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
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:
June 24, 2016 10:30 am
End:
June 25, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Villa Louis
Phone:
608-326-2721
Address:
521 N. Villa Louis Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821, United States
The Verizon IndyCar Series Road America Grand Prix takes center stage as an international lineup of drivers will have their chance to battle it out for glory on one of the world’s most majestic road courses. They will be joined by the Pirelli World Challenge featuring many of the world’s top sports cars and drivers in an all out wheel-to-wheel battle consisting of six classes headlined by separate GT and GTS races. The Porsche GT Cup class will run alongside the GT and GT-A class cars over the course of the weekend. The Pirelli World Challenge consists of seven classes offering a competitive slot for nearly every sports car and sports sedan available. Races are run in a timed, sprint format from start to finish and begin with the series’ trademark standing start. With door-to-door racing, no scheduled pit stops, driver changes and classes running together, it’s like watching the intensity of the final lap, every lap.
You’ll find Road America along Highway 67, just north of Highway 23 and Plymouth and just west of Highway 57 in Sheboygan County.
Start:
June 23, 2016
End:
June 26, 2016
Venue:
Road America
Phone:
920-892-4576
Address:
N7390 State Highway 67, Plymouth, WI, 53073, 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:
May 20, 2016 10:30 am
End:
May 21, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Villa Louis
Phone:
608-326-2721
Address:
521 N. Villa Louis Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821, United States
The Ridge in Lake Geneva combines two greats: craft beer and Chicago Blues! This event will feature unlimited sampling of craft beer from around the US, live blues music and concessions from 1-5pm Saturday, April 23rd at the Ridge Hotel along Highway 50 in Lake Geneva – U.S. 12 and Highway 67 are nearby, too. There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Lakeland Animal Shelter. Check out the details at their website here!
Start:
April 23, 2016 1:00 pm
End:
April 23, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Geneva Ridge Resort
Phone:
262-245-1000
Address:
W4240 State Highway 50, Lake Geneva, WI, 53147, United States
Head to Dodgeville and enjoy authentic Cajun music from visiting LA artists along with music and dance workshops. Cajun food and nightly dances with live bands. This event takes place at Folklore Village, a nationally recognized folk arts and culture center dedicated to enriching lives through time-honored traditions.
Since 1968, thousands of people of all ages have come to Folklore Village to gather with friends, meet new people, to eat, dance, sing and play. Come study with a master fiddler… sing with a gospel choir… dance until midnight… learn to spin wool… feast on jambalaya… join a back porch jam session… plant prairie flowers… or picture yourself as a student in a real 1890 schoolhouse… pass it on.,
Get the full schedule for this Cajun music and dance weekend at their website here. U.S. 18 & 151 and Highway 23 bring you to Dodgeville, the seat of Iowa County.
Start:
April 22, 2016
End:
April 24, 2016
Venue:
Folklore Village
Phone:
608-924-4000
Address:
3210 County Road BB, Dodgeville, WI, 53533, United States
“First Fridays” will provide an opportunity for families to come together to partake in an artistic experience, including unique educational elements for youth ranging from artist-led crafts to hands-on musical experiences. Guests are greeted with an opening band featuring local musicians at 6:00 pm. Dinner will be available for purchase from food trucks, as well as indoors from “After Party” Sponsor, The Stilthouse Restaurant. Other activities include a local handmade art show, kid’s crafts, dancing, cash bar and good times. At 7:00pm, the lights go down and the party turns up as the main act, Comfort Shag, takes the stage for two hours. The Center’s full cash bar and dance floor will multiply the fun. This exciting series is free of charge to members of the Cultural Center and children under 5. Non-member general admission is $5 at the door. Full details can be found on the Cedarburg Cultural Center website.
Historic downtown Cedarburg can be reached via Washington Avenue, which is Historic Highway 57. Today’s Highway 57, as well as Highways 60, 167, and 181, come close. I-43/Highway 32 is also a few miles to the east and you can access Cedarburg via County C (Exit 89).
Start:
April 1, 2016 4:00 pm
End:
April 1, 2016 11:00 pm
Venue:
Cedarburg Cultural Center
Phone:
262-375-3676
Address:
W62 N546 Washington Avenue, Cedarburg, WI, 53012, United States
This is a great time to check out the Bull Falls Brewery just southeast of central Wausau!
