The Fox Valley’s paper making history gets its salute with the 29th annual Paperfest celebration! This year, Paperfest takes place in Kimberly’s Sunset Point Park, right along the Fox River. Paperfest is a fun, family-oriented festival spanning three days offering up plenty of games, sports, music and food – and education about paper.
Friday night features the Paper Chase, a 4 mile run/walk. Saturday is the Tour de Fest ’17, a biking competition which will be held rain or shine. This annual bike tour offers cyclists a choice of four routes – 18, 40, 70, and 100 miles. The cyclists should their energy – the 100 mile route includes the appropriately named Seven Hills Road!
Rest stops along the way will provide bagels, fruit, snacks, beverages, and restrooms. SAG wagons will patrol the routes until 3:00 p.m., providing direction, mechanical assistance and transportation, if needed. Spectators can watch and enjoy while imbibing in the food and drink available at Paperfest and at establishments along each route.
Other fun things to check out include the toilet paper toss, carnival rides, lawn games, yoga, and more. Saturday features events in the Family Tent including comedy, magic, and karate demonstrations. On the music stages across three days The Bomb, Road Trip. Rob & The Rest, Eminence, Boogie & The Yo-Yo’z, Bad Habits, and RPM perform.
There is also a papermaking demonstration, the Age of Reptiles show, a petting zoo, graffiti fence painting, a sawdust hunt, sidewalk chalk art, hula hoop games, face painting, and more. The Family Stage will feature children’s music and magic tricks. Sports events include a volleyball tournament and tug-of-war competition.
You can reach Kimberly and Paperfest by following I-41, U.S. 10, Highway 55, Highway 96, or Highway 441 to get close, then follow the streets to Sunset Park.
Paperfest Location:
Sunset Park
Sunset Point Road
Kimberly, WI 54136 Website
Start:
July 21, 2017 5:30 pm
End:
July 23, 2017 7:30 pm
Venue:
Sunset Park
Address:
Sunset Park Road, Kimberly, WI, 54136, United States
Lancaster Brews and Blues is a music and beer festival celebrating some of Wisconsin and the nation’s greatest cultural assets! Situated on U.S. Highway 61, the Blues Highway (also the highway “revisited” from Bob Dylan’s classic album), Lancaster offers the perfect backdrop for a festival full of good beats and good treats.
Sip some of Wisconsin’s finest microbrews and enjoy the sounds of one of America’s original musical genres. Music, beer, food, and fun, brought to us by the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce & the City of Lancaster. What more could you ask for on a Wisconsin summer day? 21 and older only.
Tickets are $25, which includes a souvenir festival tasting glass and unlimited samples! Designated Drivers can attend and enjoy non-alcoholic beverages for $10. The music and such, too.
Bands include The Jimmys and Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo; breweries and wineries participating include:
On Saturday, June 17th, the Gilbert Brown Foundation Custom & Classic Car Show takes place along Highway 22 at the Wilderness Campground. You’ll see everything from antiques, street rods, stock models from the 50s through the 2000s, customs, modifieds, custom and stock motorcycles, trucks, even rat rods!
EVENTS
Meet & Greet With Former Packer Player Gilbert Brown
Food & Beverage Tent
Raffle Items & 50/50 Raffle
Picture with Packer Player and Your Car
Fundraising Games With Packers
The Gilbert Brown Foundation’s mission is to service youth in an environment that promotes structure and life skills awareness, by introducing team building skills and promoting diversity in the community. They provide funding assistance for organizations like these:
Camp Sunshine – Kids with Cancer
Gilbert Browns All-Pro Football Camp
Free Milwaukee Skills Camp Offered for Kids Ages 8-17
Make a Wish Foundation
Mark Tauscher’s Tri-Fecta Foundation
High School Scholarship Program
Gilbert Brown Foundation Classic & Custom Car Show Address:
Wilderness Campground
N1499 State Highway 22
Montello, WI 53949
(608) 297-2002 Website
Directions:
From Madison: Take I-90/94 to Exit 132 (Hwy 51). Follow U.S. 51 North to Highway 22 North. Entrance is 12 Miles north of Pardeeville on Highway 22.
From the East: Enter Montello on Highway 23. At stoplight turn left onto Highway 22 South. Entrance is 7 Miles south of Montello on Highway 22.
From the West: Enter Montello on Highway 23. At stoplight turn right onto Highway 22. Entrance is 7 Miles south of Montello on Highway 22.
Montello’s own award winning competition BBQ Team will have a food stand open at the Car Show. All profits will be donated to the Gilbert Brown Foundation. Come on out & try some delicious BBQ!
Start:
June 17, 2017 10:00 am
End:
June 17, 2017 3:00 pm
Venue:
Wilderness Campground
Phone:
608-297-2002
Address:
N1499 State Road 22, Montello, WI, 53949, United States
Sheboygan’s surfing and water sports prowess is well-known, and the 6th annual SUP N’ Surf Challenge adds Stand-Up Paddleboarding to the mix! On Saturday, June 17th you can “race the river” with Stand Up Paddleboard Races, from beginners to experts and team relays.
Along with the fun and exciting racing, there will be free demos, fun, and food. Racers will take off from the Sprecher Restaurant along the Sheboygan River. You can also check out the EOS Surf & Outdoor Shop (510 N. 8th Street, 920-208-7873) in downtown Sheboygan for equipment and part of the celebration.
Wisconsin Dells is one of the ultimate summer destinations – not just in Wisconsin, but nationwide! Come and celebrate the start of summer with Taste of the Dells, where you can enjoy tasty samples from many Dells area restaurants.
Ribs. I had ribs for lunch. That’s why I’m doing this.
There is also live entertainment, a fish boil, family entertainment, arts and crafts show, antique tractor show and a library book sale. Taste of the Dells and all the activities happen throughout the downtown area (right along Highways 13, 16, and 23) pretty much all day on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th. Admission is free!
Participating restaurants include:
Boomtown Saloon
Carvelli’s Pizza & Pasta House
Chalet Lanes & Lounge
Dells Distillery
Famous Dave’s BBQ
The Frozen Bear
High Rock Cafe
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Dining
Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese Shop
Monk’s Bar & Grill
Oodlesmack Popcorn
Pizza Pub
San Antonio Mexican Restaurant
Spring Brook Sports Bar & Grill
Stuff’s Restaurant & Catering
The Keg Bar & Grill/The Patio
Schedule of Events:
Friday, June 9th
Fish Boil, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm (requires tickets)
Beer Tent Open, 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday, June 10th
Arts and Crafts Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Antique Tractor Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Library Book Sale, 9 am – 4 pm
Bowman House Open, 10 am – 2 pm
Corvettes Parade, 11 am – 1:30 pm
Restaurant Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Beer Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Family Entertainment, 11 am – 7 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
I-90/94, U.S. 12, and Highways 13, 16, and 23 all bring you to the Dells!
Start:
June 9, 2017 4:30 pm
End:
June 10, 2017 10:30 pm
Venue:
Downtown Wisconsin Dells
Phone:
608-254-2992
Address:
Broadway, Wisconsin Dells, WI, 53965, United States
The Beer Barons’ World of Beer Festival has grown a bit every year mainly in terms of beers, meads, and ciders available! There will be over 350 beers, meads, and ciders; most of the tables are manned by brewery representatives! Not bad considering the number of imported beers. They put on a fun festival that has great craft beer, minimal lines, and is not a drunk fest. The beer (along with mead and cider) is what’s important.
