The Hartford Hot Air Balloon Rally is BACK after being gone for a decade, dotting the sky with colors and the city with all kinds of fun activities on Saturday, August 7, 2021! Enjoy the massive balloon launch, the Night Glow, vintage airplanes, plus plenty of food, music, and more at Hartford’s Municipal Airport. Fireworks will take place at dusk, too.
Admission is free! Carry-ins are allowed, although they request no glass items. Shuttle service begins at 4pm from the Jack Russell Memorial Library parking lot and Schauer Arts Center parking lot, right next to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum.
Note that the balloon launch is weather dependent; balloons will be arriving on the tarmac around 4:30pm and launch 1.5-2 hours before sunset. Arrive early, you don’t want to miss the launch! Following the launch, there will be a ping pong drop and night glow. Fireworks to follow the night glow.
Hartford Hot Air Balloon Rally Schedule of Events
12:00 – 7:00 – Kid’s Activities
1:00- 5:00- Washington County Sheriff Car display
2:00 – 4:00 – EMS display
2:00 – 4:30 – Safety Trailer display
3:00 – 7:00 – Dolce Duo’ & Company
5:00 – 5:30 – Hartford Energizers Dance
**4:00 – After Fireworks – Shuttle Service from Jack Russel Library Parking Lot & Schauer Center Parking Lot**
Flight Simulator – All Day (kids 12 & over)
Helicopter Rides – All Day ($50)
Hot Air Balloon Launch – 1 ½ Hours Before Sunset
Ping Pong Ball Drop – After Hot Air Balloon Launch
Hot Air Balloon Glow – 8:30 or when Balloons Return
Fireworks – After Balloon Glow
Food Trucks, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Kids Vendors & Beverages – All Day
You’ll see the balloons in the air from miles around, but to get to Hartford’s Municipal Airport, head to County U northwest of downtown via Highway 60 or Highway 83. There is also FREE shuttle service from the Schauer Arts Center, right next to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, from 4pm until after the fireworks are done.
Hear more about the Hot Air Balloon Rally in our State Trunk Tour Podcast interview with Doreen Buntrock from the Hartford Chamber! It begins about 19 minutes in…
Hartford Hot Air Balloon Rally Address:
Hartford Municipal Airport
4200 County Highway U
Hartford, WI 53027
(262) 673-7002 Website
Country Jam USA brings top country talent from across the nation to Eau Claire, July 15-17, 2021! Country Jam offers ample space for the stages, vendors, food trucks and more. The nearby Whispering Pine grounds offers easy camping with 11 different areas for all kinds of campers. Campers also get exclusive live music on Wednesday night!
The Subway Party Pit is already sold out for the 2021 shows, but VIP tickets are still available. VIP tickets include assigned seating within the first 26 rows, complimentary beer, soda, and cocktails until 9:30pm daily, food court-style dining all day and evening, and “cruise ship style” dinner buffets every evening. There is also complimentary VIP parking and a private, exclusive tented area.
Chris Kroeze | 2:00 PM
Phil Vassar | 3:30 PM
Craig Morgan | 5:15 PM
HARDY | 7:15 PM
Morgan Wallen | 9:30 PM
Friday, July 16th 1PM-Midnight
Dawn Marie | 2:00 PM
John Michael Montgomery | 3:30 PM
Rodney Atkins | 5:15 PM
Chris Janson | 7:15 PM
Chris Young | 9:30 PM
Saturday, July 17th 1PM-Midnight
Shenandoah featuring Marty Raybon | 1:45 PM
BlackHawk | 3:30 PM
Tracy Lawrence | 5:15 PM
Cody Johnson | 7:15 PM
Jon Pardi | 9:30 PM
Tickets range from one-day general admission ($109) to the 3-day Superfan admission ($299, or $675 for VIP) with plenty of options in the middle.
Major roads bring you very close to the Country Jam grounds, including I-94, U.S. 12, U.S. 53, and Highways 37, 85, and 93. It’s a great part of a long road trip to the Eau Claire area!
Country Jam USA Address:
3443 Crescent Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 839-7500 Website
Cadott hosts some major music festivals, including Rock Fest – the Largest Rock & Camping Festival in the US!
Rock Fest is THE top venue for people of all ages to come together for one common purpose: to congregate with other rock fans from across the world, in a place where rock music still matters. Featuring the very best of active and classic rock and legendary names in Rock Music, entertainment and experience are first priority. Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, Kiss, Motley Crue, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Kid Rock, Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Rob Zombie, Korn & many, many more rock legends have graced this permanent Main Stage spanning a quarter century.
This year’s acts include: Thursday, July 15th
Rob Zombie + Staind, Theory of a Deadman, Steel Panther, Saint Asonia, Memphis May Fire, Fozzy, Blacktop Mojo, Carnifex, Fire From the Gods, Falling Through April, Scattered Hamlet, Anything But Human, Digital Homicide, Any Given Sin, GFM, Jett Threatt, Nivrana, Drama Queen, Contingency, and Ignescent.
Friday, July 16th
Limp Bizkit + Snoop Dogg, Anthrax, Badflower, Of Mice & Men, Bad Wolves, All That Remains, Like A Storm, Crobot, Bones UK, Silvertung, Wildstreet, Distal Descent, City of the Weak, Throw the Fight, SIIN, Hammer Down Hard, Fool Fighters, Dressed To Kill, Strange Daze, Caster Volor
Saturday, July 17th
Korn + Danzig, Chevelle, Motionless In White, Avatar, We Came As Romans, Gemini Syndrome, Through Fire, Hyro the Hero, Rachel Lorin, Stormbreaker, Nuisance, Stellar Circuits, Your Screaming Silence, Evandale, Strate Jak It, Mad Alice, Cowboys From Hell, Probable Cause, and FMDown
Rock Fest is set on 320 acres of picturesque land in Cornell near the junction of Highway 27 and 29. There are nearly 7,000 campsites within easy walking distance; hotels are available (especially in nearby Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls), plus daily shuttle service. Yes, this is kind of a big deal.
Festival Grounds Features
World-class entertainment ~ 50 + Bands
Opportunity to win prizes and meet n’ greets in the concert grounds
Interactive Games
RFID Exciting Activations
Bean Bag Toss
Huge variety of pizza, food, beverages and merchandise
Bud Light, Budweiser, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan & Coca-Cola brands
Fest breakfast buffet is served in the “Load & Local” stage daily from 9am to Noon.
5 stages of all-day entertainment
Picture taking line access to front of Main Stage
Free Hot Showers
2 Convenience Stores open 24 hours
ATM’s in concert grounds and convenience stores.
RFID Cashless
Ticket booths accept cash or credit cards
Ice available for sale on site
Fresh water stations (limited hours)
Free RV dump station
Porta Potties located throughout grounds
24 hour Security
Night lighting
Easy accessible dumpsters for garbage and recyclables
Festival Souvenir Store
Photo Booths
Misting Stations
Free Mobile Phone App
Wireless Internet in Concert Grounds
Phone Charging Stations in Concert Grounds
Get all the details, lineup, ticket options, and more at the Rock Fest website!
Rock Fest Address:
24447 County Highway S
Cadott, WI 54727
(800) 326-3378 Website
Well, well, this is something new: a seltzer-focused festival. Seltzerland is a traveling festival making stops at select golf courses in select cities across the United States, with quite a selection of seltzer brands and flavors to sample and enjoy.
Seltzerland includes Wisconsin on its tour in 2021, with a stop at the Oak Hills Golf Club in Oak Creek on Saturday, June 5th. Over 30 seltzer flavors will be available to try, with 2-oz. samples and numerous other options. General Admission tickets include 30+ seltzer samples, a White Claw® drawstring bag, your commemorative tasting cup, and food truck bites available for purchase. VIP tickets add a full can of hard seltzer, a ghost tequila specialty cocktail, complimentary lunch, and premier time slots.