The Bull Falls Bock Fest will kick off at 1pm on Saturday, March 19th immediately following the 8th Annual Bull Falls Brewery Never Forgotten Honor Flight 5K Run/Walk. It will begin with the ceremonial tapping of the 2015 Bull Falls Bock Lager, their traditional full-bodied dark bock lager beer. Beginning at 1pm there will be music in the Biergarten by Led West and great food provided by local American Legion Post 10.
Their crack Karmel Kaiser staff will be assisting customers who want their beer caramelized with a red hot poker by the fire! It’s an outdoor event, so dress for the weather! This will be a well-attended event, snow or shine. All proceeds for this event will be donated to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight.
Updated details are available on the Bull Falls Brewery website. You’ll find the brewery southeast of downtown Wausau, just east of Business U.S. 51. I-39, U.S. 51, and Highways 29 and 52 all bring you to Wausau.
Start:
March 19, 2016 1:00 pm
End:
March 19, 2016 6:00 pm
Venue:
Bull Falls Brewery
Phone:
715-842-2337
Address:
901 E. Thomas Street, Wausau, WI, 54403, United States
In conjunction with the Southport Quilters Guild Annual Members Quilt Show, the Guild will sponsor activities at the Kenosha Public Museum in downtown Kenosha’s HarborPark District.
The Kenosha Public Museum is a natural sciences and fine and decorative arts museum with over 80,000 collections, including 1,200 works in fine arts. Exhibit programming includes mammoths, world cultures, Native Americans, zoology, geology, fossils, and fine and decorative arts.
For National Quilting Day, here’s the schedule:
9am-Noon – Quilting Workshop with Kathy Tracy of Country Lane Quilts. Please contact the Museum at 262-653-4140 to find out if space is still available.
10am-5pm – “Scrappy Days are Here Again!” and “Pieces of Poetry” quilt challenge by Southport Quilters Guild members on display in DaimlerChrysler Hall
10:30am-1:30pm – Quilting demonstrations by members of the Guild and family activities
2pm – “A Little History of Quilting” presentation by Kathy Tracy . The presentation takes you through different periods in American history showing examples of quilts with different styles and techniques. It includes a PowerPoint presentation, a trunk show of quilts from her books, and time for questions. Free tickets will be available the day of the presentation beginning at 10am. Seating is limited – first come, first served.
The Kenosha Public Museum can be accessed by taking Highways 32, 50, or 158 into the city’s HarborPark District, which sits right along Lake Michigan on the east side of downtown. Make a day of it and check out everything else down there!
Start:
March 19, 2016 9:00 am
End:
March 19, 2016 5:00 pm
Venue:
Kenosha Public Museum
Phone:
262-653-4140
Address:
5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Organizers of the Lakewoods’ Hot Air for Hearts Balloon Rally are holding another fun-filled weekend with hot air balloonists from Wisconsin and Minnesota who come to participate in the Hot Air Balloon Rally for Charity.
People from all over the Midwest attend this event, which raises money for the Cable Area Lions Heart Benefit. Weather permitting, crew members help the balloonists set up and take down balloons and may ride along with the pilots during the flights. Flights are scheduled mornings and afternoons on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (morning only) and will fly as often as the weather permits.
“The balloons can’t always go up daily due to weather,” said Jill H. volunteer crew member, “but when you get to fly the views are incredible.” In addition to the balloon flights, a “glow” is scheduled in front of Lakewoods Resort after dark. On Saturday night, guests in the dining room and spectators alike are treated to a fantastic view of Lake Namakagon and the 7 story high balloons lit up from the inside like giant luminary candles.
This charity event is great for the family and is a fantastic way to get out and enjoy the new snow this winter. All the colors of the balloons and racers make for a fun and festive atmosphere and both are very exciting to watch. Registration starts at 8am. Full details are available on the Lakewoods Resort website!
U.S. 63 is the main way to Cable, northeast of Hayward and southwest of Ashland.
Start:
March 18, 2016
End:
March 20, 2016
Venue:
Lakewoods Resort
Phone:
715-794-2561
Address:
21540 County Road M, Cable, WI, 54821, United States
The RV and Boat Show Main Event in Oshkosh, right at the EAA AirVenture Museum, offers nearly 100,000 square feet of RV’s, Boats, Golf Carts, Campgrounds, and more in heated buildings.