Tickets go on sale February 1; $40 early bird pricing is in effect until March 31, then tickets are $45.
Schwabenhof is on Silver Spring Drive in Menomonee Falls, east of Highway 164, two miles north of Highway 190/Capitol Drive, and several miles west of I-41/U.S. 45.
Start:
June 3, 2017 1:00 pm
End:
June 3, 2017 5:00 pm
Venue:
Schwabenhof
Phone:
262-252-4100
Address:
N56W14750 Silver Spring Drive, Menomonee Falls, WI, 53051, United States
Check out New Richmond’s 10th annual Willow River Blues & Brews Fest, coupled with their 50th annual Park Art Fair, June 2-3, 2017! Enjoy the works of many artists and the art of making handcrafted beer, all of which takes place – not surprisingly – right along the Willow River in Mary Park.
There’s no cover charge for music or the Park Art Fair. Food, soda & beer concessions available all weekend.
For the “Brews” part of the Willow River Blues & Brews Festival, beer sampling from over 125 crafters takes place Saturday from 4-6pm; tickets are $25 advance/$30 at the gate.
Hours:
Friday, June 2: 5-8pm
Saturday, June 3: 10am-9pm
New Richmond is at the junction of Highway 64 and Highway 65, just north of U.S. 12 and I-94 in St. Croix County.
More Willow River Blues & Brews Festival Info, courtesy of the New Richmond Chamber:
Directions:
Both events are held in Mary Park in New Richmond, just a few blocks from downtown New Richmond on Green Avenue.
From the north or south proceed on Highway 65 to downtown New Richmond. Proceed east on First Street to Green Avenue. Locate available on street parking and walk to Mark Park on the very north end of Green Avenue. Watch for signs.
Parking:
There is no parking allowed in Mary Park for the events. There is ample on-street parking throughout the Mary Park neighborhood and in downtown New Richmond. Please wear comfortable shoes as you will probably have a bit of a walk to the festival area of 4 to 8 blocks.
Shuttle Service:
Shuttle Service is provided by North America Central School Bus/New Richmond School Bus. Pick up locations are in the Bosch parking lot on the South end of New Richmond and on the North end by Super America (gravel lot).
Carry-Ins and Alcohol Consumption:
Absolutely no beverage or food carryins of any kind will be allowed into Mary Park. All persons wishing to consume alcohol must obtain an alcohol wrist band. Anyone who appears to be 35 or younger will have ID checked. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed to purchase or consume alcohol even with parent present.
Lodging:
There are a variety of lodging options in New Richmond and nearby for hotels. Camping is available in New Richmond’s Hatfield Park, about two miles from festival area.
Taxi Service:
There will be taxi onsite providing free rides to anywhere in New Richmond if you feel your should not drive. Stop at the beer concession area to receive your taxi voucher. The New Richmond Area Chamber encourages you to drink responsibly.
NO COVER CHARGE/All ages welcome:
There is no cover charge for any portion of the event except the brew sampling. You may listen to all music performances for free. There will be concession food and beverages for sale. All ages are welcome.
Seating:
The festival in a open air festival. There is limited cover in the case of rain. There will be some picnic tables available to sit on. You may bring your own blanket or lawn chair. NO COOLERS.
Restrooms:
There are flush toilets on site. There will also be portapotties in the festival area.
Address:
Mary Park
New Richmond, WI 54017
(715) 246-2900 Website
Start:
June 2, 2017
End:
June 3, 2017
Venue:
Mary Park
Phone:
715-246-2900
Address:
401 N. Green Avenue, New Richmond, WI, 54017, United States
This is one fun beer festival: the annual Kohler Festival of Beer celebrates one of Wisconsin’s top industries with the country’s premier craft brewers and beer fans from around the nation. The Village of Kohler comes alive during a weekend brimming with refreshing brews, delicious food, cooking demonstrations, beer classes and live music by some of the region’s best bands. Signature events include the Hops to the Shops party, 5k Beer Run, the Shorts & Chefs grilling event, the popular Cheers to Beers tasting gala and a Sunday beer-themed breakfast.
Prices vary based on events, although many events are free. You can also select a variety of packages designed for this beer festival, including with overnight accommodations (not a bad choice, given all the imbibing options!)
New this year is Salute to Swine on Friday night with great beer, delectable bites and a Chicago blues band. Returning are fan favorites Shorts and Chefs, Cheers to Beers and the Beer Run (Saturday). Whether you’re an experienced walker/runner or just have a passion for beer, the 9th annual Kohler Festival of Beer Fun Run just might be the perfect race to enjoy.
The Kohler Festival of Beer is the perfect weekend getaway for beer and food aficionados. Kohler is basically bounded by I-43, Highway 23, Highway 28, and Highway 32. Highway 42 also brings you close!
Start:
April 28, 2017
End:
April 30, 2017
Venue:
Horse & Plow Restaurant
Phone:
920-457-8000
Address:
419 Highland Drive, Kohler, WI, 53044, United States
Imagine an Ice Castle Wonderland in the already wondrous Wisconsin Dells, right next to the upside-down White House on the grounds as the World’s Largest Wooden Trojan Horse on the grounds of Mt Olympus Resort.
Well, you don’t need to imagine. Six days a week from January 12th through mid-March (weather permitting), a massive ice castle compound will be in that very spot, ready for exploration by the whole family. The artistic project began in October on the grounds of Mount Olympus Resort, one of five projects in North America by Ice Castles LLC, a Utah-based company with similar projects in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah, and Alberta, Canada. 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 we harvest and sculpt together.
Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/TheIceCastles
In the Dells, the Ice Castle Wonderland features two 50-foot-long slides, a 35-foot tower, a fountain, and a domed room with a waterfall. You’ll also find tunnels, towers, trails, and even thrones lined with crushed ice and snow, all of which feature embedded light shows.
Some Tips (from their website) for a Great Experience:
Wear Boots. The walking surface inside of the 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. We ask that you arrive within your 30 minute time window. Once you are inside the castle you can stay as long as you’d like!
Save some trees. When you buy your tickets online we’ll send you an email with a unique QR code, so there’s no need to print your tickets. We can 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. For information about commercial or specialized photo sessions please email them at info@icecastles.com.
It is HIGHLY recommended to bring a small sled to pull children instead of a stroller. It is extremely difficult to push the stroller through the castle (think of it like trying to push a stroller through a sandy beach).
To reach Wisconsin Dells, just hit I-90/94, U.S. 12, or Highways 13, 16, or 23. And hope the weather stays cold!
Hours & Tickets:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 3pm – 9pm (closed Tuesday)
Online Tickets: $9.95 ages 12 and up, $6.95 ages 4-11
Tickets at the Door: $15 ages 12 and up, $10 ages 4-11 Child (4-11): $10
Friday, 3pm – 10pm
Saturday, noon – 10pm
Sunday, noon – 9pm
Online Tickets: $12.95 ages 12 and up, $8.95 ages 4-11
Tickets at the Door: $18 ages 12 and up, $10 ages 4-11 Child (4-11): $12
Start:
January 12, 2017
End:
March 18, 2017
Venue:
Mt Olympus Resort
Phone:
800-800-4997
Address:
1701 Wisconsin Dells Parkway, Wisconsin Dells, WI, 53965, United States
Check out historic Villa Louis, right along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin’s second oldest city, from top to bottom. “Behind the Scenes” at Villa Louis offer extended tours of the mansion, giving visitors a glimpse into the life of a historic house museum. Highlighting the care and upkeep of a unique object from the Dousman collection, tours include visits to the nooks and crannies of this historic and beautiful restored mansion.