Brands include: White Claw, Vizzy, Mamitas, Basic, Coors Hard Seltzer, Playa Mar, Volley, Purity, Press, 99, Bravazzi, Tierra Buena, Rockit, Carbliss, and more. Old Smoky Moonshine, Fun Wine, Fireball Whiskey, Ghost Tequila, and more will be there, too!
Tickets are $45 for general admission and $65 for VIP. They’re selling out fast (they had to open more slots, actually), so HURRY if you want to check this out! Get tickets here.
You’ll find the Seltzerland activities at Oak Hills Golf Club, which is right along Highway 38 (Howell Avenue) in Oak Creek, one mile south of Highway 100 and less than two miles east of I-41/94. It’s easy to get to! Oh, and don’t expect to golf on the course that day – it’s all seltzer on June 5th.
Seltzerland Address:
Oak Hills Golf Club
10360 S. Howell Avenue (Highway 38)
Oak Creek, WI 53154 Website
An artful way to spend part of Memorial Day weekend is to head to beautiful Port Washington and explore the Port Washington Art Walk downtown. From 11 am to 4pm on Sunday, May 30th, at least 15 business in Port Washington’s downtown will host a variety of fine artists, mixed media artists, photographers, musicians, ceramists, and more. Some artists will demonstrate their craft in real-time; all will have their art and craft work on display and for sale. Weather permitting, the artists will be outdoors; otherwise they will be inside their hosting business. Gallery 224 will host the current artist on exhibit, Kelly Alexander, from their ARTservancy program. A variety of Port’s local bars and restaurants will also run art-themed specials that day. Look for the children’s art area for kids to make their own art, along with some great music! It’s free to attend.
You can access downtown Port Washington via Highways 32 or 33 from I-43 or Highway 57. While you’re there, check out Coal Dock Park, the walkways in the marina, the Port Exploreum (a great maritime museum), Inventors Brewpub (located in a VFW hall with a lake view), and the shops, restaurants, and more up and down the streets!
Port Washington Art Walk Address:
Downtown Port Washington
100 N. Franklin Street (Highway 32)
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 268-1132 Website
The 4th annual West Bend Spring Fling Art & Craft Fair happens Saturday, May 22nd and Sunday, May 23rd at the Washington County Fair Park’s Ziegler Building! The Brew City Crafters host this two-day event with over 100 local exhibitors. It’s their first event in 18 months, so everybody is more than ready. It’s all indoors and approximately 85% of the booths will feature handmade arts & crafts focused on a wide variety of categories, including:
Bath, Body & Scent
Ceramics & Pottery
Fashion & Clothing
Food & Snack
Glasswork
Health & Beauty
Home Goods & Decor
Jewelry & Gemstone
Metalwork
Painting & Illustration
Pet Products
Prints & Photography
Textile Crafts
Woodwork
It runs from 10 am – 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3 for any individual over 12 years of age. Advance ticket sales are strongly recommended, as they are required to cap visitor volume per hour for this event. Your purchase of an ticket in advance directly supports the Wisconsin Humane Society!
You’ll find the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center on the south side of West Bend, right off the U.S. 45 freeway. Highway 60 is about a mile south, and Highways 33 and 144 are to the north (they go right into town.) While you’re around West Bend, check out the downtown area including the Wisconsin Museum of Art, the shops on Main Street, the Toucan for some great custard, Riverside Brewery, and a lot more! It’s less than 10 minutes north of the I-41/U.S. 45 split, too.
West Bend Spring Fling Art & Craft Fair Address:
Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center
3000 County PV/Pleasant Valley Road
West Bend, WI 53095 Website
West Bend, named for a bend in the Milwaukee River, is the seat of Washington County and is known for great shops and its beautiful downtown. Saturday, January 23rd and Sunday, January 24th, you can enjoy the city in full at the annual West Bend Winter Warm Up!
Check out the ice sculptures in the downtown area, including a live Ice Sculpture Demo in Old Settlers Park on Saturday between 1pm and 2:30pm. Downtown shops will have specials, treats, and chances for you to win gift baskets.
The High Jass Fat Tire Bike Race will take place in Regner Park, just across Highways 33/144 from downtown, both Saturday and Sunday. Check out the bikes churning their wide tires up and down hills and across trails in this two-day fun competition!
The Winter Luminary Walk is a free, lighted walking experience at and through the Lac Lawrann Conservancy. It happens from 5pm to 7pm Saturday evening.
Check out great stops downtown too, including Now and Then Antiques, West Bend Pilot Boutique & Unique Finds, Savoring Thyme, The Oaken Hogg Whiskey Bar, Riverside Brewery, Urban Bend Trends, Perfect Timing Gift Shop, Xpressions Yarn, Bead & Gift Boutique, All In Books, Over the Moon Gift Shop, and more! The Wisconsin Museum of Art is downtown across the river from Main Street, too.
You can easily access West Bend via Highways 33 and 144, just east of the U.S. 45 freeway in the heart of Washington County. Nearby, check out Sunburst Ski Hill in Kewaskum or Little Switzerland in Slinger for winter fun involving skiing, snowboarding, or tubing!
West Bend Winter Warm Up Address:
Downtown West Bend (120 N. Main Street)
West Bend, WI 53095 Website
Beloit embraces the cold and snowy season with its annual Beloit Winterfest, which this year offers a mix of virtual and in-person activities throughout locations in the city. It takes place Thursday, January 21st through Sunday, January 24th, 2021.
The City of Beloit Parks and Recreation Division runs these events, with in-person activities incorporating safety and social distance to increase opportunities for families and visitors to get out and enjoy winter in Beloit.
Beloit Winterfest Events include:
Virtual events such as: The “No Snow” Man Building Contest, where you can gather basic household items and build your snowman indoors. The winner will receive a prize bag filled with goodies; the deadline for sending in your photo is 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
The “Ralphie Challenge”, where you put on as many shirts and sweaters as you can, send in a picture, and potentially win another prize bag filled with goodies. This deadline is also 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
In-Person events, including: Snow Golf, which has a twist: you use a tennis ball as a ball and the snow as your tee. This takes place at Krueger-Haskell Golf Course (1611 Hackett Street) on Saturday, January 23rd. Golfers of all ages and all abilities are encouraged to participate. Reservations are required, and are for 9 holes walking. The rate applies for all ages. Updated COVID-19 guidelines will be in place and social distancing will be required. You must register by Thursday the 21st!
The “Welty Winder” Scavenger Hunt, where you can test your knowledge (and bloodhound-type skills) to find everything in this hunt throughout the city. The Welty Environmental Center takes you on this journey with 20 total clues. Share your journey on social media using the hashtags #BeloitWinterfest, #WeltyWinder and #BeloitWI… and #stt or #StateTrunkTour!
Find out more details with their online flyer, and check out other cool stuff in Beloit like G5 Brewing, the Ironworks Hotel and complex, the shops and restaurants downtown along Grand Avenue and adjacent streets, and more.
It’s easy to get to Beloit! Follow I-39/90 south, I-43 southwest from Milwaukee, or U.S. 51 south from Janesville. Highway 81 goes through town and provides access from Monroe and other points west; Highway 213 comes into Beloit from the northwest. Downtown is nestled in Beloit right next to the Beloit College campus, just blocks north of the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. It’s remarkable to see what Beloit has done with the city’s resurgence; see it this weekend with Beloit Winterfest!