Whether you are shopping for a new travel trailer, fifth wheel, motor home, speed boat, fishing boat, pontoon boat, or just want to see what’s out there and collect information about RV rentals, campgrounds, golf carts, boating or docks, this show will surprise you with a wide variety to choose from!
The RV and Boat Show runs Friday, March 4th from noon-9pm, Saturday, March 5th from 10am-8pm, and Sunday, March 6th from 11am-4pm. There’s also the Hops ‘N Props event there Friday night!
Admission is $5; seniors (62 and over) $4; children 17 & under free. Admission is valid all weekend. Also, proof of paid admission to this show gets you half off admission to the EAA AirVenture Museum! Full details are available at their website.
To get to Oshkosh and experience the RV and Boat Show, take I-41, U.S. 45, or Highways 21, 26, 44, 76, or 91. The event is right along I-41 between the exits for Highway 26 and for Highways 44/91.
Start:
March 4, 2016 12:00 pm
End:
March 6, 2016 4:00 pm
Venue:
EAA AirVenture Museum
Phone:
920-676-7903
Address:
3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, WI, 54902, United States
Beer has a long, illustrious history as the centerpiece of many parties and events, especially here in Milwaukee. With this in mind, the Milwaukee Public Museum on Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee will open its doors after hours and add another chapter to that story. The Milwaukee Public Museum’s 18th Annual Food & Froth Fest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 from 7 – 10 p.m.
Food & Froth will feature over 200 different beers from more than 70 breweries, including Midwest treasures such as Summit Brewing Co., which is making its Food & Froth debut, and international favorites like Germany’s Krombacher Brauerei. Nibble on tasty bites from Screamin’ Sicilian frozen pizza, sampling a fully loaded pizza perfect for pairing with beer, as well as many other treats from local restaurants and caterers. Additionally there will be live music on all three exhibit floors, including a performance by The Whiskey Belles.
Food & Froth tickets are $75 for members and $125 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include 5:30 p.m. entrance into the special VIP room filled with exclusive craft beers, a smorgasbord of unlimited savories and sweets, and 6:00 p.m. early entry into the event.
Tickets are available by calling (414) 278-2728 or (888) 700-9069 during museum hours. Admission fee covers all food, beer and live entertainment. You must be at least 21 years of age to attend, and a valid identification and ticket are required for entrance into the event.
The Milwaukee Public Museum is right along U.S. 18 (Wells Street) in downtown Milwaukee, within blocks of I-43, I-94, the south end of Highway 145, and also close to Highway 32 (Broadway/Milwaukee Street), Highway 38 (5th/6th Street south of downtown), Highway 59 (National Avenue), and I-794.
Start:
February 20, 2016 7:00 pm
End:
February 20, 2016 10:00 pm
Venue:
Milwaukee Public Museum
Phone:
414-278-2728
Address:
800 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, United States
The second smallest county in Wisconsin hosts one of the last FREE county fairs in the Midwest. The 157th edition of the Ozaukee County Fair takes place August 3-6, 2016 at Fireman’s Park in Cedarburg.
Plenty of animals, exhibits, rides, and more punctuate this fair. They have some great musical acts too, including the Charlie Daniels Band for Friday night, August 5th!
The Ozaukee County Fair can be found along Washington Avenue in Cedarburg, just south of Highway 60, just east of Highway 181, and a few miles west of I-43 and Highways 32 & 57.
Last minute shopping deals, entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, food and even Santa! Join the fun throughout downtown Hartford, where the deals get better as the night goes on… and it does last until midnight!
In addition to the specials offered by the merchants, there are crafters and vendors to help you with those last-minute holiday gifts. And at the main corner of Highways 60 and 83, you’ll find a State Trunk Tour favorite, The Mineshaft – Wisconsin’s largest restaurant.
To celebrate the coming “holidaze”, Eau Claire’s Holidaze Arts Festival – which has been around for 26 years – will feature over 100 quality fine art and crafts exhibitors each fairing hand made goods that make for good shopping for yourself or someone on your list. It takes place in downtown Eau Claire, where there’s plenty else to do, Friday afternoon November 20th into the evening and all day Saturday, November 21st.