Prairie du Chien lies just north of where the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi in one of the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin. U.S. 18 and Highways 27, 35, and 60 all bring you there.
For full Villa Louis information, check out their website!
Start:
November 18, 2016 10:30 am
End:
November 19, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Villa Louis
Phone:
608-326-2721
Address:
521 N. Villa Louis Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821, United States
Head to Racine, the “Kringle Capital of the World,” and join the famous O&H Bakery for their first ever Racine Fall Festival of Flavors! Located outside their 5910 Washington Avenue store location – right along Highway 20 – they are celebrating the bounty that fall brings to our state. This event – a sweet one for sure – will take place Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 10am-2pm.
Activities include:
* Giveaways and treats from the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association
* Great food like caramel apples, seasonal sandwiches, cupcakes, hand-pies, hot drinks and more. Kringles, too.
* Cookie decorating for a $1 – each child will get 1 cookie and their own little container of icing (two colors) and sprinkles!
* Every child will get one free pumpkin cookie & a fun activity sheet to color with crayons
* A Guess Game Contest with a chance to win. Guess the right number of an item and the winner receives a bakery gift basket and the chance to win Kringle of the Month for 6 months!
* Ohlaf (their mascot) will be available for pictures and interaction with the kids
O&H has six locations total, including one inside the Highway 20 Petro Travel Plaza along I-41/94. The Racine Fall Festival of Flavors takes place at the Racine-West location, about five miles further east along Highway 20, near the junction with Highway 31.
Normal store hours are 5:30am-6:00pm Monday through Friday, 5:30am-5:00pm on Saturday, and 7:00am-2:00pm on Sunday. Along with kringle, this Viking heritage-inspired store also features fair trade coffee, other fresh bakery items, and made-to-order sandwiches. But you’ll definitely want to celebrate Racine’s Danish heritage with kringle at Racine Fall Festival of Flavors – it’s one of the best!
Address:
O&H Bakery
5910 Washington Avenue (Highway 20)
Racine, WI 53406
(262) 504-7000 Website
Start:
October 15, 2016 10:00 am
End:
October 15, 2016 2:00 pm
Venue:
O&H Danish Bakery
Phone:
262-504-7000
Address:
5910 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI, 53406, United States
On this terrific tour of the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, you can meet 45 area artists and watch them at work during this self-guided driving tour through Baraboo, Spring Green, Dodgeville, Reedsburg and Mineral Point. Potters, weavers, glassblowers, woodworkers, painters, jewelers, quilters, photographers & sculptors. Meet the artists, experience our work spaces, watch as we 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 and it’s one of the most popular art events in the Midwest. Whether this is your first time on the fall art tour, or if you’ve visited their studios every year for the past two decades, you’ll enjoy this October weekend, art-filled drive tour.
Each studio and Gallery Headquarters (in Baraboo) has the full-color brochure, which include a map of the Tour. Pick one up at your first stop! When you get out on the road, watch for signs pointing you in the right direction, and the distinctive blue flags at each studio.
This is a great way to experience the beautiful fall colors in one of the most scenic areas of the Midwest. As you drive, Highways 33, 136, and 23 figure prominently on this tour, as do numerous county and side roads. You’ll be close to Taliesin, House on the Rock, American Players Theater, Governor Dodge State Park, Pendarvis, the Circus World Museum, Ochsner Park Zoo, and many more notable places as you go from studio to studio. Get the printable tour map in .PDF here and more details on the artists at FallArtTour.com. You can also call (608) 356-7805, visit their Facebook page, or e-mail them at info@fallarttour.com.
I-90/94 and Highway 33 brings you to the start in Baraboo (it’s only about seven miles from the Interstate) and the U.S. 18/151 expressway meet you in Dodgeville and Mineral Point, making it easy and fast access regardless of where in the region you’re coming from!
Start:
October 14, 2016 10:00 am
End:
October 16, 2016 6:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Baraboo
Phone:
608-356-7805
Address:
Downtown Baraboo, Baraboo, WI, 53913, United States
The Annual Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival in Fort Atkinson offers a weekend full of workshops, speakers, open mic poetry readings, round tables, landmark tours, and poetry café. The festival is in honor of local poet Lorine Niedecker (1903-1970), a twentieth-century, second-wave, Modern American poet often identified with the Objectivists. Living most of her life on the shores of the Rock River near Fort Atkinson, she is perhaps best known as a poet of place who wrote about the Blackhawk Island that she loved.
Social events, informal gatherings and workshops will begin Friday evening and continue through Saturday evening.
Get all the event details on the Lorine Niedecker website; the main Schedule of Events is below.
You can reach Fort Atkinson via U.S. 12 or Highways 26, 89, or 106 in the heart of Jefferson County. Get poetic and check it out!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS at the LORINE NIEDECKER WISCONSIN POETRY FESTIVAL Friday, October 14, 2016
8:00 – 6:00 Dwight Foster Library is open, Library
Lorine Niedecker Room opens for reading, writing and quiet reflection
9:30 – 4:30 Hoard Historical Museum is open, Museum
Exhibits include the Lorine Niedecker Room and Native American and regional history.
Gallery Exhibit Along the River
Festival info, maps, information for self-guided tours of LN sites including her cabin on
Blackhawk Island and gravesite will be available at the Museum and Library.
5:00 Café Carpe opens for dinner Café Carpe
6:30 Open mic – Moderator Nick Demske of BONK!
7:30 After Party at Café Carpe coordinated by Dot Kent, group poetry and word games
Saturday, October 15, 2016
8:00 – 12:00 Poetry at the Farmers Market with Paul Wiegel Farmer’s Market
Fox River Poetry Company
8:30 Poetry Cafe and Poetry Store Open Fort Atkinson Club
Registration, freebies, exchanges, free Wi-Fi, light refreshment, Poet’s book shop
9:00 Festival Welcome and Niedecker News – Ann Engelman
9:10 David Wilk; Putting the Poet in Her Place
10:00 Dot Kent; Henry James letter to a friend and Lorine Niedecker’s
“Sorrow Moves in Wide Waves”
11:00 Norma Cole with Ronnie Hess and Paul Smyth; LN: Beyond English, beyond home
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Wisconsin Poetry Festival Open Mic — Moderator Angie Trudell Vasquez
(Sign up in the Poetry Café)
2:30 “Round Tables” These small groups encourage discussion with poets
Group A:
John Walser (Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award winner, 2015)
Brenda Cárdenas (Milwaukee poet laureate 2010-2012)
Group B:
Kathryn Gahl (Wisconsin People and Ideas fiction winner, 2015 and 2011)
Pat Moran (Winner of the Grayson Book Poetry Prize, 2015)
4:00 Oscar Mireles; Diversity of Wisconsin Poetry: Poet Laureate building community,
collaboration and audience through Latino eyes
5:15 Photo at poetry wall- Closing meal at Paddy’s
Sheboygan sailing prowess grows with the 2016 Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Racing on Lake Michigan kicks off Wednesday, September 21st with events running through the weekend. The Buddy Melges Challenge in Sheboygan is the third event of the 2016 WIM (Women’s International Match) Series and serves as the World Championship.