Downtown Waukesha, along with being a crazy maze of streets, offers up a lot of fun places. That includes art galleries. For the Waukesha Art Crawl (this one being #113), over 175 artisans represented, live music, galleries, studios, food/drinks, gifts, gifts, antiques, live music & more! There will also be a special Teacher’s Art Showcase at Otto’s Fine Art Academy. Look for a special Pop Up gallery at Art Links 333. As part of Waukesha Silver Bells, there will also be Reindeer at People’s Park from 1pm – 4pm. Many of the galleries and business open at 10am, so you can make a day of it. With COVID, of course CDC Guidelines are in place so you can enjoy the Waukesha Art Crawl safely. Please check with the participating to find out specifics for their businesses. Walk the downtown streets to discover your next artistic treasure, shop the boutiques, listen to live music or indulge in food and drink!
How do you get into Waukesha? I-94 and Highway 16 bring you to the north side; Highways 59 and 164 round the south and east sides. U.S. 18 cuts right through, take that or East or St. Paul Avenues.
West Bend’s Regner Park hosts Washington County’s premier holiday lights event from November 27th through Christmas Eve (December 24th, obviously), 2020 with Enchantment in the Park.
Flush with holiday lights throughout the park, you can do the drive-thru or walk-thru; the drive-thru entrance is off Silverbook Drive while walk-thru visitors are asked to enter via Main Street. The walk-thru is shorter than the drive-thru. Another option is a Horse and Carriage Ride, which costs $5 per person; rides are available for anyone age 16 or over from 5pm – 9pm; they are spacing out riders to follow COVID-19 precautions.
There’s no cost to enter Enchantment in the Park, but donations are welcome – a suggested cash donation is $10; non-perishable food donations are also welcome.
Enchantment in the Park is open daily, 5pm to 9pm. You’ll find Regner Park along Highway 144/Main Street just north ofHighway 33 and downtown West Bend. It’s less than five minutes east of the U.S. 45 freeway.
Enchantment in the Park Address:
Regner Park
800 N. Main Street
West Bend, WI 53090 Website
West Bend’s Museum of Wisconsin Art offers Bloomin’ Holidays the first full weekend of November. In this crazy year, a “Floral Sanctuary” is the theme, showcasing (as they note) the “ephemeral beauty of flowers.” The event technically begins Friday, November 6th, but earlier in the week the museum will kick things off with a rather impressive large-scale exterior art installation using animated video projection right onto the building. The event itself includes three full days of floral arrangements throughout the museum, including pre-recorded video experts who discuss the flowers in 15-minutes talks throughout the weekend, on display in the atrium. The expanded MOWA Shop will offer a variety of gift giving items including unique hats, soaps, candles, ceramic dishware, and even delicious chocolates and maple syrup.
Featured Designers and Programs include:
Michael Alt, who will install a spectacular floral installation the museum’s atrium. Alt, who owns a shop in Milwaukee’s Walkers Point with his name on it, was awarded Best of Show at both 2017 and 2018 Bloomin’ Holidays for his creative floral masterpieces.
At Home with Ikebana featuring Elaine Jo, author and the Executive Master of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. What is Ikebana, you ask? It’s the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging, used for centuries to bring harmony to living spaces. She will demonstrate how to arrange and position different flowers to create specific moods, effects, and feelings.
Enhancing Your Living Space featuring Zannah Crowe, a horticulturalist at Johnson’s Gardens, will help you discover ways to bring a beautiful, natural exterior to your indoor spaces. She’ll share tips for the proper care and placement of house plants, so you can benefit from that extra boost in mood and oxygen!
Grapevine Wreaths featuring Dane County botanist Kevin Kawula will help you learn which wood and vine elements can be best used for floral arrangements; he’ll also demonstrate the construction of a natural, DIY grapevine wreath for your home.
Fall Forage featuring John Holzwart from Plant Based Services LLC will showcase our native Wisconsin plant life, complete with tips and information on local foraging, medicinal plant life, and seasonal flower collecting.
Bloomin’ Holidays is free with membership or $15 for the weekend, which includes a complimentary annual membership – so it’s a good deal!
Timed Entry due to COVID for safety and enjoyment
MOWA provides a safe socially distanced experience, limiting gallery capacity to 25% or less. To ensure you can visit at your preferred time during Bloomin’ Holidays, you can make a timed reservation for Friday, November 6th, Saturday, November 7th, or Sunday, November 8th. You can also call (262) 334-9638. If you don’t make a reservation beforehand, you will be welcomed in at the first available entry time. Please note, the 9:30-11:30 timed entry reservations will be reserved for seniors and at-risk members.
The Museum of Wisconsin Art is in the heart of West Bend, just east across the Milwaukee River from the downtown shops. It’s accessible right off Highways 33; Highway 144 meets up just across the river. U.S. 45’s freeway bypass is just a few miles to the west and provides quick access to West Bend, and following the historic U.S. 45 route (Main Street) from the south brings you right there.
Bloomin’ Holidays Address:
Wisconsin Museum of Art
205 Veterans Avenue
West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 334-9638 Website
Oak Creek Fall Festival is the city’s annual harvest tradition, taking place throughout the Drexel Town Square complex! It’s an outdoor event that celebrates everything autumn on Saturday, October 24th from 9am to 6pm. Family-friendly events will feature pumpkin decorating, vendor booths, and more!
Check out live music, including the Five Card Studs from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and SuperFly from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Activities around Drexel Town Square include:
Oak Creek Farmers Market (last day of the year!)
Art vendors
Beer/food vendors
Pumpkin decorating
Scarecrow building
Rock painting
Mad science show
More to come!
Donate a nonperishable food item at the event and receive a free pumpkin! (while supplies last.)
They ask that you please wear a mask when in line or walking around Oak Creek Fall Festival; masks can be removed when sitting at your table. They will monitor for social distancing, and will frequently clean common touchpoints (tables, bathrooms, etc.). Hand sanitizer will be provided at the event!
Great shops, bars, and restaurants are located in and right around Drexel Town Square; feel free to imbibe and enjoy in as many as possible. You’ll find Drexel Town Square along Drexel Avenue, just west of Highway 38/Howell Avenue, 1 1/2 miles east of I-41/94 (where you’ll also find IKEA) and two miles north of Highway 100/Ryan Road.
Oak Creek Fall Festival Address:
Drexel Town Square
361 W. Town Square Way
Oak Creek, WI 53154 Website
Old World Wisconsin, the 1870s-era crossroads village and ethnic farmsteads on 576 acres of wooded hills in the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest, has gone drive-thru with the Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive. This amazing Wisconsin State Historic Site is offering the opportunity for people and families to tour the grounds from the comfort and safety of their vehicles.
Enjoy the fall colors, historic sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Old World Wisconsin on this scenic, 45-minute drive tour of the grounds. This is designed to let you experience OWW differently than ever before; you can even cover routes that aren’t normally accessible during the regular season. The set route offers vignettes that capture the beauty of the landscapes and architecture on the grounds – especially in autumn.
Adding to the fun, an interactive Old World Wisconsin Bingo game will help guide the journey. You’re supposed to remain in your vehicle for most of the tour, but “Instagrammable” opportunities allow you to hop out for photos at select locations. You can also munch on “Fall Flavor Samplers,” filled with tastes of fall like apple cider donuts, landjaeger sausages, and pumpkin cookies, which are available for pre-order that you can then pick up at The Creamery to enjoy during the drive.
The cost for this drive-thru is $20 per vehicle; the optional Fall Flavor Samplers are also $20 and should feed two easily.
You can enjoy the Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive-Thru (yes, that’s a long title) on Saturdays and Sundays, October 10th, 11th, 17th, and 18th, from 9am – 3pm. Advanced registration and payment is required; tickets are timed entry, giving guests a 15-minute window to enter the site. You can call 262-594-6311 to register, Shout-out to WaterStone Bank and the Old World Foundation for supporting this!