Get the full lineup of artists and activities at their website, Holidazearts.com.
I-94, U.S. 12 & 53, and Highways 37 and 93 bring you to Eau Claire!
Start:
November 20, 2015 3:00 pm
End:
November 21, 2015 4:00 pm
Venue:
The Linsmore Hotel
Phone:
715-832-6942
Address:
333 Gibson Street, Eau Claire, WI, 54701, United States
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events
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.
June 24, 2016 – June 25, 2016
Villa Louis Behind the Scenes – June
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!
June 23, 2016 – June 26, 2016
Verizon IndyCar Series Road America Grand Prix / Pirelli World Challenge
The Verizon IndyCar Series Road America Grand Prix takes center stage as an international lineup of drivers will have their chance to battle it out for glory on one of the world’s most majestic road courses. They will be joined by the Pirelli World Challenge featuring many of the world’s top sports cars and drivers in an all out wheel-to-wheel battle consisting of six classes headlined by separate GT and GTS races. The Porsche GT Cup class will run alongside the GT and GT-A class cars over the course of the weekend. The Pirelli World Challenge consists of seven classes offering a competitive slot for nearly every sports car and sports sedan available. Races are run in a timed, sprint format from start to finish and begin with the series’ trademark standing start. With door-to-door racing, no scheduled pit stops, driver changes and classes running together, it’s like watching the intensity of the final lap, every lap.
You’ll find Road America along Highway 67, just north of Highway 23 and Plymouth and just west of Highway 57 in Sheboygan County.
May 20, 2016 – May 21, 2016
Villa Louis Behind the Scenes – May
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!
April 23, 2016
Craft Brews & Chicago Blues Festival at The Ridge in Lake Geneva
The Ridge in Lake Geneva combines two greats: craft beer and Chicago Blues! This event will feature unlimited sampling of craft beer from around the US, live blues music and concessions from 1-5pm Saturday, April 23rd at the Ridge Hotel along Highway 50 in Lake Geneva – U.S. 12 and Highway 67 are nearby, too. There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Lakeland Animal Shelter. Check out the details at their website here!
April 22, 2016 – April 24, 2016
Cajun Music & Dance Weekend
Head to Dodgeville and enjoy authentic Cajun music from visiting LA artists along with music and dance workshops. Cajun food and nightly dances with live bands. This event takes place at Folklore Village, a nationally recognized folk arts and culture center dedicated to enriching lives through time-honored traditions.
Since 1968, thousands of people of all ages have come to Folklore Village to gather with friends, meet new people, to eat, dance, sing and play. Come study with a master fiddler… sing with a gospel choir… dance until midnight… learn to spin wool… feast on jambalaya… join a back porch jam session… plant prairie flowers… or picture yourself as a student in a real 1890 schoolhouse… pass it on.,
Get the full schedule for this Cajun music and dance weekend at their website here. U.S. 18 & 151 and Highway 23 bring you to Dodgeville, the seat of Iowa County.
April 1, 2016
“First Fridays” at the Cedarburg Cultural Center featuring Comfort Shag
“First Fridays” will provide an opportunity for families to come together to partake in an artistic experience, including unique educational elements for youth ranging from artist-led crafts to hands-on musical experiences. Guests are greeted with an opening band featuring local musicians at 6:00 pm. Dinner will be available for purchase from food trucks, as well as indoors from “After Party” Sponsor, The Stilthouse Restaurant. Other activities include a local handmade art show, kid’s crafts, dancing, cash bar and good times. At 7:00pm, the lights go down and the party turns up as the main act, Comfort Shag, takes the stage for two hours. The Center’s full cash bar and dance floor will multiply the fun. This exciting series is free of charge to members of the Cultural Center and children under 5. Non-member general admission is $5 at the door. Full details can be found on the Cedarburg Cultural Center website.
Historic downtown Cedarburg can be reached via Washington Avenue, which is Historic Highway 57. Today’s Highway 57, as well as Highways 60, 167, and 181, come close. I-43/Highway 32 is also a few miles to the east and you can access Cedarburg via County C (Exit 89).
March 19, 2016
Bull Falls Brewery Bock Fest
This is a great time to check out the Bull Falls Brewery just southeast of central Wausau!
