHUTTLE STOP TIL 4 PM
VINTAGE TRACTOR DISPLAY – Courtesy of Monroe area antique tractor owners. Take a step back in time and learn how farmers and their tractors played an important role in shaping the agricultural and cheese industry in Green County. You’ll see various “colors” (brands) – meet the owners & talk about their favorite toys! On 17th Avenue between banks and also in First National Bank parking lot. (9 am–5 pm)
MAKER’S MARKET – Just west of the Square; right behind Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern. Shop the booths of creators, fiber artists, hobbyists, wood crafters, photographers, painters, etc, who personally design and make what they sell. (9 am–8 pm)
VENDOR MARKETPLACE – Booths in Library Parking Lot – Commercial vendors, merchandise for sale, businesses & groups promoting products & services. (9 am–8 pm)
CHEESE TENT (Chäs Zält) – Cheese for sale. EAST SIDE of the Square. Presented by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn. Vendors: Emmi Roth USA, Edelweiss Creamery, Landmark Creamery, Klondike Cheese Company, Valley View Cheese, Chula Vista (V&V Supremo), Brunkow Cheese and Decatur Dairy. (9 am–8 pm)
COLONY BRANDS TENT – Celebrating more than 90 years in Monroe. Buy cheesecake-on-a-stick – made exclusively for Cheese Days! Stop in to learn more about the Colony Brands team, our 10 retail brands, door prizes and more! NE CORNER (9 am–9 pm)
HEART OF CHEESE DAYS – Exhibit & Sales – Meet artisans who create traditional Swiss folk art and view exhibits of Swiss artifacts and memorabilia brought to Green County by some of the area’s Swiss immigrants. Presented by Monroe Swiss Singers at Turner Hall. Free admission with 2020 CHEESE DAYS BUTTON (or $2 at the door). (10 am–4 pm)
GREEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM – Housed in a Civil War era church. Donations suggested. One block north of Square. (10 am–5 pm)
MINHAS CRAFT BREWERY – guided tours and tasting – “Oldest in the Midwest” with brewing excellence since 1845. Visitor Center and gift shop. Beer & root beer samples. Herb & Helen Haydock’s Collection of Brewery Memorabilia. $12 admission includes guided tour and gift pack ($15 retail value). Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS MICRO DISTILLERY GUIDED TASTING– Hand–crafted, small–batch distilled spirits using old world methods & traditions. Guided Distillery and Liqueur Tasting $12 admission includes 2 cocktails, branded whisky tasting glass & gift bottle to take home. Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–6 pm)
MINHAS WINERY WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING – Guided by Executive Chef Trisha Coughlin and her team, wines paired with different types of artisanal cheeses and other small bites. $12 admission includes guided tasting and food pairing and take home a branded wine glass. ($5 retail value). (10 am–6 pm)
FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT – Sponsored by Green Co. Farm Bureau, in partnership with 4–H, FFA & other ag groups. Check out a number of educational activities about agriculture; including milking a “cow”, AG Trivia Wheel, coloring station, crop boxes and “Cow Races” back by popular demand! On NORTHEAST corner of Square by First National Bank. (10 am–8 pm)
CARNIVAL (Rummel Platz) – “Spring Square” south of the Courthouse Square (10 am–11 pm)
KIDS’ STREET (Chinder Schpil Strass) SPONSORED BY TDS – On 16th Avenue by Library. Demonstrations, activities and fun for kids – all free! (Kid’s Street Schedule)
MAIN STAGE (Grossi Bühni) – Yodeling, alphorns, polka bands, & Swiss heritage music during the day. Tonight’s Street Dance – Bella Cain! (Live music today from 10:30 am–midnight)
DAIRY FARM TOURS – Board a bus for a guided tour into Green County countryside to visit a family run dairy farm, and to see cows and calves and gain a better understanding of where cheese gets started. $5 admission charged for those 10 and older; under 10 are free. Tickets available in FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT. Length of tour ranges from 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (10:30 am til last bus departs at 3 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (10:30 am)