“As a long-time sponsor and supporter of women’s match racing, Sheboygan Yacht Club is thrilled to be welcoming some of the best sailors in the world back to our club and beautiful waterfront” said Denise Cornell, Vice Commodore of the Sheboygan Yacht Club.
The World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship is an annual event that was first held in Genoa, Italy in 1999; Sheboygan is now the venue for 2016. This will be a busy event, with 27 sailors fighting for gold medals.
Photo credit: Christopher Rydblom
“Sheboygan offers a unique venue for the World Championship – the first fresh water venue to host the Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Although it is ‘lake sailing’ Lake Michigan is the size of many seas and when the wind whips up the waves can get big and the conditions challenging,” noted 2002 World Champion Liz Baylis.
Details on the WIM Series can be found on their website; this is a big event for Sheboygan sailing!
While in Sheboygan, check out the beautiful harbor, the riverfront, downtown, and more. I-43 and Highways 23, 28, and 42 all bring you to Sheboygan. There’s a lot of fun to be had, especially if you like sailing!
Start:
September 21, 2016
End:
September 25, 2016
Venue:
Sheboygan South Pier
Phone:
800-457-9497
Address:
Downtown Sheboygan, Sheboygan, WI, 53081, United States
Check out historic Villa Louis, right along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin’s second oldest city, from top to bottom. “Behind the Scenes” at Villa Louis offer extended tours of the mansion, giving visitors a glimpse into the life of a historic house museum. Highlighting the care and upkeep of a unique object from the Dousman collection, tours include visits to the nooks and crannies of this historic and beautiful restored mansion.
Prairie du Chien lies just north of where the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi in one of the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin. U.S. 18 and Highways 27, 35, and 60 all bring you there.
For full Villa Louis information, check out their website!
Start:
August 26, 2016 10:30 am
End:
August 27, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Villa Louis
Phone:
608-326-2721
Address:
521 N. Villa Louis Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821, United States
Heirloom Garden Weekend takes place the weekend of August 20-21, 2016 at Old World Wisconsin, a beautiful place that documents the settlement of 19th- and early 20th-century Wisconsin. It comprises an 1870s crossroads village and 10 ethnic farmsteads located on 576 acres of wooded hills in the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest in the southwestern corner of Waukesha County.
Throughout Heirloom Garden Weekend you can participate in special programs, walking tours, mini-workshops, family activities and sampling of heirloom plants in and about Old World Wisconsin’s historic gardens. Learn about the gardening practices of early immigrant settlers and get tips for growing and enjoying plants in your garden. Feel free to contact them at 262-594-6301 for more information and times.
Highlights include:
Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Caldwell Hall enjoy a talk by Jennifer Jordan, UWM Professor and author of “Edible Memory: The Lure of Heirloom Tomatoes and Other Forgotten Foods.” She will discuss “How Tomotoes Became Heirlooms and Apples became Antiques.” Ms. Jordan will be available to sign books following her talk. Books will be available for sale.
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Caldwell Hall hear Ellen Penwell, former curator of Collections at Old World Wisconsin, talk about “Dig In! The History of Garden Tools.”
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Caldwell Hall Bill Stone of Brightonwoods Orchard will present, “Heirloom Apple Tees in WI” with a tree grafting demo.
For Heirloom Garden Weekend, the cost for adults (18-64) is $19; children (5-17) are $10; children 4 and under are free; Senior citizens (65 and over) are $16. Fees include an all-day tram transportation pass. Parking is free.
You’ll find Old World Wisconsin along Highway 67 on its beautiful drive through Kettle Moraine near Eagle, just south of the junction with Highway 59. U.S. 12 and Highway 20 meet Highway 67 about seven miles to the south.
Address:
Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Wisconsin Highway 67
Eagle, WI 53119
(262) 594-6301 Website
Email: oww@wisconsinhistory.org
Start:
August 20, 2016
End:
August 21, 2016
Venue:
Old World Wisconsin
Phone:
262-594-6301
Address:
W372 S9727 Wisconsin Highway 67, Eagle, WI, 53119, United States
“Where Old West Meets New” is the theme of Viroqua’s Wild West Days, which takes place in town August 19-21 this year in Viroqua. It’s a whole throwback to the frontier days with events happening across the weekend.
Daily Events Include:
* Reenactors
* Main Street Performances
* Old Time Barber
* Childrens Games & Crafts
* Pony Rides
* Stage Coach Rides
* Petting Zoo
* Great Food Vendors
* Saloon To Wet Your Whistle
* Wild Rose Cafe
* Old West & New West Vendors
* Period Displays In An 1800’s Boomtown Setting
Other Special Events include a Western Concert, Rodeo Competitions, Cowboy Church, and – yes – Hog Wraslin’. A Horse-Drawn Parade will klip-klop through downtown Viroqua Friday evening.
Here’s the schedule:
Friday August 19th
6:00 pm Wild West Days All Horse Parade (downtown Viroqua)
7:00 pm Horse Pull
7:00 pm K.G. and The Ranger Concert (Temple Theater)
7:30 pm Maggie Mae & the Heartland Country Band with Eric Nofsinger Concert (Temple Theater)
Saturday August 20th
9:00 am Ranch Rodeo Preliminaries
9:00 am Boomtown Opens
11:00 am Horseshoe Contest
1:00 pm Hog Wrastlin’
6:15 pm Mutton Bustin’
7:00 pm Hell on Hooves Rodeo
Sunday August 21st
7:00 am – 11:00 am Cowboy Breakfast Sponsored by Bethel Home (Hockey Arena across from Wild West Days Grounds)
9:00 am Boomtown Opens
11:00 am Cowboy Church Service
1:15 pm Mutton Bustin’
2:00 pm Bulls & Barrels Rodeo
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for kids 12 and under. If you collected a plastic water bottle in the area with a special Wild West Days label on it, you can bring it to the festival and receive ONE FREE Kids Admission! The Rodeo is extra, a $15 admission for adults and $5 for kids 6-13. Hog Ras – er, Wrestling is also extra, $3 for adults and $1 for kids (and note: the winner is responsible for processing the hog.)
Viroqua is a jewel in the midst of Wisconsin’s beautiful – and we mean beautiful – Driftless Area. U.S. 14/61 and Highways 27, 56, and 82 all bring you to Viroqua.
Address:
925 Nelson Parkway
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 634-2601 Website
Start:
August 19, 2016
End:
August 21, 2016
Venue:
Wild West Days
Phone:
608-634-2601
Address:
925 Nelson Parkway, Viroqua, WI, 54665, United States
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, over 175 artisans at 20 galleries and showplaces, live music, gift shops and more are featured at this seasonal event. Walk the downtown streets to discover your next artistic treasure, shop the boutiques, listen to live music or indulge in food and drink.
The Waukesha Art Crawl for 2016 takes place on the following Saturdays:
March 5th
May 7th
August 6th
October 1st
December 3rd
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.
Start:
August 6, 2016 4:00 pm
End:
August 6, 2016 10:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Waukesha
Phone:
262-542-1522
Address:
337 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Managed by the Bay View Arts Guild in this dynamic Milwaukee neighborhood, the South Shore Frolics celebrates its 67th year in 2016. Plenty of fun and games (especially for kids) along with bands, a fish fry, an art show, a classic car show, and more in South Shore Park, which is not only a fun park but also a place providing a beautiful view of the bay (hence, the neighborhood name “Bay View”) and downtown Milwaukee.
