Category Archives: Festivals

Festivals in west-central Wisconsin celebrate: butter, cranberries, apples, Norwegian independence, beer, every fruit and squirrel imaginable.

2010 Festivals & Events Within One Hour of Justin Trails Resort

Festivals begin in mid-May with the Syttende Mai in Westby and continue every weekend in at least one town within an hour’s drive of Justin Trails Resort until the end of Oktoberfest in La Crosse. Butterfest in Sparta, Cornfest in Holmen, Sunfish Days in Onalaska and Trempealeau, Gasoline Alley Days in Tomah, Cranfest in Warrens, Applefest in Gays Mills and La Crescent, MN, Fall Festival in Cashton. Each community chooses a queen and royalty, grills delicious food outdoors, listens to the local high school marching band, watch horses strut and view floats decorated by local organizations, cheer the clowns, kids race for tossed candy, bargain hunters revel in the flea market, and vendors sell their wares. Wisconsin Festivals are safe, friendly places to enjoy a relaxing weekend.
Musicals and Arts & Crafts fill winter weekends.

2010 Festivals & Events

May 2010
May 14-16: Syttende Mai-Norwegian festival celebrates the “17th of May.” (Norwegian Independence Day) Arts & crafts, flea market, Norwegian smorgasbord, music, quilt auction, baking, stage show, auto & truck show, and more Westby, WI 608-634-4627.

June 2010

June 4,5 & 6: June Dairy Days – A kick-off breakfast, carnival, live music and dancing, clowns, dairy tents, big wheel races, petting barn, stage coach rides and speedway racing. West Salem Village Park.

June 10-13: Butterfest -Carnival, live entertainment, arts and crafts exhibits, music, food booths, quilt show and classic car show. Parade on Sunday. Sparta Memorial Park, 608-269-4123

June 19 & 20: Midsummer Fest-Celebrate the summer solstice Scandinavian style with entertainment, refreshments, wagon rides, demonstrations, gift shop and more. 10a.m.-4p.m. Norskedalen, Coon Valley. 608-452-3424. www.norskedalen.org

July 2010

July 2-6: Great River Jazz Fest- river activities, top name entertainment and continuous events highlight this family festival on the Mississippi River. Fireworks, food, beverage tent, crafts, live music and dance. La Crosse Riverside Park, 608-784-7575.

July 17: Karner Blue Butterfly Festival- Downtown Black River Falls. 1-800-404-4008. www.downtownblackriverfalls.com

July 13-18: La Crosse Interstate Fair-La Crosse Interstate Fairgrounds, West Salem, WI. Carnival, livestock, 4-H judging exhibits, food, auto races, live entertainment. 608-786-1525 or 786-5506. www.lacrosseinterstatefair.com.

July 17: Rail Fair- Railroad show, flea market, swap meet, buy-sell-trade, model and toy trains. Railroadiana, exhibits and displays. Copeland Park, 608-780-2543 www.4000foundation.com

July 24-25 Kickapoo Country Fair held at Organic Valley headquarters near La Farge, WI. www.organicvalley.coop/kickapoo.

July 30-31st: Prairie Dog Blues Fest – Prairie du Chien. 888-567-1567.

July 24 & 25 : Art Fair on the Green – UW-La Crosse. 608-788-7439

August 2010

August 5-8: Great River Jazz Fest-Featuring great music, on grounds food and beverage, after hours jam sessions and jazz liturgies. La Crosse, 608-791-1190, www.lacrossejazz.com

August 20-22: Holmen Kornfest-Corn on the cob, music, carnival, fun run, bingo, tractor pull, parade on Saturday, fireworks display, Village Park, 608-526-4444.

August 21-22: Viroqua’s Annual Wild West Days-East of the Fairgrounds. 1800’s Boom Town, Civil War Reenactment, Fur Traders Rendezvous, Indian Village, Children’s Games, State Coach Rides and much more. www.wildwestdays.info

September 2010

September 15-19: Vernon County Fair- The last County Fair in Wisconsin each year boasts over 10,000 exhibit entries, a Super Large Midway, over 100 commercial exhibitors and a real Olde Fashioned County Fair atmosphere. Viroqua. www.vernoncountyfair.com

September 16-19: Applefest-Annual celebration of the apple industry. Orchard tours, live music, carnival rides, golf tournament, food, arts, crafts, flea market and Sunday parade. La Crescent, MN, 800-926-9480. www.applefestusa.com

September 25: Threshing Bee-Celebrate the harvest of old with many working farming and harvesting demonstrations, wagon rides, home-style meals (reservation required) and a buzz of activity surrounding rural life. 10 a.m.-4p.m., Norskadalen, Coon Valley, 608-452-3424. www.norskedalen.org

September 24-26: Cranberry Fest-Over 1,000 booths of arts and crafts, antique, flea and farmers’ markets. Warrens, WI 608-378-4200. www.cranfest.com

September 24-October 2: Oktoberfest- the best of family activities offered include the Grand Maple Leaf Parade and Torchlight Parade. Carnival rides, ethnic foods, authentic German entertainment, as well as local and regional country, pop, rock music and children’s acts. La Crosse north and south side fest grounds. 608-784-3378, www.oktoberfestusa.com

October 2010

October 9 &10: Civil War Heritage Weekend- Norskedalen, Coon Valley,608-452-3424.

October 23-24: Ghoulees in the Coulees- Haunted Halloween hike through the woods experiencing the man spook stations. Hot cider and treats at the end. Reservations required. Norskedalen, Coon Valley, 608-452-3424.

October : Jaycees Haunted House, Clearwater Farms, Onalaska. 608-792-9850

November 2010

November 6: Sparta Monroe County Historical Society Arts and Craft Show at Sparta Senior High School 506 N. Black River St. 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. 300 vendors. Joan Cook 608-269-3233

November: Annual Country Christmas Shopping Tour. Take a unique Christmas shopping trip at studios of artists & crafters from Liberty Pole to Genoa. Brochures/maps available at participating businesses. Contact Nora Soltau 60-675-3237 or 608-675-3565 .

November 25-December 31: Rotary Holiday Lights-More than a MILLION Holiday Lights illuminate La Crosse’s Riverside Park from 5-10p.m. daily. Among the splendor is a 140 foot Christmas tree and animated light displays that fill the park. Live nativity scene presentation for the first three weekends in December. Santa is here until Christmas Eve. 800-658-9424. View the beautiful light display reflected in the Mississippi River from Pettibone Park across the Cass Street Bridge to the island. www.rotarylights.org.

December 2010

December 1-31 Holiday lights continue

December: Holiday in the Park-Evans Bosshard Park, Hwy 16 & East Ave., Sparta. Rotary lights, entertainment, refreshments, over 125,000 lights on display. Visit with Santa.

December 31: Skyrockers New Year’s Eve Fireworks- From Grandad Bluff 6 p.m. & midnight

February 2011

February 9-10: Westby Snowflake Ski Jump.Starts at 11 a.m. Westby WI E7940 County Road P. 1-608-634-3211