The Bull Falls Bock Fest will kick off at 1pm on Saturday, March 19th immediately following the 8th Annual Bull Falls Brewery Never Forgotten Honor Flight 5K Run/Walk. It will begin with the ceremonial tapping of the 2015 Bull Falls Bock Lager, their traditional full-bodied dark bock lager beer. Beginning at 1pm there will be music in the Biergarten by Led West and great food provided by local American Legion Post 10.
Their crack Karmel Kaiser staff will be assisting customers who want their beer caramelized with a red hot poker by the fire! It’s an outdoor event, so dress for the weather! This will be a well-attended event, snow or shine. All proceeds for this event will be donated to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight.
Updated details are available on the Bull Falls Brewery website. You’ll find the brewery southeast of downtown Wausau, just east of Business U.S. 51. I-39, U.S. 51, and Highways 29 and 52 all bring you to Wausau.
National Quilt Day in Kenosha
In conjunction with the Southport Quilters Guild Annual Members Quilt Show, the Guild will sponsor activities at the Kenosha Public Museum in downtown Kenosha’s HarborPark District.
The Kenosha Public Museum is a natural sciences and fine and decorative arts museum with over 80,000 collections, including 1,200 works in fine arts. Exhibit programming includes mammoths, world cultures, Native Americans, zoology, geology, fossils, and fine and decorative arts.
For National Quilting Day, here’s the schedule:
9am-Noon – Quilting Workshop with Kathy Tracy of Country Lane Quilts. Please contact the Museum at 262-653-4140 to find out if space is still available.
10am-5pm – “Scrappy Days are Here Again!” and “Pieces of Poetry” quilt challenge by Southport Quilters Guild members on display in DaimlerChrysler Hall
10:30am-1:30pm – Quilting demonstrations by members of the Guild and family activities
2pm – “A Little History of Quilting” presentation by Kathy Tracy . The presentation takes you through different periods in American history showing examples of quilts with different styles and techniques. It includes a PowerPoint presentation, a trunk show of quilts from her books, and time for questions. Free tickets will be available the day of the presentation beginning at 10am. Seating is limited – first come, first served.
The Kenosha Public Museum can be accessed by taking Highways 32, 50, or 158 into the city’s HarborPark District, which sits right along Lake Michigan on the east side of downtown. Make a day of it and check out everything else down there!
March 18, 2016 – March 20, 2016
Hot Air for Hearts Balloon Rally
Organizers of the Lakewoods’ Hot Air for Hearts Balloon Rally are holding another fun-filled weekend with hot air balloonists from Wisconsin and Minnesota who come to participate in the Hot Air Balloon Rally for Charity.
People from all over the Midwest attend this event, which raises money for the Cable Area Lions Heart Benefit. Weather permitting, crew members help the balloonists set up and take down balloons and may ride along with the pilots during the flights. Flights are scheduled mornings and afternoons on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (morning only) and will fly as often as the weather permits.
“The balloons can’t always go up daily due to weather,” said Jill H. volunteer crew member, “but when you get to fly the views are incredible.” In addition to the balloon flights, a “glow” is scheduled in front of Lakewoods Resort after dark. On Saturday night, guests in the dining room and spectators alike are treated to a fantastic view of Lake Namakagon and the 7 story high balloons lit up from the inside like giant luminary candles.
This charity event is great for the family and is a fantastic way to get out and enjoy the new snow this winter. All the colors of the balloons and racers make for a fun and festive atmosphere and both are very exciting to watch. Registration starts at 8am. Full details are available on the Lakewoods Resort website!
U.S. 63 is the main way to Cable, northeast of Hayward and southwest of Ashland.
March 4, 2016 – March 6, 2016
RV & Boat Show, Oshkosh
The RV and Boat Show Main Event in Oshkosh, right at the EAA AirVenture Museum, offers nearly 100,000 square feet of RV’s, Boats, Golf Carts, Campgrounds, and more in heated buildings.
Whether you are shopping for a new travel trailer, fifth wheel, motor home, speed boat, fishing boat, pontoon boat, or just want to see what’s out there and collect information about RV rentals, campgrounds, golf carts, boating or docks, this show will surprise you with a wide variety to choose from!
The RV and Boat Show runs Friday, March 4th from noon-9pm, Saturday, March 5th from 10am-8pm, and Sunday, March 6th from 11am-4pm. There’s also the Hops ‘N Props event there Friday night!