And if you hear the crowd yell “Blow up the beach!” don’t be alarmed; it’s just that they put on a great fireworks show there, too.
You’ll find the Frolics in South Shore Park, along Highway 32/Superior Street in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Highways 38 and 794 also bring you there, and it’s just a two miles east of I-43/94.
Address:
2900 S. Shore Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-4270 Website
Start:
July 15, 2016
End:
July 17, 2016
Venue:
South Shore Park
Phone:
414-482-4270
Address:
2900 S. Shore Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53207, United States
Celebrate Dairy Month, and Wisconsin’s dairy heritage, at Wade House by taking part in cheese, butter and ice cream making in the fashion of the 1860s.
Wade House is an 1850s stagecoach inn built to serve traffic along the plank road that connected Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, tells the story of frontier entrepreneur Sylvanus Wade and his family during the Civil War years. In addition to the inn, the historic site includes the recently reconstructed Herrling sawmill, one of the few working, water-powered sawmills of its kind in the nation. Wade House is also home to the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum, which houses the state’s largest collection of antique carriages and working wagons.
Tickets:
Adults $11; children (5-17) $5.50; students and senior citizens (65 and over) $9.25; family (two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17) $30. Horse-drawn transportation on the site included in ticket cost.
Wade House is along Highway 23 between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, just west of Plymouth. Highways 57 and 67 come close too! All the details on this event and more on Wade House can be found on their website HERE.
Start:
June 25, 2016 10:00 am
End:
June 26, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Wade House Historic Site
Phone:
920-526-3271
Address:
W7965 State Highway 23, Greenbush, WI, 53026, United States
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events
July 21, 2017 – July 23, 2017
Paperfest
The Fox Valley’s paper making history gets its salute with the 29th annual Paperfest celebration! This year, Paperfest takes place in Kimberly’s Sunset Point Park, right along the Fox River. Paperfest is a fun, family-oriented festival spanning three days offering up plenty of games, sports, music and food – and education about paper.
Friday night features the Paper Chase, a 4 mile run/walk. Saturday is the Tour de Fest ’17, a biking competition which will be held rain or shine. This annual bike tour offers cyclists a choice of four routes – 18, 40, 70, and 100 miles. The cyclists should their energy – the 100 mile route includes the appropriately named Seven Hills Road!
Rest stops along the way will provide bagels, fruit, snacks, beverages, and restrooms. SAG wagons will patrol the routes until 3:00 p.m., providing direction, mechanical assistance and transportation, if needed. Spectators can watch and enjoy while imbibing in the food and drink available at Paperfest and at establishments along each route.
There is also a papermaking demonstration, the Age of Reptiles show, a petting zoo, graffiti fence painting, a sawdust hunt, sidewalk chalk art, hula hoop games, face painting, and more. The Family Stage will feature children’s music and magic tricks. Sports events include a volleyball tournament and tug-of-war competition.
You can reach Kimberly and Paperfest by following I-41, U.S. 10, Highway 55, Highway 96, or Highway 441 to get close, then follow the streets to Sunset Park.
Paperfest Location:
Sunset Park
Sunset Point Road
Kimberly, WI 54136
Website
June 17, 2017
Lancaster Brews & Blues
Lancaster Brews and Blues is a music and beer festival celebrating some of Wisconsin and the nation’s greatest cultural assets! Situated on U.S. Highway 61, the Blues Highway (also the highway “revisited” from Bob Dylan’s classic album), Lancaster offers the perfect backdrop for a festival full of good beats and good treats.
Sip some of Wisconsin’s finest microbrews and enjoy the sounds of one of America’s original musical genres. Music, beer, food, and fun, brought to us by the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce & the City of Lancaster. What more could you ask for on a Wisconsin summer day? 21 and older only.
Tickets are $25, which includes a souvenir festival tasting glass and unlimited samples! Designated Drivers can attend and enjoy non-alcoholic beverages for $10. The music and such, too.
Bands include The Jimmys and Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo; breweries and wineries participating include:
Lancaster Brews & Blues Festival Address:
Schriener Memorial Library Park
113 W. Elm Street
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2820
Website
You’ll find Lancaster via U.S. 61 and Highway 35 or Highway 81. Check out the beautiful dome at the Grant County Courthouse while you’re there!
Gilbert Brown Foundation Custom & Classic Car Show
On Saturday, June 17th, the Gilbert Brown Foundation Custom & Classic Car Show takes place along Highway 22 at the Wilderness Campground. You’ll see everything from antiques, street rods, stock models from the 50s through the 2000s, customs, modifieds, custom and stock motorcycles, trucks, even rat rods!
EVENTS
Meet & Greet With Former Packer Player Gilbert Brown
Food & Beverage Tent
Raffle Items & 50/50 Raffle
Picture with Packer Player and Your Car
Fundraising Games With Packers
The Gilbert Brown Foundation’s mission is to service youth in an environment that promotes structure and life skills awareness, by introducing team building skills and promoting diversity in the community. They provide funding assistance for organizations like these:
Camp Sunshine – Kids with Cancer
Gilbert Browns All-Pro Football Camp
Free Milwaukee Skills Camp Offered for Kids Ages 8-17
Make a Wish Foundation
Mark Tauscher’s Tri-Fecta Foundation
High School Scholarship Program
Car Class List PDF
Click to view car class list
Gilbert Brown Foundation Classic & Custom Car Show Address:
Wilderness Campground
N1499 State Highway 22
Montello, WI 53949
(608) 297-2002
Website
Directions:
From Madison: Take I-90/94 to Exit 132 (Hwy 51). Follow U.S. 51 North to Highway 22 North. Entrance is 12 Miles north of Pardeeville on Highway 22.
From the East: Enter Montello on Highway 23. At stoplight turn left onto Highway 22 South. Entrance is 7 Miles south of Montello on Highway 22.
From the West: Enter Montello on Highway 23. At stoplight turn right onto Highway 22. Entrance is 7 Miles south of Montello on Highway 22.
Montello’s own award winning competition BBQ Team will have a food stand open at the Car Show. All profits will be donated to the Gilbert Brown Foundation. Come on out & try some delicious BBQ!
6th Annual SUP N’ Surf, Sheboygan
Sheboygan’s surfing and water sports prowess is well-known, and the 6th annual SUP N’ Surf Challenge adds Stand-Up Paddleboarding to the mix! On Saturday, June 17th you can “race the river” with Stand Up Paddleboard Races, from beginners to experts and team relays.
SUP N’ Surf Event Address:
Sprecher Restaurant
820 Indiana Avanue
Sheboygan, WI
(920) 208-SURF (7873)
Website
I-43 and Highways 23, 28, and 42 all bring you to Sheboygan. Have FUN!!
June 9, 2017 – June 10, 2017
Taste of the Dells
Wisconsin Dells is one of the ultimate summer destinations – not just in Wisconsin, but nationwide! Come and celebrate the start of summer with Taste of the Dells, where you can enjoy tasty samples from many Dells area restaurants.
There is also live entertainment, a fish boil, family entertainment, arts and crafts show, antique tractor show and a library book sale. Taste of the Dells and all the activities happen throughout the downtown area (right along Highways 13, 16, and 23) pretty much all day on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th. Admission is free!