BARN QUILT and DAIRY FARM TOUR – Board a bus for a guided tour to one of Green County’s most beautiful family-operated dairy farms. You’ll meet members of the family and their Holstein herd, along with calves, a donkey, rabbit, chickens, guineas, peacocks, ducks, pigs, goats, dogs, and cats. On the way to the farm and back, you’ll see some of Green County’s barn quilts. We guarantee you’ll be entertained along the way by stories from tour guides Lynn Lokken & Kris Winkler – the volunteers who developed the Barn Quilt project. Special guest Alice in Dairyland will also be along for the tour! Admission of $5 charged for those 6 and older; ages 5 and under are free. (This is a 2-hour tour. You’ll be back downtown at the festival grounds at 1 pm, so you may want to eat lunch prior to departing.) PURCHASE TICKETS AT FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT ON NE CORNER – limited seating 49 tickets will be sold. (11 am)
MAIN STAGE – Meet the Cheese Days Royalty (11:20 am)
MAIN STAGE – Monroe City Band (Noon)
OLD WORLD CHEESEMAKING DEMONSTRATION (DIE ALT KASEREI “the old cheese factory”) Watch and learn as members of The Foreign Type Cheesemaker’s Association create a 200-pound wheel of Swiss cheese the old fashioned way, in a giant copper kettle. You’ll meet Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers Jeff Wideman and Gary Grossen, who will explain the process and demonstrate the steps. Spectators will have the opportunity to take a turn stirring the kettle with the “Swiss harp” (great photo opp!) After the cheese is “hooped” the cheesemakers will “plug” a block of cheese and demonstrate the grading and judging process using the criteria of the USA and World Championship Cheese Competitions. North of Courthouse. (Noon–4 pm)
COW MILKING CONTEST (Chueh Mälche Wettstriett) – An “udderly” good time thanks to area dairy farmers & their happy herds! Watch as teams compete for prizes – may the most milk win! Located by post office. (1 pm)
MAIN STAGE – David Austin Band (1:15 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – John and Bobbie Accordion Duo (2 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Swiss Miss Dancers (2:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Doo Wop Daddies (3 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (3 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Accordion Four – John, Bobbie, Barb and Mary ( 4 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Alphorn entertainment (4:30 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Cheesemaker Dancers (4:45 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Andy Yaun Ensemble (5 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (5:30 pm)
HOSPITALITY TENT – The Decade (Rock hits from the 70’s thru 90’s) (6:15 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Wheelhouse (7 pm)
STREET DANCE (uf der Strass Tanze) – MAIN STAGE – To Be Announced. (8:30 pm–midnight)
SUNDAY, SEPT 18
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUS – $1 each trip. Park offsite at Orchid (350 – 21st St.) & ride the bus downtown. Shuttle also stops at Historic Cheese Center until 4 pm. (Shuttle runs 10 am–5 pm)
INFO TRAILER – SW Corner (near Baumgartner’s) – maps, schedules, ask questions, lost and found. (9 am – 5 pm)
FOOD STANDS – Eat your way around the Courthouse Square! Menu/maps at INFO BOOTH. (9 am–6 pm)
CHEESE DAYS STORE – SOUVENIR TENT (Adenke Zält) – t-shirts & sweatshirts, collector buttons, International Harvester toy tractor, logo pint glasses, “udderly good time” drawstring backpacks, Wedgie bobbleheads, canvas tote bags, Swiss cheese earrings. SW corner cross from Baumgartner’s Cheese Store. (9 am–6 pm)
BEER and WINE STAND – SW Corner – near INFO TRAILER. (10 am–6 pm) ****Proceeds from sales at the Cheese Days Beer & Wine Stand go toward the costs of tents, porta potties, electricity, stage entertainment and more – thank you for your support.****
HOSPITALITY TENT (Zält zum Höckle) Sponsored by Colony Brands. NORTH SIDE. Dining area with tables & chairs. Open today til 6 pm.
BIG RADIO DINING TENT – NORTHWEST CORNER. Dining area with tables and chairs. Open today til 6 pm.
CARNIVAL in Spring Square Parking Lot (behind JoAnne’s Dress Shop) – all weekend.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER – Guided tours showcasing the history of cheesemaking. The past comes alive at the century-old Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. 2018 6th Ave, at intersection of Hwy 69 south and 21st St. (9 am–4 pm) PARK AND RIDE BUS SHUTTLE STOP.
