By Kristine Hansen | Photo courtesy Summerfest
FUN FESTS
SUMMERFEST
Sept. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18, Milwaukee
The signature lakefront live music festival is split into three weekends this year instead of its normal 10-day run during the summer. Acts on its 11 stages include Chance the Rapper, the Dave Matthews Band, Megan Thee Stallion, Twenty One Pilots, Gabby Barrett and Sheryl Crow. Plus, there’s a kick-off concert event on Sept. 1. Food and drink options rival State Fair cuisine, so come hungry! summerfest.com
HARVEST FESTIVAL AND STREET ART AUCTION
Sept. 18, Sturgeon Bay
Along downtown Sturgeon Bay’s Third Avenue are a classic car show, live music and food booths in perfect pitch with fall’s pumpkin and apple harvest in nearby Door County. If you fall in love with any of the public art sculptures featuring a cherries theme (an ode to the county’s famed cherry crops) be sure to bid on it at the Cherries Jubilee auction. sturgeonbay.net
WARRENS CRANBERRY FESTIVAL
Sept. 24-26, Warrens
Did you know Wisconsin is the country’s top cranberry-producing state? Autumn is when these berries are harvested and celebrated in northern Wisconsin. Walk into a cranberry marsh (wearing waders), watch a parade, peruse the countless booths and enjoy cranberry-infused foods (cranberry cream puffs, anyone?). cranfest.com
OKTOBERFEST USA
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, La Crosse
Since 1961, this German-inspired fest has been in downtown La Crosse, making it the longest-running such festival in the Midwest. The traditional dress of dirndls (tight bodice dress with a gathered skirt) and lederhosens (leather shorts with suspenders) aren ́t required, but definitely encouraged! In need of more than a weekend of fun? Visit the website for more Oktoberfest-related events throughout September and October. oktoberfestusa.com
WINTER ART FAIR OFF THE SQUARE
Nov. 13-14, Madison
An offshoot of the summer’s Art Fair off the Square, this one shifts indoors to the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center and features 135 exhibiting artists representing mediums like photography, painting, woodworking, sculpture and jewelry — courtesy of artists like Lynette Redner (work pictured above). artcraftwis.org
OLD WORLD CHRISTMAS MARKET
Dec. 3-12, Elkhart Lake
Hosted at the sprawling Osthoff Resort on the shores of this town’s namesake lake, this authentic Christmas Market is modeled after those in Germany. Shop for handcrafted gifts like Czech blown- glass ornaments, paired with German fare such as schnitzel and glühwein. osthoff.com
LAKE SUPERIOR ICE FESTIVAL
Jan. 28-29, Superior
Stroll through this town hugging Lake Superior, the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes (1,332 feet in depth), and admire an array of stunningly crafted ice sculptures. Festival planners have some exciting ice-related activities planned for the 2022 event, including a snow slide. Visit the website for emerging details. lakesuperioricefestival.com
LAKE GENEVA WINTERFEST
Feb. 2-5, Lake Geneva
Instead of dinner cruises on a warm summer night, the town’s big draw
come winter are icicles and snow — and a hot-cocoa crawl — as part of Lake Geneva Winterfest. Another bonus: viewing the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship, which means you’re seeing only the best of the best in ice sculpting. visitlakegeneva.com/winterfest
EDITOR’S ART PICKS
“WASHED AWARE: ART TO SAVE THE SEA”
Through Sept. 26, daily, Green Bay
Blending stunning art with a conservation-minded message, this exhibition at the Green Bay Botanical Garden showcases eight water-dwelling animal sculptures (such as a parrot fish and river otter) crafted from the ocean’s trash. gbbg.org
NORTHWOODS ART TOUR
Oct. 8-10, Vilas, Iron, Lincoln and Oneida counties
Step into 38 Northwoods artist studios and galleries for a glimpse into Wisconsin’s creative minds, thanks to artist demos of their painting, sculpting, jewelry-making and other mediums, matched with stunning foliage that lights up rural backroads this time of year. northwoodsarttour.com
“AMERICANS IN SPAIN: PAINTING AND TRAVEL, 1820-1920”
Through Oct. 3 (Thursday-Sunday), Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Art Museum unites American Impressionist painters — like Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent — with Spanish Old Masters’ works on loan from Madrid’s Museo del Prado in this exhibition, showcasing how Spain served as a muse. mam.org
“TITANIC: THE WISCONSIN CONNECTION”
Through Oct. 13, Oshkosh
When the Titanic set sail in 1912, more than 50 people onboard were either from Wisconsin or were journeying to the state as immigrants. In-depth research about these passengers is unveiled at this exhibit at the Oshkosh Public Museum. More than 100 artifacts — including a $10 bill from a passenger that was returning to Merrill, Wisconsin — will be on display, many of which have never been publicly viewed. oshkoshmuseum.org
TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET WITH CYRUS CHESTNUT
Oct. 5, Eau Claire
Black jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and the Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island Quartet’s one-night performance at the Pablo Center at the Confluence proves the depth of their sound, from classic artists like Bach to Appalachian Mountain blues. pablocenter.org
“HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE” IN CONCERT WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Feb. 4-5, Madison
This family-friendly night at Overture Center screens the 2005 “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” film (based on J.K. Rowling’s 2000 novel), while a live orchestra performs Patrick Doyle’s accompanying score. madisonsymphony.org
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