Participating restaurants include:
Schedule of Events:
Friday, June 9th
Fish Boil, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm (requires tickets)
Beer Tent Open, 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday, June 10th
Arts and Crafts Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Antique Tractor Show, 9 am – 4 pm
Library Book Sale, 9 am – 4 pm
Bowman House Open, 10 am – 2 pm
Corvettes Parade, 11 am – 1:30 pm
Restaurant Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Beer Tent Open, 11 am – 10 pm
Family Entertainment, 11 am – 7 pm
Live Entertainment, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
I-90/94, U.S. 12, and Highways 13, 16, and 23 all bring you to the Dells!
June 3, 2017
14th Annual World of Beer Festival
The Beer Barons’ World of Beer Festival has grown a bit every year mainly in terms of beers, meads, and ciders available! There will be over 350 beers, meads, and ciders; most of the tables are manned by brewery representatives! Not bad considering the number of imported beers. They put on a fun festival that has great craft beer, minimal lines, and is not a drunk fest. The beer (along with mead and cider) is what’s important.
Tickets go on sale February 1; $40 early bird pricing is in effect until March 31, then tickets are $45.
Their website has the full lineup of offerings!
Schwabenhof is on Silver Spring Drive in Menomonee Falls, east of Highway 164, two miles north of Highway 190/Capitol Drive, and several miles west of I-41/U.S. 45.
June 2, 2017 – June 3, 2017
Willow River Blues & Brews Fest
Check out New Richmond’s 10th annual Willow River Blues & Brews Fest, coupled with their 50th annual Park Art Fair, June 2-3, 2017! Enjoy the works of many artists and the art of making handcrafted beer, all of which takes place – not surprisingly – right along the Willow River in Mary Park.
There’s no cover charge for music or the Park Art Fair. Food, soda & beer concessions available all weekend.
For the “Brews” part of the Willow River Blues & Brews Festival, beer sampling from over 125 crafters takes place Saturday from 4-6pm; tickets are $25 advance/$30 at the gate.
Hours:
Friday, June 2: 5-8pm
Saturday, June 3: 10am-9pm
New Richmond is at the junction of Highway 64 and Highway 65, just north of U.S. 12 and I-94 in St. Croix County.
More Willow River Blues & Brews Festival Info, courtesy of the New Richmond Chamber:
Directions:
Both events are held in Mary Park in New Richmond, just a few blocks from downtown New Richmond on Green Avenue.
From the north or south proceed on Highway 65 to downtown New Richmond. Proceed east on First Street to Green Avenue. Locate available on street parking and walk to Mark Park on the very north end of Green Avenue. Watch for signs.
Parking:
There is no parking allowed in Mary Park for the events. There is ample on-street parking throughout the Mary Park neighborhood and in downtown New Richmond. Please wear comfortable shoes as you will probably have a bit of a walk to the festival area of 4 to 8 blocks.
Shuttle Service:
Shuttle Service is provided by North America Central School Bus/New Richmond School Bus. Pick up locations are in the Bosch parking lot on the South end of New Richmond and on the North end by Super America (gravel lot).
Carry-Ins and Alcohol Consumption:
Absolutely no beverage or food carryins of any kind will be allowed into Mary Park. All persons wishing to consume alcohol must obtain an alcohol wrist band. Anyone who appears to be 35 or younger will have ID checked. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed to purchase or consume alcohol even with parent present.
Lodging:
There are a variety of lodging options in New Richmond and nearby for hotels. Camping is available in New Richmond’s Hatfield Park, about two miles from festival area.
Taxi Service:
There will be taxi onsite providing free rides to anywhere in New Richmond if you feel your should not drive. Stop at the beer concession area to receive your taxi voucher. The New Richmond Area Chamber encourages you to drink responsibly.
NO COVER CHARGE/All ages welcome:
There is no cover charge for any portion of the event except the brew sampling. You may listen to all music performances for free. There will be concession food and beverages for sale. All ages are welcome.
Seating:
The festival in a open air festival. There is limited cover in the case of rain. There will be some picnic tables available to sit on. You may bring your own blanket or lawn chair. NO COOLERS.
Restrooms:
There are flush toilets on site. There will also be portapotties in the festival area.
Address:
Mary Park
New Richmond, WI 54017
(715) 246-2900
Website
April 28, 2017 – April 30, 2017
Kohler Festival of Beer & Beer Run
This is one fun beer festival: the annual Kohler Festival of Beer celebrates one of Wisconsin’s top industries with the country’s premier craft brewers and beer fans from around the nation. The Village of Kohler comes alive during a weekend brimming with refreshing brews, delicious food, cooking demonstrations, beer classes and live music by some of the region’s best bands. Signature events include the Hops to the Shops party, 5k Beer Run, the Shorts & Chefs grilling event, the popular Cheers to Beers tasting gala and a Sunday beer-themed breakfast.
Prices vary based on events, although many events are free. You can also select a variety of packages designed for this beer festival, including with overnight accommodations (not a bad choice, given all the imbibing options!)
New this year is Salute to Swine on Friday night with great beer, delectable bites and a Chicago blues band. Returning are fan favorites Shorts and Chefs, Cheers to Beers and the Beer Run (Saturday). Whether you’re an experienced walker/runner or just have a passion for beer, the 9th annual Kohler Festival of Beer Fun Run just might be the perfect race to enjoy.
The Kohler Festival of Beer is the perfect weekend getaway for beer and food aficionados. Kohler is basically bounded by I-43, Highway 23, Highway 28, and Highway 32. Highway 42 also brings you close!
January 12, 2017 – March 18, 2017
Ice Castle Wonderland in Wisconsin Dells
Imagine an Ice Castle Wonderland in the already wondrous Wisconsin Dells, right next to the upside-down White House on the grounds as the World’s Largest Wooden Trojan Horse on the grounds of Mt Olympus Resort.
Well, you don’t need to imagine. Six days a week from January 12th through mid-March (weather permitting), a massive ice castle compound will be in that very spot, ready for exploration by the whole family. The artistic project began in October on the grounds of Mount Olympus Resort, one of five projects in North America by Ice Castles LLC, a Utah-based company with similar projects in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah, and Alberta, Canada. 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 we harvest and sculpt together.
In the Dells, the Ice Castle Wonderland features two 50-foot-long slides, a 35-foot tower, a fountain, and a domed room with a waterfall. You’ll also find tunnels, towers, trails, and even thrones lined with crushed ice and snow, all of which feature embedded light shows.
Some Tips (from their website) for a Great Experience:
To reach Wisconsin Dells, just hit I-90/94, U.S. 12, or Highways 13, 16, or 23. And hope the weather stays cold!
Hours & Tickets:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 3pm – 9pm (closed Tuesday)
Online Tickets: $9.95 ages 12 and up, $6.95 ages 4-11
Tickets at the Door: $15 ages 12 and up, $10 ages 4-11 Child (4-11): $10
Friday, 3pm – 10pm
Saturday, noon – 10pm
Sunday, noon – 9pm
Online Tickets: $12.95 ages 12 and up, $8.95 ages 4-11
Tickets at the Door: $18 ages 12 and up, $10 ages 4-11 Child (4-11): $12
November 18, 2016 – November 19, 2016
Villa Louis Behind the Scenes – November
Check out historic Villa Louis, right along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin’s second oldest city, from top to bottom. “Behind the Scenes” at Villa Louis offer extended tours of the mansion, giving visitors a glimpse into the life of a historic house museum. Highlighting the care and upkeep of a unique object from the Dousman collection, tours include visits to the nooks and crannies of this historic and beautiful restored mansion.
