Local Festivals & Activities
No small town is complete without a trademark festival and this area is home to some of the most interesting and entertaining. For more information about each festival/activity, please inquire in the office or visit the event website.
SEASON LONG
BIRCHWOOD
5-10 minute drive
Log Museum: The Log Museum holds a collection of logging memorabilia as well as a hand carved replica of a logging camp operation. The Morey house was originally built in 1901, and with many additions was finally completed in 1908. Howard Morey’s parents bought the house for $304.07. In 1924 Howard left Birchwood for Chicago to pursue his piloting career; three years later he began an airline shuttle service between Madison and Chicago. Over the next 40 years Howard Morey continued to make a significant difference in Wisconsin aviation, including training pilots for World War II. His home was donated to the Birchwood Historical Society in 1995. The home is undergoing restoration to return it to its original appearance and to preserve the memory of Howard Morey. Hours for both Museums are Memorial Day through Labor Day, Friday & Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm, or by appointment. ph. 715-354-7300. Admission is free.
Birchwood Area Historical Museum | Open Saturdays Memorial Day-Labor Day from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. Groups welcome. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. The Birchwood Area Log Museum houses a hand carved replica of an entire logging camp operation at the turn of the century. In addition to the logging camp replica, the museum also houses many logging camp artifacts, taped interviews of early settlers and more. The Morey house was originally built in 1901, and with many additions was finally completed in 1908. Howard Morey’s parents bought the house for $304.07. In 1924 Howard left Birchwood for Chicago to pursue his piloting career, three years later he began an airline shuttle service between Madison and Chicago. Over the next 40 years, Howard Morey continued to make a significant difference in Wisconsin aviation, including training pilots for World War II. His home was donated to the Birchwood Historical Society in 1995.
SARONA
15-20 minute drive
Perlick Distillery | Open all year round. The Perlick Family purchased a small farm in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in 1920. Five generations have now had the pleasure of working and cultivating the uncompromising soils set amongst the backdrop of Wisconsin’s picturesque forests, lakes, and streams. That same land and family now grow and distill the fine alcohols produced on the farm. Stop by the Distillery to sample their products, enjoy a cocktail, and purchase a bottle to take home and share with friends and family.Website: http://www.perlickdistillery.com/
RICE LAKE
20-25 minute drive
Music in the Park | Every Tuesday June – August (7pm). Bring your own chair! Golden Kiwanis Lunch Wagon will be serving popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream sundaes, coffee, and pop.
Red Barn Theatre | Memorial Day thru Labor Day. Celebrating over 50 years of productions, the Red Barn Theatre is located just 10 minutes from the Island.
Fireline Shooting Range | Open all year round. Northern Wisconsin’s premier indoor gun store, gun range and firearms training center.
SPOONER
25-30 minute drive
Spooner Train Rides | April through December. Choose a Veazie Springs Sightseeing Excursion (45 minutes) or a Pizza Train (noon on Saturdays, 90 minutes and includes pizza!). If trains tickle your fancy, then you will love to spend a day at the Railroad Memories Museum. Located within the old Chicago & Northwestern Train Depot, the museum is full of artifacts and memorabilia from railway history. The train excursions from Spooner to Trego feature a variety of activities and themes including, Hobo Night, Tony’s Riverside Pizza Train, Family Picnic Trains, the Spooner Rodeo Train Robbery and more. Reservations recommended.
Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum | Open May thru September. The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, located in Spooner, Wisconsin, United States, is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the canoe.
Railroad Memories Museum | Tours by appointment. The Spooner Depot was once hailed as the “finest passenger depot between Duluth and Chicago on the Omaha Railroad”. It had the largest roundhouse, a grand restaurant named “The Beanery”. The room displays of the Museum are housed in a part of that restaurant. The depot is a non-profit venture that is run entirely by volunteers who either have a history of working on the rails or have a love for railroads and the Spooner area.
SHELL LAKE
25-30 minute drive
Woodcarving Museum (Shell Lake) | The largest collection of woodcarvings in the world created by one man includes 100 life-sized carvings and 400 miniatures.
CHETEK
30-35 minute drive
Fish-O-Rama | During the fishing season, Chain of Lakes
From early May through mid-October, anglers by the thousands try their luck at catching one of more than 400 prize fish marked with $25, $50, $100 and $500 tags released in the waters of the Big Six Chain of Lakes. In 1999, 216 patient, intrepid, and lucky individuals reeled in winners, including 17 worth $500 each. Enjoy Fish-O-Rama, where every cast holds the possibility of catching a “big buck” worth $500 fish.