Admission is $5; seniors (62 and over) $4; children 17 & under free. Admission is valid all weekend. Also, proof of paid admission to this show gets you half off admission to the EAA AirVenture Museum! Full details are available at their website.
To get to Oshkosh and experience the RV and Boat Show, take I-41, U.S. 45, or Highways 21, 26, 44, 76, or 91. The event is right along I-41 between the exits for Highway 26 and for Highways 44/91.
February 20, 2016
Food & Froth at the Milwaukee Public Museum
Beer has a long, illustrious history as the centerpiece of many parties and events, especially here in Milwaukee. With this in mind, the Milwaukee Public Museum on Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee will open its doors after hours and add another chapter to that story. The Milwaukee Public Museum’s 18th Annual Food & Froth Fest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 from 7 – 10 p.m.
Food & Froth will feature over 200 different beers from more than 70 breweries, including Midwest treasures such as Summit Brewing Co., which is making its Food & Froth debut, and international favorites like Germany’s Krombacher Brauerei. Nibble on tasty bites from Screamin’ Sicilian frozen pizza, sampling a fully loaded pizza perfect for pairing with beer, as well as many other treats from local restaurants and caterers. Additionally there will be live music on all three exhibit floors, including a performance by The Whiskey Belles.
Food & Froth tickets are $75 for members and $125 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include 5:30 p.m. entrance into the special VIP room filled with exclusive craft beers, a smorgasbord of unlimited savories and sweets, and 6:00 p.m. early entry into the event.
Tickets are available by calling (414) 278-2728 or (888) 700-9069 during museum hours. Admission fee covers all food, beer and live entertainment. You must be at least 21 years of age to attend, and a valid identification and ticket are required for entrance into the event.
Proceeds benefit the Museum’s exhibits and educational programs. Get all the details here!
The Milwaukee Public Museum is right along U.S. 18 (Wells Street) in downtown Milwaukee, within blocks of I-43, I-94, the south end of Highway 145, and also close to Highway 32 (Broadway/Milwaukee Street), Highway 38 (5th/6th Street south of downtown), Highway 59 (National Avenue), and I-794.
January 16, 2016
Ozaukee County Fair
The second smallest county in Wisconsin hosts one of the last FREE county fairs in the Midwest. The 157th edition of the Ozaukee County Fair takes place August 3-6, 2016 at Fireman’s Park in Cedarburg.
Plenty of animals, exhibits, rides, and more punctuate this fair. They have some great musical acts too, including the Charlie Daniels Band for Friday night, August 5th!
The Ozaukee County Fair can be found along Washington Avenue in Cedarburg, just south of Highway 60, just east of Highway 181, and a few miles west of I-43 and Highways 32 & 57.
Check their website for all the latest updates.
January 1, 2016
Polar Bear Swim – Sheboygan
1pm. New Year’s Day. The shores of Lake Michigan at Deland Park in Sheboygan. Your body. The water. Are you ready??
Highways 23, 28, and 42 all bring you into Sheboygan from I-43.
Get all the details from Visit Sheboygan!
December 18, 2015
Downtown Hartford Midnight Madness
Last minute shopping deals, entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, food and even Santa! Join the fun throughout downtown Hartford, where the deals get better as the night goes on… and it does last until midnight!
In addition to the specials offered by the merchants, there are crafters and vendors to help you with those last-minute holiday gifts. And at the main corner of Highways 60 and 83, you’ll find a State Trunk Tour favorite, The Mineshaft – Wisconsin’s largest restaurant.
Check the Downtown Hartford website for complete updates!
November 20, 2015 – November 21, 2015
Holidaze Arts Festival
To celebrate the coming “holidaze”, Eau Claire’s Holidaze Arts Festival – which has been around for 26 years – will feature over 100 quality fine art and crafts exhibitors each fairing hand made goods that make for good shopping for yourself or someone on your list. It takes place in downtown Eau Claire, where there’s plenty else to do, Friday afternoon November 20th into the evening and all day Saturday, November 21st.
Get the full lineup of artists and activities at their website, Holidazearts.com.
I-94, U.S. 12 & 53, and Highways 37 and 93 bring you to Eau Claire!