VENDOR MARKETPLACE – Booths in Library Parking Lot – Commercial vendors, merchandise for sale, businesses & groups promoting products & services. (9 am–5 pm)
MAKER’S MARKET – Just west of the Square; right behind Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern. Shop the booths of creators, fiber artists, hobbyists, wood crafters, photographers, painters, etc, who personally design and make what they sell. (9 am-5 pm)
CHEESE TENT (Chäs Zält) – Cheese for sale. EAST side of Square. Presented by Foreign Type Cheesemakers Assn. Vendors: Emmi Roth USA, Edelweiss Creamery, Landmark Creamery, Klondike Cheese Company, Valley View Cheese, Chula Vista (V&V Supremo), Brunkow Cheese and Decatur Dairy. (9 am–5 pm)
COLONY BRANDS TENT – Celebrating more than 90 years in Monroe! Buy cheesecake-on-a-stick; made exclusively for Cheese Days. Stop in to learn more about the Colony Brands team, our 10 retail brands, door prizes and more! NE Corner. (9 am–6 pm)
MAIN STAGE (Grossi Bühni) – Yodeling, alphorns, polka bands, & Swiss heritage music. Daily schedule at INFO BOOTH. (Entertainment today 10 am–6 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Swiss Canton Fashion Show by Wilhelm Tell Usherettes (10 am)
HOSPITALITY TENT – Ecumenical Worship Serivice (10 am)
GREEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM – Housed in a Civil War era church. Donations suggested. One block north of Square. (10 am–1 pm)
FAMILY FARM ADVENTURE TENT – Sponsored by Green Co. Farm Bureau, in partnership with 4–H, FFA & other ag groups. Check out a number of educational activities about agriculture; including milking a “cow”, AG Trivia Wheel, coloring station, crop boxes and “Cow Races” back by popular demand! On NORTHEAST corner of Square by First National Bank. (10 am–5 pm; closed during parade)
MINHAS CRAFT BREWERY – guided tours and tasting – “Oldest in the Midwest” with brewing excellence since 1845. Visitor Center and gift shop. Beer & root beer samples. Herb & Helen Haydock’s Collection of Brewery Memorabilia. $12 admission includes guided tour and gift pack ($15 retail value). Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–5 pm)
MINHAS MICRO DISTILLERY GUIDED TASTING– Hand–crafted, small–batch distilled spirits using old world methods & traditions. Guided Distillery and Liqueur Tasting $12 admission includes 2 cocktails, branded whisky tasting glass & gift bottle to take home. Tours every 15 minutes. (10 am–5 pm)
MINHAS WINERY WINE TASTING & FOOD PAIRING: Guided by Executive Chef Trisha Coughlin and her team, wines paired with different types of artisanal cheeses and other small bites. $12 admission includes guided tasting and food pairing and take home a branded wine glass. ($5 retail value). (10 am–5 pm)
CARNIVAL (Rummel Platz) – “Spring Square” parking lot – south of the Courthouse Square (10 am–6 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (10:30 am)
MAIN STAGE – Goodtime Dutchmen – 3rd Generation Family Polka Band (11:30 am)
THE SWISS COLONY CHEESE DAYS PARADE (Chäs Tag Umzug) – Steps off from fairgrounds at 12:30 pm, arrives downtown approximately 12:45 pm.
MAIN STAGE – UW Marching Band 5th Quarter! (after parade)
MAIN STAGE – Goodtime Dutchmen – 3rd Generation Family Polka Band (3:15 pm)
MAIN STAGE – New Glarus Mannerchor (Men’s Choir) (4:10 pm)
MAIN STAGE – New Glarus Jodlerklub (Yodel Club) (5 pm)
MAIN STAGE – Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler (5:45 pm-6:15 pm)
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
September 10, 2022
Pardeeville Watermelon Festival & U.S. Watermelon Speed-Eating & Seed-Spitting Championships
You’ll find Pardeeville along Highway 22, where it meets Highway 44 in Columbia County.
Pardeeville Watermelon Festival Address:
Chandler Park 208 Chandler Park Drive Pardeeville, WI 53954 (608) 535-9139 Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com