Website: http://explorechetek.com/fishorama/
Hydroflites Water Ski Show | Most Thursdays and Sundays
Proudly serving the community for over 20 years by instructing area youth and providing theatrical entertainment for the Chetek area! Join us this summer for spills & thrills and family fun!
Website: http://www.hydroflites.com/
HAYWARD
45-50 minute drive
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame |Open daily April 15 – October from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The museum includes a four-story tall musky with a mouth open so wide you (and your family!) can have your picture taken inside of it!
Website: http://www.freshwater-fishing.org/
Out of the Woods Winery | Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you appreciate locally-made alcoholic beverages, visit the Out of the Woods Winery. Napa-Style winery with tasting room and gift shop. All wines made on premises with grapes from California. Check out their new gourmet olive oil and balsamic tasting bar with over 20 products bottled on-site. Oils are cold pressed, not infused, for maximum freshness and purity.
Website: https://www.outofthewoodswinery.com/
Scheer’s Lumberjack Village | Open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Situated on a bay of Lake Hayward, Lumberjack Village is a delightful place to spend some family vacation time. Plan your visit around an afternoon or evening lumberjack show or just stop in to enjoy lunch or dinner. Play 18 holes of mini-golf then treat yourself to a double scoop at the Namakagon Cone. There’s plenty to do at Scheer’s Lumberjack Village.
Website: http://www.scheerslumberjackvillage.com/
Wilderness Walk | Open early May through Labor Day. This is a great place for kids. They have a wide variety of animals, mostly of the Northwood’s variety. Children are also able to pet and feed some of the animals. They also have other activities, such as mining for gold nuggets.
Website: http://www.wildernesswalkhaywardwi.com/
TURTLE LAKE
45-50 minute drive
Turtle Lake St Croix Casino | Open all year round. They’ve got everyone’s favorite games. Whether you try your luck on slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, or live poker, you’re always a winner at St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake. The St. Croix Chippewa of Wisconsin welcome 21 and older to play.
ANNUAL EVENTS BY MONTH
Also visit Travel Wisconsin’s website for more events and details! Visit https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events for more info.
JUNE
Aquafest Color Splash | Rice Lake
Color Splash is a family friendly 5k run/walk that focuses less on results and more on creating a fun, colorful experience with your friends and family. While participating in this fun run, you will get dusted with bursts of color along the course. No matter your age, speed, or method of making it to the finish line, you will be sure to have a blast at the Aquafest Color Splash event. 100% of the proceeds support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County and the Rice Lake Lion’s Club.
Website: https://www.aquafestonline.com/
Hungry Hollow Steam and Gas Engine Show | Rice LakeThe Hungry Hollow Steam and Gas Engine Club holds it’s annual show the last full weekend in June. We are now located on our own show grounds between Barron & Rice Lake, WI. We gather to bring the past into the present for the enjoyment of all.
Website: http://www.hungryhollowclub.com/
Spooner Family Festival | SpoonerSpend an afternoon with your family at the fun-filled family festival in Spooner. This event is completely free and includes family activities, entertainment, food, games, and more. Some of the fun includes a petting zoo, miniature train rides, face painting, craft projects and many other great activities.
Website: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events/fairs-festivals/family-festival-4091…
Musky Festival | HaywardThe weekend includes the crowning of the Musky Festival Queen, sidewalk sales, large handmade arts and crafts show, live music, children’s games, mouth-watering food booths, 5K Musky Run & Minnow Run, catch & release fishing contest, fishing photo contest, a carnival and large street dances. It’s a jam-packed weekend!
Website: http://www.muskyfest.com/
JULY
Biggest Little Parade | Mikana
In the summer of 1980, people were requested not to travel on the Fourth of July-due to gas shortages. The idea was to have a parade and Fourth of July celebration right in Mikana. Local businesses were consulted and the enthusiasm spread. Jeanne Wolff came up with the name of the parade, saying, “If we are going to have a parade, let’s have the biggest little parade in the world.”
Website: http://townofcedarlake.org/biggest-little-4th-of-july-parade/
Bluegill Festival | Birchwood
In 1963, two original Lions presented a plan to the club for holding an annual celebration in Birchwood to honor the abundant bluegills in this area. At that time, the Bluegill festival was born.
Website: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events/fairs-festivals/birchwood-bluegill-festival-38773
Barron County Fair | Rice Lake
The mission of the Barron County Fair Association is to provide for people of all ages opportunities to exhibit their talents or products and to enjoy and participate in entertaining, educational and affordable activities in a safe, wholesome environment.