As part of the COVID-19 precautions, face masks are required for all guests upon entry.
Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive Address:
Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Highway 67
Eagle, WI 53119-9503
(262) 594-6311 Website
“Quilts on Barns” Road Rally takes place Saturday, October 10, 2020. Enjoy spending the day – or even just a part of it if you prefer – driving around the highways and byways of Racine County where you can see the beauty of rural art, looking for the 26 quilt patterns on a variety of barns! Make your first stop the Real Racine Visitor Center to pick up a Quilts on Barns driving tour map and road rally instruction card. Take a tour of four (4) barns, Sew n’ Save Quilt Palette OR Country Rose Bakery Cafe Quilt Palette. Then take a “selfie” of each and come on down to the Quilts on Barns Road Rally Downtown Headquarters or Real Racine Visitor Center to show them off. Several lucky winners will be randomly chosen to win quilts, original artwork and other prizes!
The Quilts on Barns Driving Tour includes 26 barns with an 8′ x 8′ wooden quilt pattern. Many other “quilt treasures” adorn barns and buildings along your driving route. Feel free to visit local Racine County businesses , restaurants, art galleries, and quilt stores. You will be amazed at what you can find!
Quilts on Barns Road Rally Address:
The Rally is obviously happening all around Racine County, but the central meeting point is the Real Racine Visitors Center on Highway 20 just west of I-41/94. The address (for your GPS) is 14015 Washington Avenue/Highway 20, Sturtevant, WI 53177. For more info, call (262) 635-0261.
It’s a spooktacular experience filled with light displays and ghostly charms at the Halloween Glow Drive-Thru at Racine Zoo, running October 7th through November 1st, 2020! Enjoy this “illuminated Halloween adventure” from the safety and comfort of your vehicle. Just follow the dedicated light pathway and be prepared for surprises – but they’re all family friendly.
Halloween Glow is open Wednesdays – Sundays from 6pm to 9pm; admission is $5 per person at the gate. Children 2 years and younger are admitted FREE. Proceeds benefit Racine Zoo’s animals and programs.
You’ll find the Racine Zoo just north of downtown Racine. It’s along Main Street and Goold, abutting Lake Michigan just east of Highways 32 and 38. Highways 11 and 20 also bring you into the Belle City, all about 8 miles east of I-41/94.
Halloween Glow Address:
Racine Zoo
200 Goold Street
Racine, WI 53402
(262) 636-9189 Website
The 21st annual Chippewa Valley Quilt Show is happening in 2020, on Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th. All quilters, new and experienced, are invited. Quilts can be brought strictly for display, or be for sale.
It’s held by the Chippewa Valley Stitching Pals and takes place on the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. Admission is $5, parking is FREE. Hours are 9am – 4pm both days.
You’ll find the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds just off Highway 124 on the north side of Chippewa Falls. It’s just north of the Leinie Lodge at Leinenkugel’s Brewing Company and Irvine Park & Zoo.
Chippewa Valley Quilt Show Address:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
225 Edward Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 723-2861 Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
Start:
October 3, 2020
End:
October 4, 2020
Venue:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
Phone:
715-723-2861
Address:
225 Edward Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729, United States
Germantown celebrates Oktoberfest in a big way with the annual Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest in Dheinsville Historic Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th, 2020! Authentic German food, beer, live music, and plenty of family-friendly activities. There will be plenty of children’s activities, the annual Barleympics, the Dachshund Dash on Saturday at 3pm, a Classic Car Display on Sunday from noon – 3pm, and much more.
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest admission is FREE, and so is parking. Run by the Germantown Historical Society, the takes place at Dheinsville Historic Park, an original settlement from the 1850s filled with history. This weekend, it’ll be filled with lederhosen, accordions, and fun.
Live entertainment lineup:
Saturday September 26th:
12pm-3pm Goodtime Dutchmen
3pm-4pm Dachshund Dash
4pm-7pm Music Venders
7pm-7:30pm Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt
7:30pm-10:30pm Copper Box ( Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt during first break)
Sunday September 27th:
12pm-3pm River City Blaskapelle
3pm-3:30pm Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt
3:30pm-7:00pm Austrian Express
You’ll find Dheinsville Historic Park right along Highway 145 in Germantown, a few miles north of Highway 167 and east of I-41 and the U.S. 45 interchanges. Just the south, check out Main Street off Highway 145, where a series of fun establishments await in the traditional, original downtown area of Germantown.
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest Address:
Dheinsville Historic Park
N128W18780 Holy Hill Road
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 628-3170 Website
The 19th Annual Delavan Scarecrow Fest is on – with safety measures, of course – in downtown Delavan is Saturday, September 19th, 2020. Both visitors and community members are encouraged to participate by either building a scarecrow and bringing it with you or building one right at the festival. Scarecrows will be displayed on the street posts throughout the downtown Delavan area, popping up around Labor Day. Throughout the month of September, Downtown Delavan will have “Scarecrows on Parade.”
Activities in Water Town Park include a craft fair and sidewalk sales from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Delavan Darien High School Gridiron Club will be selling Brats, Hot Dogs, Chips and beverages from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., plus there will be free pumpkin painting from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and don’t miss the Annual Pie & Cake Auction that begins at 3:00 p.m.
Sample scarecrow – and Frankenstein can be scary! This guy looks like Fred Gwynne back in the day.
Activities from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Activities include “Build-A-Scarecrow and Take it Home” for $10.00 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the Great Delavan Duck Raffle at 2:30. The raffle tickets are $2, or 3 for $5; they can be purchased at many downtown businesses, including Bradley’s Department Store, Lauren’s Antique & Art Centre, Lubick Gallery, Del-Mart, Remember When, and more. First Place is $200, Second Place is $100, Third Place is $50, plus there are a lot more prizes to win, thanks to the local businesses who donated them for Delavan Scarecrow Fest.
Here’s the Scarecrow Fest official schedule of activities:
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Car Show
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Self-Guided WallDogs Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Fall Photo Op
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Food Trucks
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Stage – Alice In Dairyland
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Stage – Johnny B
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | DIY Scarecrow Kit Sale
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Guided WallDogs Walking Tour
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Kids’ Pumpkin Pickup
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Guided WallDogs Walking Tour
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Stage – Sawdust Symphony Band
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Kids’ Pumpkin Pickup
4:00 PM | Duck Raffle
The Milwaukee Tool Shed Band is wrapping up the festival with a live concert at 7 pm at the Phoenix Park Bandshell.
They just get more and more creative with these scarecrows at Delavan Scarecrow Fest!
Check out the Walldog Mural Walking Tour, local businesses will have maps. Scarecrows will be “On Parade” throughout downtown Delavan not only Saturday, but through early October.
You can get to Delavan just off I-43, via Highways 11 or 50. Highway 11 is the main street right through downtown. Get some Andes Candies while you’re there!
Delavan Scarecrow Fest Address:
Downtown Delavan
100 W. Walworth Avenue (Highway 11)
Delavan, WI 53115 Website
Spring Green hosts its annual Spring Green Fall Festival with a huge drive-thru fish fry at Prem Meats Friday night September 18th, then live music and activities at The Shed in town Saturday afternoon and evening September 19th, 2020.
Prem Meats is right along U.S. HIghway 14, the main highway east-west through the Spring Green area. They’ll offer an amazing fish fry with a variety of options and sides and an easy (though possibly quite busy) drive-thru experience puts it right in your hands. That lasts from 4-8pm and you can pre-order by calling 608-588-2164 or checking out their Facebook Event Page.
Saturday the 19th, the action moves into the heart of town with Local Night at the Fall Festival. Live music, dinners, drinks, and fun at the Post House Garden, right behind The Shed at 123 N. Lexington. The fun includes live music by Janna Johnson.