Prairie du Chien lies just north of where the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi in one of the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin. U.S. 18 and Highways 27, 35, and 60 all bring you there.
For full Villa Louis information, check out their website!
October 15, 2016
Racine Fall Festival of Flavors
Head to Racine, the “Kringle Capital of the World,” and join the famous O&H Bakery for their first ever Racine Fall Festival of Flavors! Located outside their 5910 Washington Avenue store location – right along Highway 20 – they are celebrating the bounty that fall brings to our state. This event – a sweet one for sure – will take place Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 10am-2pm.
* Giveaways and treats from the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association
* Great food like caramel apples, seasonal sandwiches, cupcakes, hand-pies, hot drinks and more. Kringles, too.
* Cookie decorating for a $1 – each child will get 1 cookie and their own little container of icing (two colors) and sprinkles!
* Every child will get one free pumpkin cookie & a fun activity sheet to color with crayons
* A Guess Game Contest with a chance to win. Guess the right number of an item and the winner receives a bakery gift basket and the chance to win Kringle of the Month for 6 months!
* Ohlaf (their mascot) will be available for pictures and interaction with the kids
O&H has six locations total, including one inside the Highway 20 Petro Travel Plaza along I-41/94. The Racine Fall Festival of Flavors takes place at the Racine-West location, about five miles further east along Highway 20, near the junction with Highway 31.
Normal store hours are 5:30am-6:00pm Monday through Friday, 5:30am-5:00pm on Saturday, and 7:00am-2:00pm on Sunday. Along with kringle, this Viking heritage-inspired store also features fair trade coffee, other fresh bakery items, and made-to-order sandwiches. But you’ll definitely want to celebrate Racine’s Danish heritage with kringle at Racine Fall Festival of Flavors – it’s one of the best!
Address:
O&H Bakery
5910 Washington Avenue (Highway 20)
Racine, WI 53406
(262) 504-7000
Website
October 14, 2016 – October 16, 2016
Fall Art Tour, Baraboo to Mineral Point
Each studio and Gallery Headquarters (in Baraboo) has the full-color brochure, which include a map of the Tour. Pick one up at your first stop! When you get out on the road, watch for signs pointing you in the right direction, and the distinctive blue flags at each studio.
This is a great way to experience the beautiful fall colors in one of the most scenic areas of the Midwest. As you drive, Highways 33, 136, and 23 figure prominently on this tour, as do numerous county and side roads. You’ll be close to Taliesin, House on the Rock, American Players Theater, Governor Dodge State Park, Pendarvis, the Circus World Museum, Ochsner Park Zoo, and many more notable places as you go from studio to studio. Get the printable tour map in .PDF here and more details on the artists at FallArtTour.com. You can also call (608) 356-7805, visit their Facebook page, or e-mail them at info@fallarttour.com.
I-90/94 and Highway 33 brings you to the start in Baraboo (it’s only about seven miles from the Interstate) and the U.S. 18/151 expressway meet you in Dodgeville and Mineral Point, making it easy and fast access regardless of where in the region you’re coming from!
October 14, 2016 – October 15, 2016
Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival
The Annual Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival in Fort Atkinson offers a weekend full of workshops, speakers, open mic poetry readings, round tables, landmark tours, and poetry café. The festival is in honor of local poet Lorine Niedecker (1903-1970), a twentieth-century, second-wave, Modern American poet often identified with the Objectivists. Living most of her life on the shores of the Rock River near Fort Atkinson, she is perhaps best known as a poet of place who wrote about the Blackhawk Island that she loved.
Social events, informal gatherings and workshops will begin Friday evening and continue through Saturday evening.
Get all the event details on the Lorine Niedecker website; the main Schedule of Events is below.
You can reach Fort Atkinson via U.S. 12 or Highways 26, 89, or 106 in the heart of Jefferson County. Get poetic and check it out!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS at the LORINE NIEDECKER WISCONSIN POETRY FESTIVAL
Friday, October 14, 2016
8:00 – 6:00 Dwight Foster Library is open, Library
Lorine Niedecker Room opens for reading, writing and quiet reflection
9:30 – 4:30 Hoard Historical Museum is open, Museum
Exhibits include the Lorine Niedecker Room and Native American and regional history.
Gallery Exhibit Along the River
Festival info, maps, information for self-guided tours of LN sites including her cabin on
Blackhawk Island and gravesite will be available at the Museum and Library.
5:00 Café Carpe opens for dinner Café Carpe
6:30 Open mic – Moderator Nick Demske of BONK!
7:30 After Party at Café Carpe coordinated by Dot Kent, group poetry and word games
Saturday, October 15, 2016
8:00 – 12:00 Poetry at the Farmers Market with Paul Wiegel Farmer’s Market
Fox River Poetry Company
8:30 Poetry Cafe and Poetry Store Open Fort Atkinson Club
Registration, freebies, exchanges, free Wi-Fi, light refreshment, Poet’s book shop
9:00 Festival Welcome and Niedecker News – Ann Engelman
9:10 David Wilk; Putting the Poet in Her Place
10:00 Dot Kent; Henry James letter to a friend and Lorine Niedecker’s
“Sorrow Moves in Wide Waves”
11:00 Norma Cole with Ronnie Hess and Paul Smyth; LN: Beyond English, beyond home
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Wisconsin Poetry Festival Open Mic — Moderator Angie Trudell Vasquez
(Sign up in the Poetry Café)
2:30 “Round Tables” These small groups encourage discussion with poets
Group A:
John Walser (Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award winner, 2015)
Brenda Cárdenas (Milwaukee poet laureate 2010-2012)
Group B:
Kathryn Gahl (Wisconsin People and Ideas fiction winner, 2015 and 2011)
Pat Moran (Winner of the Grayson Book Poetry Prize, 2015)
4:00 Oscar Mireles; Diversity of Wisconsin Poetry: Poet Laureate building community,
collaboration and audience through Latino eyes
5:15 Photo at poetry wall- Closing meal at Paddy’s
September 21, 2016 – September 25, 2016
2016 Women’s Match Sailing World Championship
Sheboygan sailing prowess grows with the 2016 Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Racing on Lake Michigan kicks off Wednesday, September 21st with events running through the weekend. The Buddy Melges Challenge in Sheboygan is the third event of the 2016 WIM (Women’s International Match) Series and serves as the World Championship.
“As a long-time sponsor and supporter of women’s match racing, Sheboygan Yacht Club is thrilled to be welcoming some of the best sailors in the world back to our club and beautiful waterfront” said Denise Cornell, Vice Commodore of the Sheboygan Yacht Club.
The World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship is an annual event that was first held in Genoa, Italy in 1999; Sheboygan is now the venue for 2016. This will be a busy event, with 27 sailors fighting for gold medals.
“Sheboygan offers a unique venue for the World Championship – the first fresh water venue to host the Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Although it is ‘lake sailing’ Lake Michigan is the size of many seas and when the wind whips up the waves can get big and the conditions challenging,” noted 2002 World Champion Liz Baylis.
