Posts Tagged ‘Fitchburg’

Madison-area guide to Oktoberfests 2017

Sunday, September 3rd, 2017

beer-stein

While Oktoberfest doesn’t take over the entire City of Madison like it does in La Crosse, we do have our fair share of celebrations each September (and October). Here’s a look:

Event When, where Of Note
Thirsty Troll Brew Fest Sept. 9, Mt. Horeb How long can you hold a stein? Try the Masskrugstemmen contest.
Dogtoberfest Sept. 10, Capital Brewery A fundraiser for the Dane County Humane Society, complete with a dog costume contest.
OktoBEERfest Sept. 16, Breese Stevens Field Includes reindeer ring toss and a wine tent for some reason.
VRBC Oktoberfest Sept. 20, Quivey’s Grove This event is put on by the Verona Road Business Coalition and features beer from Wisconsin Brewing Co.
Fall Beer Taste Sept. 21, Downtown Sun Prairie Enjoy beer and cider from 26 businesses, plus roaming entertainment, in Sun Prairie.
Essen Haus Oktoberfest Sept. 23, Essen Haus Includes a brat-eating contest and a bier-drinking competition.
Gear and Beer Fest Sept. 24, East Side Club Buy, sell, and trade musical instruments, recording equipment and vinyl records while drinking beer.
Quivey’s Grove Beer Fest Oct. 7, Quivey’s Grove Includes live music and more than 100 beers to sample.

Summer bucket list 2017

Sunday, June 11th, 2017

steve-miller-band(This is an update of a previous blog post.)

When you live a northern state like Wisconsin, you have to really take advantage of the seemingly few warm days we have. Madison, like Milwaukee, Chicago and other nearby cities, really crams a lot of events together from May to September.

Here is a list of things I look forward to doing each summer in and around Madison:

  • Community festivals such as Verona Hometown Days
  • Dane County Farmers’ Market, followed by Bloody Marys at Genna’s (which is open at 10 a.m. Saturdays during Farmers’ Market)
  • Concerts on the Square
  • Bike Night at Quaker Steak
  • Boating on Lake Mendota (with a stop at Three-Foot Bay)
  • Tubing on the Sugar River (and hanging out afterward at Wisconsin Riverside Resort)
  • Concert at Breese Stevens Field
  • Memorial Union Terrace
  • Backyard concerts at Wisconsin Brewing Co.
  • Governor Nelson State Park
  • Golf outings (especially the Middleton Chamber’s)
  • Sand volleyball
  • Flea market at McGaw Park
  • Madison Mallards Duck Blind
  • Brewers tailgate
  • A double-feature at Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre
  • Live on King Street
  • Mad-City Ski Team show
  • Maxwell Street Days
  • Art Fair on the Square
  • Taste of Madison (and Taste of Madison judging)

What’s on your summer to-do list in Madison? Let us know in the comments section.

Madison-area community festivals 2017

Sunday, May 7th, 2017

Time again for my annual round-up of Madison-area community festivals, which begin next weekend. I can’t wait for the beer tents and live music!

Events Dates Of note
Syttende Mai (Stoughton) May 19-21 (This event is a week later than normal.) Is a marathon just a bit too long for you? Try the annual 20-mile run from downtown Madison to Stoughton. Also check out the strongman competition called the “Viking Games.”
Fitchburg Days May 19-21 Fitchburg Days allows us to celebrate our Irish heritage in Fitchburg. That means annual performances by both Pat McCurdy and The Kissers.
Verona Hometown Days June 1-4 Hometown Days always books great bands, and this year is no exception with local favorites 5th Gear and Cherry Pie. The big parade takes place on Sunday.
Fireman’s Festival (Cottage Grove) June 15-18 This festival has a little bit of everything, from a craft fair to the Smokin’ Hot BBQ contest to a horse pull. Big coup to land Madison County as a headliner.
Oregon Summer Fest June 22-25 See cars from all decades in the annual car show, and enjoy ribs and BBQ chicken at the Oregon-Brooklyn Lions Club “Thrilla on the Grilla.”
Cross Plains Worlds Fair TBD 2016 was likely the last year of this two-day event. No announcements have been made yet about this year’s version.
Monona Community Festival July 3-4 I’ve always enjoyed the hole-in-one challenge, which seems to be won with some frequency. And believe it or not, the festival hosts the annual Wisconsin Wife Carry Championship.
DeForest Area 4th of July Celebration July 3-4 Definitely the worst website of all the communities. Features a well-attended parade. Lots of free events, including a Kings of Radio concert and pony rides.
Waunafest July 27-30 Waunakee has such strong community spirit, which is why this event has the largest attendance … and also the largest beer tent. Be warned that parking can be difficult.
Sweet Corn Festival (Sun Prairie) Aug. 17-20 As the name implies, you can’t attend this event without eating some of the 75 tons of sweet corn. Since the event is at Angell Park, there will be midget car racing and a tractor pull.
Middleton Good Neighbor Festival Aug. 25-27 Here we are at the end of the summer festival schedule. Check out the huge craft fair and the parade on University Avenue. Still WAY TOO FEW porta-potties by the beer tent.

Note: I didn’t include the McFarland Family Festival since it takes place in the fall.

    Park Hotel Urban Air

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