Of course, any trip to or ever near Spring Green can include tours of Taliesin, the beautiful and fascinating Wisconsin home of Frank Lloyd Wright or the unbelievable House on the Rock, both just south of town via Highway 23. Fans of burgers, fries, and a shake coupled with rock music and classic cars have to check out Rumble Seats Drive-In, right along U.S. 14 and Highway 60. The downtown is beautiful with great architecture (natch!) and a variety of shops. One of only two opal stores in the nation is also in Spring Green, right along Highway 23. Called The Opal Store, it occupies a charming former gas station that dates back to 1916. Tower Hill State Park just to the east along County C also offers terrific hiking and activities – right as the leaves are starting to change.
Spring Green Fall Festival Address:
Friday Night: Prem Meats, E5028 U.S. Highway 14
Saturday Night for Fall Festival Local Night: The Shed, 123 N. Lexington
Spring Green, WI 53588
(608) 588-2054 Website
The Beloit restaurant scene has really boomed over the last several years, and Bites of Beloit offer a terrific opportunity to sample their fares and wares. You can enjoy prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at a variety of Beloit’s eateries, many of which are downtown, for one week only (September 8-13), with prices ranging from $12-$35 per meal.
Bites Of Beloit Participating Restaurants:
Beloit Club, 2327 S. Riverside Drive, Beloit, 608-364-9000
Bessie’s Diner, 1716 W. Airport Road, Beloit, 608-743-9830
Beloit runs right along Wisconsin’s southern border. I-39/90 and I-43 come together there in an interchange that’s in the middle of massive reconstruction right now, but you’ll still be able to spot the “World’s Largest Can of Chili” at the Hormel plant southwest of the interchange. Highway 81 brings you into town from the east or west; U.S. 51 runs north-south through the city, and Highway 213 brings you in at an angle from the northwest.
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events › Festival
August 7, 2021
Hartford Hot Air Balloon Rally
Hartford Hot Air Balloon Rally Schedule of Events
You’ll see the balloons in the air from miles around, but to get to Hartford’s Municipal Airport, head to County U northwest of downtown via Highway 60 or Highway 83. There is also FREE shuttle service from the Schauer Arts Center, right next to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, from 4pm until after the fireworks are done.
Hear more about the Hot Air Balloon Rally in our State Trunk Tour Podcast interview with Doreen Buntrock from the Hartford Chamber! It begins about 19 minutes in…
Hartford Hot Air Balloon Rally Address:
Hartford Municipal Airport
4200 County Highway U
Hartford, WI 53027
(262) 673-7002
Website
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July 15, 2021 – July 17, 2021
Country Jam USA
Country Jam USA brings top country talent from across the nation to Eau Claire, July 15-17, 2021! Country Jam offers ample space for the stages, vendors, food trucks and more. The nearby Whispering Pine grounds offers easy camping with 11 different areas for all kinds of campers. Campers also get exclusive live music on Wednesday night!
The Subway Party Pit is already sold out for the 2021 shows, but VIP tickets are still available. VIP tickets include assigned seating within the first 26 rows, complimentary beer, soda, and cocktails until 9:30pm daily, food court-style dining all day and evening, and “cruise ship style” dinner buffets every evening. There is also complimentary VIP parking and a private, exclusive tented area.
Country Jam USA Lineup
Thursday, July 15th 1PM-Midnight
Chris Kroeze | 2:00 PM
Phil Vassar | 3:30 PM
Craig Morgan | 5:15 PM
HARDY | 7:15 PM
Morgan Wallen | 9:30 PM
Friday, July 16th 1PM-Midnight
Dawn Marie | 2:00 PM
John Michael Montgomery | 3:30 PM
Rodney Atkins | 5:15 PM
Chris Janson | 7:15 PM
Chris Young | 9:30 PM
Saturday, July 17th 1PM-Midnight
Shenandoah featuring Marty Raybon | 1:45 PM
BlackHawk | 3:30 PM
Tracy Lawrence | 5:15 PM
Cody Johnson | 7:15 PM
Jon Pardi | 9:30 PM
Tickets range from one-day general admission ($109) to the 3-day Superfan admission ($299, or $675 for VIP) with plenty of options in the middle.
Major roads bring you very close to the Country Jam grounds, including I-94, U.S. 12, U.S. 53, and Highways 37, 85, and 93. It’s a great part of a long road trip to the Eau Claire area!
Country Jam USA Address:
3443 Crescent Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 839-7500
Website
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July 15, 2021 – July 17, 2021
Rock Fest, Cadott
Cadott hosts some major music festivals, including Rock Fest – the Largest Rock & Camping Festival in the US!
Rock Fest is THE top venue for people of all ages to come together for one common purpose: to congregate with other rock fans from across the world, in a place where rock music still matters. Featuring the very best of active and classic rock and legendary names in Rock Music, entertainment and experience are first priority. Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, Kiss, Motley Crue, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Kid Rock, Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Rob Zombie, Korn & many, many more rock legends have graced this permanent Main Stage spanning a quarter century.
This year’s acts include:
Thursday, July 15th
Rob Zombie + Staind, Theory of a Deadman, Steel Panther, Saint Asonia, Memphis May Fire, Fozzy, Blacktop Mojo, Carnifex, Fire From the Gods, Falling Through April, Scattered Hamlet, Anything But Human, Digital Homicide, Any Given Sin, GFM, Jett Threatt, Nivrana, Drama Queen, Contingency, and Ignescent.
Friday, July 16th
Limp Bizkit + Snoop Dogg, Anthrax, Badflower, Of Mice & Men, Bad Wolves, All That Remains, Like A Storm, Crobot, Bones UK, Silvertung, Wildstreet, Distal Descent, City of the Weak, Throw the Fight, SIIN, Hammer Down Hard, Fool Fighters, Dressed To Kill, Strange Daze, Caster Volor
Saturday, July 17th
Korn + Danzig, Chevelle, Motionless In White, Avatar, We Came As Romans, Gemini Syndrome, Through Fire, Hyro the Hero, Rachel Lorin, Stormbreaker, Nuisance, Stellar Circuits, Your Screaming Silence, Evandale, Strate Jak It, Mad Alice, Cowboys From Hell, Probable Cause, and FMDown
Rock Fest is set on 320 acres of picturesque land in Cornell near the junction of Highway 27 and 29. There are nearly 7,000 campsites within easy walking distance; hotels are available (especially in nearby Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls), plus daily shuttle service. Yes, this is kind of a big deal.
Festival Grounds Features
Get all the details, lineup, ticket options, and more at the Rock Fest website!
Rock Fest Address:
24447 County Highway S
Cadott, WI 54727
(800) 326-3378
Website
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June 5, 2021
Seltzerland Hard Seltzer Festival
Seltzerland includes Wisconsin on its tour in 2021, with a stop at the Oak Hills Golf Club in Oak Creek on Saturday, June 5th. Over 30 seltzer flavors will be available to try, with 2-oz. samples and numerous other options. General Admission tickets include 30+ seltzer samples, a White Claw® drawstring bag, your commemorative tasting cup, and food truck bites available for purchase. VIP tickets add a full can of hard seltzer, a ghost tequila specialty cocktail, complimentary lunch, and premier time slots.
Brands include: White Claw, Vizzy, Mamitas, Basic, Coors Hard Seltzer, Playa Mar, Volley, Purity, Press, 99, Bravazzi, Tierra Buena, Rockit, Carbliss, and more. Old Smoky Moonshine, Fun Wine, Fireball Whiskey, Ghost Tequila, and more will be there, too!
Tickets are $45 for general admission and $65 for VIP. They’re selling out fast (they had to open more slots, actually), so HURRY if you want to check this out! Get tickets here.