Details on the WIM Series can be found on their website; this is a big event for Sheboygan sailing!
While in Sheboygan, check out the beautiful harbor, the riverfront, downtown, and more. I-43 and Highways 23, 28, and 42 all bring you to Sheboygan. There’s a lot of fun to be had, especially if you like sailing!
August 26, 2016 – August 27, 2016
Villa Louis Behind the Scenes – August
Check out historic Villa Louis, right along the Mississippi River in Wisconsin’s second oldest city, from top to bottom. “Behind the Scenes” at Villa Louis offer extended tours of the mansion, giving visitors a glimpse into the life of a historic house museum. Highlighting the care and upkeep of a unique object from the Dousman collection, tours include visits to the nooks and crannies of this historic and beautiful restored mansion.
Prairie du Chien lies just north of where the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi in one of the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin. U.S. 18 and Highways 27, 35, and 60 all bring you there.
For full Villa Louis information, check out their website!
August 20, 2016 – August 21, 2016
Heirloom Garden Weekend
Heirloom Garden Weekend takes place the weekend of August 20-21, 2016 at Old World Wisconsin, a beautiful place that documents the settlement of 19th- and early 20th-century Wisconsin. It comprises an 1870s crossroads village and 10 ethnic farmsteads located on 576 acres of wooded hills in the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest in the southwestern corner of Waukesha County.
Throughout Heirloom Garden Weekend you can participate in special programs, walking tours, mini-workshops, family activities and sampling of heirloom plants in and about Old World Wisconsin’s historic gardens. Learn about the gardening practices of early immigrant settlers and get tips for growing and enjoying plants in your garden. Feel free to contact them at 262-594-6301 for more information and times.
Highlights include:
Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Caldwell Hall enjoy a talk by Jennifer Jordan, UWM Professor and author of “Edible Memory: The Lure of Heirloom Tomatoes and Other Forgotten Foods.” She will discuss “How Tomotoes Became Heirlooms and Apples became Antiques.” Ms. Jordan will be available to sign books following her talk. Books will be available for sale.
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Caldwell Hall hear Ellen Penwell, former curator of Collections at Old World Wisconsin, talk about “Dig In! The History of Garden Tools.”
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Caldwell Hall Bill Stone of Brightonwoods Orchard will present, “Heirloom Apple Tees in WI” with a tree grafting demo.
For Heirloom Garden Weekend, the cost for adults (18-64) is $19; children (5-17) are $10; children 4 and under are free; Senior citizens (65 and over) are $16. Fees include an all-day tram transportation pass. Parking is free.
You’ll find Old World Wisconsin along Highway 67 on its beautiful drive through Kettle Moraine near Eagle, just south of the junction with Highway 59. U.S. 12 and Highway 20 meet Highway 67 about seven miles to the south.
Address:
Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Wisconsin Highway 67
Eagle, WI 53119
(262) 594-6301
Website
Email: oww@wisconsinhistory.org
August 19, 2016 – August 21, 2016
Wild West Days
“Where Old West Meets New” is the theme of Viroqua’s Wild West Days, which takes place in town August 19-21 this year in Viroqua. It’s a whole throwback to the frontier days with events happening across the weekend.
Daily Events Include:
* Reenactors
* Main Street Performances
* Old Time Barber
* Childrens Games & Crafts
* Pony Rides
* Stage Coach Rides
* Petting Zoo
* Great Food Vendors
* Saloon To Wet Your Whistle
* Wild Rose Cafe
* Old West & New West Vendors
* Period Displays In An 1800’s Boomtown Setting
Other Special Events include a Western Concert, Rodeo Competitions, Cowboy Church, and – yes – Hog Wraslin’. A Horse-Drawn Parade will klip-klop through downtown Viroqua Friday evening.
Here’s the schedule:
Friday August 19th
6:00 pm Wild West Days All Horse Parade (downtown Viroqua)
7:00 pm Horse Pull
7:00 pm K.G. and The Ranger Concert (Temple Theater)
7:30 pm Maggie Mae & the Heartland Country Band with Eric Nofsinger Concert (Temple Theater)
Saturday August 20th
9:00 am Ranch Rodeo Preliminaries
9:00 am Boomtown Opens
11:00 am Horseshoe Contest
1:00 pm Hog Wrastlin’
6:15 pm Mutton Bustin’
7:00 pm Hell on Hooves Rodeo
Sunday August 21st
7:00 am – 11:00 am Cowboy Breakfast Sponsored by Bethel Home (Hockey Arena across from Wild West Days Grounds)
9:00 am Boomtown Opens
11:00 am Cowboy Church Service
1:15 pm Mutton Bustin’
2:00 pm Bulls & Barrels Rodeo
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for kids 12 and under. If you collected a plastic water bottle in the area with a special Wild West Days label on it, you can bring it to the festival and receive ONE FREE Kids Admission! The Rodeo is extra, a $15 admission for adults and $5 for kids 6-13. Hog Ras – er, Wrestling is also extra, $3 for adults and $1 for kids (and note: the winner is responsible for processing the hog.)
Viroqua is a jewel in the midst of Wisconsin’s beautiful – and we mean beautiful – Driftless Area. U.S. 14/61 and Highways 27, 56, and 82 all bring you to Viroqua.
Address:
925 Nelson Parkway
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 634-2601
Website
August 6, 2016
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, over 175 artisans at 20 galleries and showplaces, live music, gift shops and more are featured at this seasonal event. 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!
The Waukesha Art Crawl for 2016 takes place on the following Saturdays:
March 5th
May 7th
August 6th
October 1st
December 3rd
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.
July 15, 2016 – July 17, 2016
South Shore Frolics
Managed by the Bay View Arts Guild in this dynamic Milwaukee neighborhood, the South Shore Frolics celebrates its 67th year in 2016. Plenty of fun and games (especially for kids) along with bands, a fish fry, an art show, a classic car show, and more in South Shore Park, which is not only a fun park but also a place providing a beautiful view of the bay (hence, the neighborhood name “Bay View”) and downtown Milwaukee.
And if you hear the crowd yell “Blow up the beach!” don’t be alarmed; it’s just that they put on a great fireworks show there, too.
You’ll find the Frolics in South Shore Park, along Highway 32/Superior Street in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Highways 38 and 794 also bring you there, and it’s just a two miles east of I-43/94.
Address:
2900 S. Shore Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-4270
Website
June 25, 2016 – June 26, 2016
1860s Dairy Days at Wade House
Celebrate Dairy Month, and Wisconsin’s dairy heritage, at Wade House by taking part in cheese, butter and ice cream making in the fashion of the 1860s.
Wade House is an 1850s stagecoach inn built to serve traffic along the plank road that connected Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, tells the story of frontier entrepreneur Sylvanus Wade and his family during the Civil War years. In addition to the inn, the historic site includes the recently reconstructed Herrling sawmill, one of the few working, water-powered sawmills of its kind in the nation. Wade House is also home to the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum, which houses the state’s largest collection of antique carriages and working wagons.
Tickets:
Adults $11; children (5-17) $5.50; students and senior citizens (65 and over) $9.25; family (two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17) $30. Horse-drawn transportation on the site included in ticket cost.
Wade House is along Highway 23 between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, just west of Plymouth. Highways 57 and 67 come close too! All the details on this event and more on Wade House can be found on their website HERE.