Website: http://www.barroncountyfair.com/
Liberty Festival | Chetek
Celebrate liberty at Chetek’s annual Fourth of July extravaganza; five days of music, parades, food, slow pitch and horseshoe pitching tournaments, antique stock and modified car show, water ski shows, airplane rides, a “Fishy Four-Mile” run/walk, street dancing, and giant fireworks display.Website: http://www.cheteklibertyfest.org/
Spooner Rodeo | Spooner
Welcome this year to a very special edition of the legendary Spooner Rodeo. It’s our 63rd year in 2016! At Spooner Rodeo, fans always see the very best of today and tomorrow’s top competitors and our anniversary year will continue that wonderful tradition. For the fans there’s much of the same excitement – to watch, to take part in, to enjoy – great fun, great food, and great thrills at each performance of Spooner Rodeo.
Website: https://www.spoonerrodeo.com/
Lumberjack World Championships | Hayward
Began as a way to acknowledge the rich history of the logging industry across the United States this event has over 21 unique competitions and over 100 competitors that vie for more than $50,000 in prize money. It is a world-class event that’s fun for the whole family.
Website: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events/spectator-sports/lumberjack-world-ch…
Intercounty Fair | Turtle Lake
TL Fair sponsored by the Lions Club will be the second weekend of July full of food, rides, live music and family fun! Horse pulls, Tractor pulls, sheep/cattle shows, pancake breakfast, queen coronation, turtle races, Grand Parade on Sunday, Kid’s Costume Parade, and much more!
Website: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events/fairs-festivals/turtle-lake-inter-co…
Northern Wisconsin State Fair | Chippewa Falls
The fair’s mission is to provide up-to-date grounds and facilities that promote events and attractions enhancing the economic viability of our community.
Website: https://www.nwsfa.com/p/northern-wisconsin-state-fair
AUGUST
Haugen Fun Days | Haugen
Haugen Fun Days is a community event, hosted by the Bear Lake Haugen Fire Department. There is a band on Saturday night, food and drinks for sale, tractor pull, parade, raffle, and more fun events.
Website: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events/fairs-festivals/haugen-fun-days-4373…
Jack Pine Savage Days | SpoonerSports enthusiasts are big fans of Jack Pine… whether you’re a runner, love volleyball or beanbag tosses, you’re in your element at Jack Pine!
Website: http://jackpinesavagedays.com/
Chetek Crazy Days | ChetekCrazy Days is a great opportunity to check out the local businesses and their products while walking through downtown Chetek. Usually the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August.
Website: http://explorechetek.com/chetek-blog/2017/6/13/upcoming-events
Rutabaga Festival | CumberlandEvery small town in Wisconsin has its yearly festival with names certainly odd enough to be memorable. Cumberland’s “Rutabaga Festival” is no exception. It may sound as if the festival is a celebration of rutabaga, but actually, it is simply a celebration of the simple joys of summer fun for the entire community. It is a great opportunity for families to come together, do some shopping, listen to some amazing music and maybe even squeeze in a quick 12.4 mile run.
Website: http://www.cumberland-wisconsin.com/
Sawyer County Fair | HaywardWith over 400 exhibits, a demolition derby, Circuit Motocross, Trick Riding, carnival rides and live music this is a County Fair worth attending. The plethora of food booths, the celebrity cow milking contest, animal exhibits and free pony rides for the kids are just gravy.
Website: http://www.sawyercountyfair.org/
SEPTEMBER
Brill Harvest Festival | Brill
A September weekend of community fun and activities since 1975!Website: http://brillharvestdays.com/about
Chetek Harvest Fest | Chetek
The Harvest Fest features a chili and pie contest, art and craft sale, and an antique car and motorcycle show.
Website: http://explorechetek.com/community-events/2017/9/9/harvest-fest
Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival | Hayward
This bike race has become a force of nature since it began in 1983 with over 3000 riders competing in four events. Sunday includes a Kunker Bike Toss and a Children’s Bicycle Rodeo.
Website: http://www.cheqfattire.com/
Fall Festival | Hayward
This tradition of homemade Arts & Crafts, fall produce, live music and great food and drink is set against the beautiful autumn colors.
Website: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/events/fairs-festivals/hayward-fall-festiva…
Oktoberfest | Chippewa Falls
Bring your appetite, dancing shoes and relish in the festive weekend of fun!
Website: http://gochippewafalls.com/events/oktoberfest
OCTOBER
Stone Lake Cranberry Festival | Stone Lake
A one day event that hosts over 30,000 people for festivities and fun. Over 300 artisans, crafters, and food vendors will make sure it’s a day to remember.
Website: http://www.stonelakecranberryfestival.com/