You’ll find the Seltzerland activities at Oak Hills Golf Club, which is right along Highway 38 (Howell Avenue) in Oak Creek, one mile south of Highway 100 and less than two miles east of I-41/94. It’s easy to get to! Oh, and don’t expect to golf on the course that day – it’s all seltzer on June 5th.
Seltzerland Address:
Oak Hills Golf Club
10360 S. Howell Avenue (Highway 38)
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Website
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May 30, 2021
Port Washington Art Walk
You can access downtown Port Washington via Highways 32 or 33 from I-43 or Highway 57. While you’re there, check out Coal Dock Park, the walkways in the marina, the Port Exploreum (a great maritime museum), Inventors Brewpub (located in a VFW hall with a lake view), and the shops, restaurants, and more up and down the streets!
Port Washington Art Walk Address:
Downtown Port Washington
100 N. Franklin Street (Highway 32)
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 268-1132
Website
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May 22, 2021 – May 23, 2021
West Bend Spring Fling Art & Craft Fair
The 4th annual West Bend Spring Fling Art & Craft Fair happens Saturday, May 22nd and Sunday, May 23rd at the Washington County Fair Park’s Ziegler Building! The Brew City Crafters host this two-day event with over 100 local exhibitors. It’s their first event in 18 months, so everybody is more than ready. It’s all indoors and approximately 85% of the booths will feature handmade arts & crafts focused on a wide variety of categories, including:
It runs from 10 am – 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3 for any individual over 12 years of age. Advance ticket sales are strongly recommended, as they are required to cap visitor volume per hour for this event. Your purchase of an ticket in advance directly supports the Wisconsin Humane Society!
You’ll find the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center on the south side of West Bend, right off the U.S. 45 freeway. Highway 60 is about a mile south, and Highways 33 and 144 are to the north (they go right into town.) While you’re around West Bend, check out the downtown area including the Wisconsin Museum of Art, the shops on Main Street, the Toucan for some great custard, Riverside Brewery, and a lot more! It’s less than 10 minutes north of the I-41/U.S. 45 split, too.
West Bend Spring Fling Art & Craft Fair Address:
Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center
3000 County PV/Pleasant Valley Road
West Bend, WI 53095
Website
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January 23, 2021 – January 24, 2021
West Bend Winter Warm Up
West Bend, named for a bend in the Milwaukee River, is the seat of Washington County and is known for great shops and its beautiful downtown. Saturday, January 23rd and Sunday, January 24th, you can enjoy the city in full at the annual West Bend Winter Warm Up!
Check out the ice sculptures in the downtown area, including a live Ice Sculpture Demo in Old Settlers Park on Saturday between 1pm and 2:30pm. Downtown shops will have specials, treats, and chances for you to win gift baskets.
The High Jass Fat Tire Bike Race will take place in Regner Park, just across Highways 33/144 from downtown, both Saturday and Sunday. Check out the bikes churning their wide tires up and down hills and across trails in this two-day fun competition!
The Winter Luminary Walk is a free, lighted walking experience at and through the Lac Lawrann Conservancy. It happens from 5pm to 7pm Saturday evening.
Check out great stops downtown too, including Now and Then Antiques, West Bend Pilot Boutique & Unique Finds, Savoring Thyme, The Oaken Hogg Whiskey Bar, Riverside Brewery, Urban Bend Trends, Perfect Timing Gift Shop, Xpressions Yarn, Bead & Gift Boutique, All In Books, Over the Moon Gift Shop, and more! The Wisconsin Museum of Art is downtown across the river from Main Street, too.
You can easily access West Bend via Highways 33 and 144, just east of the U.S. 45 freeway in the heart of Washington County. Nearby, check out Sunburst Ski Hill in Kewaskum or Little Switzerland in Slinger for winter fun involving skiing, snowboarding, or tubing!
West Bend Winter Warm Up Address:
Downtown West Bend (120 N. Main Street)
West Bend, WI 53095
Website
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January 21, 2021 – January 24, 2021
Beloit Winterfest
Beloit embraces the cold and snowy season with its annual Beloit Winterfest, which this year offers a mix of virtual and in-person activities throughout locations in the city. It takes place Thursday, January 21st through Sunday, January 24th, 2021.
The City of Beloit Parks and Recreation Division runs these events, with in-person activities incorporating safety and social distance to increase opportunities for families and visitors to get out and enjoy winter in Beloit.
Beloit Winterfest Events include:
Virtual events such as:
The “No Snow” Man Building Contest, where you can gather basic household items and build your snowman indoors. The winner will receive a prize bag filled with goodies; the deadline for sending in your photo is 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
The “Ralphie Challenge”, where you put on as many shirts and sweaters as you can, send in a picture, and potentially win another prize bag filled with goodies. This deadline is also 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
In-Person events, including:
Snow Golf, which has a twist: you use a tennis ball as a ball and the snow as your tee. This takes place at Krueger-Haskell Golf Course (1611 Hackett Street) on Saturday, January 23rd. Golfers of all ages and all abilities are encouraged to participate. Reservations are required, and are for 9 holes walking. The rate applies for all ages. Updated COVID-19 guidelines will be in place and social distancing will be required. You must register by Thursday the 21st!
The “Welty Winder” Scavenger Hunt, where you can test your knowledge (and bloodhound-type skills) to find everything in this hunt throughout the city. The Welty Environmental Center takes you on this journey with 20 total clues. Share your journey on social media using the hashtags #BeloitWinterfest, #WeltyWinder and #BeloitWI… and #stt or #StateTrunkTour!
Find out more details with their online flyer, and check out other cool stuff in Beloit like G5 Brewing, the Ironworks Hotel and complex, the shops and restaurants downtown along Grand Avenue and adjacent streets, and more.
It’s easy to get to Beloit! Follow I-39/90 south, I-43 southwest from Milwaukee, or U.S. 51 south from Janesville. Highway 81 goes through town and provides access from Monroe and other points west; Highway 213 comes into Beloit from the northwest. Downtown is nestled in Beloit right next to the Beloit College campus, just blocks north of the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. It’s remarkable to see what Beloit has done with the city’s resurgence; see it this weekend with Beloit Winterfest!
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December 5, 2020
Waukesha Art Crawl
Downtown Waukesha, along with being a crazy maze of streets, offers up a lot of fun places. That includes art galleries. For the Waukesha Art Crawl (this one being #113), over 175 artisans represented, live music, galleries, studios, food/drinks, gifts, gifts, antiques, live music & more! There will also be a special Teacher’s Art Showcase at Otto’s Fine Art Academy. Look for a special Pop Up gallery at Art Links 333. As part of Waukesha Silver Bells, there will also be Reindeer at People’s Park from 1pm – 4pm. Many of the galleries and business open at 10am, so you can make a day of it. With COVID, of course CDC Guidelines are in place so you can enjoy the Waukesha Art Crawl safely. Please check with the participating to find out specifics for their businesses. Walk the downtown streets to discover your next artistic treasure, shop the boutiques, listen to live music or indulge in food and drink!
Check out WaukeshaArt.com for all the updates and details!
How do you get into Waukesha? I-94 and Highway 16 bring you to the north side; Highways 59 and 164 round the south and east sides. U.S. 18 cuts right through, take that or East or St. Paul Avenues.
Get a map of the events here!
Waukesha Art Crawl Address:
Downtown Waukesha, WI
(262) 542-1522
Website
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November 27, 2020 – December 24, 2020
Enchantment in the Park, West Bend
West Bend’s Regner Park hosts Washington County’s premier holiday lights event from November 27th through Christmas Eve (December 24th, obviously), 2020 with Enchantment in the Park.
There’s no cost to enter Enchantment in the Park, but donations are welcome – a suggested cash donation is $10; non-perishable food donations are also welcome.
Enchantment in the Park is open daily, 5pm to 9pm. You’ll find Regner Park along Highway 144/Main Street just north of Highway 33 and downtown West Bend. It’s less than five minutes east of the U.S. 45 freeway.
Enchantment in the Park Address:
Regner Park
800 N. Main Street
West Bend, WI 53090
Website
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November 6, 2020 – November 8, 2020
Bloomin’ Holidays, Museum of Wisconsin Art
West Bend’s Museum of Wisconsin Art offers Bloomin’ Holidays the first full weekend of November. In this crazy year, a “Floral Sanctuary” is the theme, showcasing (as they note) the “ephemeral beauty of flowers.” The event technically begins Friday, November 6th, but earlier in the week the museum will kick things off with a rather impressive large-scale exterior art installation using animated video projection right onto the building. The event itself includes three full days of floral arrangements throughout the museum, including pre-recorded video experts who discuss the flowers in 15-minutes talks throughout the weekend, on display in the atrium. The expanded MOWA Shop will offer a variety of gift giving items including unique hats, soaps, candles, ceramic dishware, and even delicious chocolates and maple syrup.
Featured Designers and Programs include:
Michael Alt, who will install a spectacular floral installation the museum’s atrium. Alt, who owns a shop in Milwaukee’s Walkers Point with his name on it, was awarded Best of Show at both 2017 and 2018 Bloomin’ Holidays for his creative floral masterpieces.
Enhancing Your Living Space featuring Zannah Crowe, a horticulturalist at Johnson’s Gardens, will help you discover ways to bring a beautiful, natural exterior to your indoor spaces. She’ll share tips for the proper care and placement of house plants, so you can benefit from that extra boost in mood and oxygen!
Grapevine Wreaths featuring Dane County botanist Kevin Kawula will help you learn which wood and vine elements can be best used for floral arrangements; he’ll also demonstrate the construction of a natural, DIY grapevine wreath for your home.
Fall Forage featuring John Holzwart from Plant Based Services LLC will showcase our native Wisconsin plant life, complete with tips and information on local foraging, medicinal plant life, and seasonal flower collecting.
Timed Entry due to COVID for safety and enjoyment
MOWA provides a safe socially distanced experience, limiting gallery capacity to 25% or less. To ensure you can visit at your preferred time during Bloomin’ Holidays, you can make a timed reservation for Friday, November 6th, Saturday, November 7th, or Sunday, November 8th. You can also call (262) 334-9638. If you don’t make a reservation beforehand, you will be welcomed in at the first available entry time. Please note, the 9:30-11:30 timed entry reservations will be reserved for seniors and at-risk members.
The Museum of Wisconsin Art is in the heart of West Bend, just east across the Milwaukee River from the downtown shops. It’s accessible right off Highways 33; Highway 144 meets up just across the river. U.S. 45’s freeway bypass is just a few miles to the west and provides quick access to West Bend, and following the historic U.S. 45 route (Main Street) from the south brings you right there.
Bloomin’ Holidays Address:
Wisconsin Museum of Art
205 Veterans Avenue
West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 334-9638
Website
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October 24, 2020
Oak Creek Fall Festival
Oak Creek Fall Festival is the city’s annual harvest tradition, taking place throughout the Drexel Town Square complex! It’s an outdoor event that celebrates everything autumn on Saturday, October 24th from 9am to 6pm. Family-friendly events will feature pumpkin decorating, vendor booths, and more!
Check out live music, including the Five Card Studs from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and SuperFly from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Activities around Drexel Town Square include:
They ask that you please wear a mask when in line or walking around Oak Creek Fall Festival; masks can be removed when sitting at your table. They will monitor for social distancing, and will frequently clean common touchpoints (tables, bathrooms, etc.). Hand sanitizer will be provided at the event!
Great shops, bars, and restaurants are located in and right around Drexel Town Square; feel free to imbibe and enjoy in as many as possible. You’ll find Drexel Town Square along Drexel Avenue, just west of Highway 38/Howell Avenue, 1 1/2 miles east of I-41/94 (where you’ll also find IKEA) and two miles north of Highway 100/Ryan Road.
Oak Creek Fall Festival Address:
Drexel Town Square
361 W. Town Square Way
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Website
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October 17, 2020 – October 18, 2020
Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive
Old World Wisconsin, the 1870s-era crossroads village and ethnic farmsteads on 576 acres of wooded hills in the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest, has gone drive-thru with the Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive. This amazing Wisconsin State Historic Site is offering the opportunity for people and families to tour the grounds from the comfort and safety of their vehicles.
Enjoy the fall colors, historic sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Old World Wisconsin on this scenic, 45-minute drive tour of the grounds. This is designed to let you experience OWW differently than ever before; you can even cover routes that aren’t normally accessible during the regular season. The set route offers vignettes that capture the beauty of the landscapes and architecture on the grounds – especially in autumn.
Adding to the fun, an interactive Old World Wisconsin Bingo game will help guide the journey. You’re supposed to remain in your vehicle for most of the tour, but “Instagrammable” opportunities allow you to hop out for photos at select locations. You can also munch on “Fall Flavor Samplers,” filled with tastes of fall like apple cider donuts, landjaeger sausages, and pumpkin cookies, which are available for pre-order that you can then pick up at The Creamery to enjoy during the drive.
The cost for this drive-thru is $20 per vehicle; the optional Fall Flavor Samplers are also $20 and should feed two easily.
You can enjoy the Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive-Thru (yes, that’s a long title) on Saturdays and Sundays, October 10th, 11th, 17th, and 18th, from 9am – 3pm. Advanced registration and payment is required; tickets are timed entry, giving guests a 15-minute window to enter the site. You can call 262-594-6311 to register, Shout-out to WaterStone Bank and the Old World Foundation for supporting this!
As part of the COVID-19 precautions, face masks are required for all guests upon entry.
Old World Wisconsin Fall Family Fun Drive Address:
Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Highway 67
Eagle, WI 53119-9503
(262) 594-6311
Website
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October 10, 2020
Quilts on Barns Road Rally
“Quilts on Barns” Road Rally takes place Saturday, October 10, 2020. Enjoy spending the day – or even just a part of it if you prefer – driving around the highways and byways of Racine County where you can see the beauty of rural art, looking for the 26 quilt patterns on a variety of barns! Make your first stop the Real Racine Visitor Center to pick up a Quilts on Barns driving tour map and road rally instruction card. Take a tour of four (4) barns, Sew n’ Save Quilt Palette OR Country Rose Bakery Cafe Quilt Palette. Then take a “selfie” of each and come on down to the Quilts on Barns Road Rally Downtown Headquarters or Real Racine Visitor Center to show them off. Several lucky winners will be randomly chosen to win quilts, original artwork and other prizes!
The Quilts on Barns Driving Tour includes 26 barns with an 8′ x 8′ wooden quilt pattern. Many other “quilt treasures” adorn barns and buildings along your driving route. Feel free to visit local Racine County businesses , restaurants, art galleries, and quilt stores. You will be amazed at what you can find!
Quilts on Barns Road Rally Address:
The Rally is obviously happening all around Racine County, but the central meeting point is the Real Racine Visitors Center on Highway 20 just west of I-41/94. The address (for your GPS) is 14015 Washington Avenue/Highway 20, Sturtevant, WI 53177. For more info, call (262) 635-0261.
More info is available on the Racine Arts Council website.
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October 7, 2020 – November 1, 2020
Halloween Glow Drive-Thru at Racine Zoo
It’s a spooktacular experience filled with light displays and ghostly charms at the Halloween Glow Drive-Thru at Racine Zoo, running October 7th through November 1st, 2020! Enjoy this “illuminated Halloween adventure” from the safety and comfort of your vehicle. Just follow the dedicated light pathway and be prepared for surprises – but they’re all family friendly.
Halloween Glow is open Wednesdays – Sundays from 6pm to 9pm; admission is $5 per person at the gate. Children 2 years and younger are admitted FREE. Proceeds benefit Racine Zoo’s animals and programs.
You’ll find the Racine Zoo just north of downtown Racine. It’s along Main Street and Goold, abutting Lake Michigan just east of Highways 32 and 38. Highways 11 and 20 also bring you into the Belle City, all about 8 miles east of I-41/94.
Halloween Glow Address:
Racine Zoo
200 Goold Street
Racine, WI 53402
(262) 636-9189
Website
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October 3, 2020 – October 4, 2020
Chippewa Valley Quilt Show
The 21st annual Chippewa Valley Quilt Show is happening in 2020, on Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th. All quilters, new and experienced, are invited. Quilts can be brought strictly for display, or be for sale.
It’s held by the Chippewa Valley Stitching Pals and takes place on the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. Admission is $5, parking is FREE. Hours are 9am – 4pm both days.
You’ll find the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds just off Highway 124 on the north side of Chippewa Falls. It’s just north of the Leinie Lodge at Leinenkugel’s Brewing Company and Irvine Park & Zoo.
Chippewa Valley Quilt Show Address:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
225 Edward Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 723-2861
Website
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September 26, 2020 – September 27, 2020
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest
Germantown celebrates Oktoberfest in a big way with the annual Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest in Dheinsville Historic Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th, 2020! Authentic German food, beer, live music, and plenty of family-friendly activities. There will be plenty of children’s activities, the annual Barleympics, the Dachshund Dash on Saturday at 3pm, a Classic Car Display on Sunday from noon – 3pm, and much more.
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest admission is FREE, and so is parking. Run by the Germantown Historical Society, the takes place at Dheinsville Historic Park, an original settlement from the 1850s filled with history. This weekend, it’ll be filled with lederhosen, accordions, and fun.
Live entertainment lineup:
Saturday September 26th:
12pm-3pm Goodtime Dutchmen
3pm-4pm Dachshund Dash
4pm-7pm Music Venders
7pm-7:30pm Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt
7:30pm-10:30pm Copper Box ( Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt during first break)
Sunday September 27th:
12pm-3pm River City Blaskapelle
3pm-3:30pm Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt
3:30pm-7:00pm Austrian Express
Get the full activity list here (.PDF)
You’ll find Dheinsville Historic Park right along Highway 145 in Germantown, a few miles north of Highway 167 and east of I-41 and the U.S. 45 interchanges. Just the south, check out Main Street off Highway 145, where a series of fun establishments await in the traditional, original downtown area of Germantown.
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest Address:
Dheinsville Historic Park
N128W18780 Holy Hill Road
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 628-3170
Website
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September 19, 2020
Delavan Scarecrow Fest
The 19th Annual Delavan Scarecrow Fest is on – with safety measures, of course – in downtown Delavan is Saturday, September 19th, 2020. Both visitors and community members are encouraged to participate by either building a scarecrow and bringing it with you or building one right at the festival. Scarecrows will be displayed on the street posts throughout the downtown Delavan area, popping up around Labor Day. Throughout the month of September, Downtown Delavan will have “Scarecrows on Parade.”
Activities in Water Town Park include a craft fair and sidewalk sales from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Delavan Darien High School Gridiron Club will be selling Brats, Hot Dogs, Chips and beverages from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., plus there will be free pumpkin painting from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and don’t miss the Annual Pie & Cake Auction that begins at 3:00 p.m.
Activities from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Activities include “Build-A-Scarecrow and Take it Home” for $10.00 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the Great Delavan Duck Raffle at 2:30. The raffle tickets are $2, or 3 for $5; they can be purchased at many downtown businesses, including Bradley’s Department Store, Lauren’s Antique & Art Centre, Lubick Gallery, Del-Mart, Remember When, and more. First Place is $200, Second Place is $100, Third Place is $50, plus there are a lot more prizes to win, thanks to the local businesses who donated them for Delavan Scarecrow Fest.
Here’s the Scarecrow Fest official schedule of activities:
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Car Show
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Self-Guided WallDogs Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Fall Photo Op
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Food Trucks
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Stage – Alice In Dairyland
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Stage – Johnny B
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | DIY Scarecrow Kit Sale
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Guided WallDogs Walking Tour
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Kids’ Pumpkin Pickup
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Guided WallDogs Walking Tour
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Stage – Sawdust Symphony Band
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Kids’ Pumpkin Pickup
4:00 PM | Duck Raffle
The Milwaukee Tool Shed Band is wrapping up the festival with a live concert at 7 pm at the Phoenix Park Bandshell.
Check out the Walldog Mural Walking Tour, local businesses will have maps. Scarecrows will be “On Parade” throughout downtown Delavan not only Saturday, but through early October.
You can get to Delavan just off I-43, via Highways 11 or 50. Highway 11 is the main street right through downtown. Get some Andes Candies while you’re there!
Delavan Scarecrow Fest Address:
Downtown Delavan
100 W. Walworth Avenue (Highway 11)
Delavan, WI 53115
Website
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September 18, 2020 – September 19, 2020
Spring Green Fall Festival in the Valley
Spring Green hosts its annual Spring Green Fall Festival with a huge drive-thru fish fry at Prem Meats Friday night September 18th, then live music and activities at The Shed in town Saturday afternoon and evening September 19th, 2020.
Prem Meats is right along U.S. HIghway 14, the main highway east-west through the Spring Green area. They’ll offer an amazing fish fry with a variety of options and sides and an easy (though possibly quite busy) drive-thru experience puts it right in your hands. That lasts from 4-8pm and you can pre-order by calling 608-588-2164 or checking out their Facebook Event Page.
Saturday the 19th, the action moves into the heart of town with Local Night at the Fall Festival. Live music, dinners, drinks, and fun at the Post House Garden, right behind The Shed at 123 N. Lexington. The fun includes live music by Janna Johnson.
Of course, any trip to or ever near Spring Green can include tours of Taliesin, the beautiful and fascinating Wisconsin home of Frank Lloyd Wright or the unbelievable House on the Rock, both just south of town via Highway 23. Fans of burgers, fries, and a shake coupled with rock music and classic cars have to check out Rumble Seats Drive-In, right along U.S. 14 and Highway 60. The downtown is beautiful with great architecture (natch!) and a variety of shops. One of only two opal stores in the nation is also in Spring Green, right along Highway 23. Called The Opal Store, it occupies a charming former gas station that dates back to 1916. Tower Hill State Park just to the east along County C also offers terrific hiking and activities – right as the leaves are starting to change.
Spring Green Fall Festival Address:
Friday Night: Prem Meats, E5028 U.S. Highway 14
Saturday Night for Fall Festival Local Night: The Shed, 123 N. Lexington
Spring Green, WI 53588
(608) 588-2054
Website
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September 8, 2020 – September 13, 2020
Bites of Beloit Restaurant Week
The Beloit restaurant scene has really boomed over the last several years, and Bites of Beloit offer a terrific opportunity to sample their fares and wares. You can enjoy prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at a variety of Beloit’s eateries, many of which are downtown, for one week only (September 8-13), with prices ranging from $12-$35 per meal.
Bites Of Beloit Participating Restaurants:
Get more updates on the Bites of Beloit website!
Beloit runs right along Wisconsin’s southern border. I-39/90 and I-43 come together there in an interchange that’s in the middle of massive reconstruction right now, but you’ll still be able to spot the “World’s Largest Can of Chili” at the Hormel plant southwest of the interchange. Highway 81 brings you into town from the east or west; U.S. 51 runs north-south through the city, and Highway 213 brings you in at an angle from the northwest.
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