2015 Darn Good Getaways - Looking Ahead

A few suggestions by Gary Knowles

JANUARY
(TBD - Maybe) Apostle Islands Ice Caves - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Office. (715) 779-3397
www.nps.gov/apis/
(Dates TBD) Bayfield to Madeline Island Iceroad & Windsled drive across Lake Superior on the 2.25
mile ice road and/or ride the windsled (715) 747-5400 - www.madelineisland.com or www.bayfield.org
9-11, 15-18 Eagle River - Start your engines! AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby 52nd
World Championship Snowmobile Derby January 15-18 and racing action will begin a weekend earlier
(Jan. 9th-11th) with the Vintage World Championships featuring some 1000 sleds built in the 1960s and
70s. Of course theres shopping at snow markets, great food, trail rides and impressive award
ceremonies! PH: 715-479-4424; http://www.derbytrack.com
16 -17 Prairie du Sac - Bald Eagle Watching Days Bald Eagle Watching
Days -- youre sure to see at least one flying overhead. Eagle watching can be found along the Wisconsin
River from the hydroelectric dam through Prairie du Sac down to Sauk City. Other events, including a live
bird of prey show and fun kids activities, will take place during the weekend.PH: 800-683-2453 or 608643-4168; www.ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org

FEBRUARY
(TBD Maybe) Apostle Islands Ice Caves - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Office. (715) 779-3397
www.nps.gov/apis/
(Dates TBD) Bayfield to Madeline Island Iceroad & Windsled drive across Lake Superior on the 2.25
mile ice road and/or ride the windsled (715) 747-5400 www.madelineisland.com or www.bayfield.org
20 - American Birkeibiner This is the largest cross country ski marathon in North America Cable to
Hayward - www.birkie.com/ PH: 715-634-5025

MARCH
7 Return to the Klondike Days Eagle River celebrate the great traditions of the Northwoods. The
Klondike Days festival includes chainsaw carving contests, lumberjack competition and a horse log-pull
challenge. Add a craft show, snowshoe races, Native American exhibits, food and live music and youll
experience the best of the Good Old Days! PH: 715-891-2679; www.klondikedays.org

APRIL
10-12 River Falls Bluegrass Festival -. Hear some of the finest national, regional and local bluegrass,
roots, and Cajun music at popular venues in the historic Main Street District. The music begins at 5pm
Friday and continues to Sunday afternoon. www.RiverFallsBluegrass.com PH: 715-425-2533
16-18 MADISON The UW Band Annual Spring Concert The University of Wisconsin Varsity Band's
Annual Spring Concert started 40 years ago and played to some 450 family, friends and fans. It was so
popular that it has grown into a three-night extravaganza with professional staging, lighting, sound and
pyrotechnics. Professor Michael Leckrone is a showman and has conducted dangling from a trapeze,
flying in on a jet-pack and cruising on a magic carpet- The Kohl Center, 601 West Dayton St. Tickets sell
quickly so order early to get a seat for this razzle-dazzle, over-the-top musicalooza. PH: 608-265-4120
http://badgerband.com/

MAY
8-10 Listen to the Birdies Sing! Horicon Horicon Marsh Bird Festival May 8-10 bring your binoculars
and discover Mother Natures Original Tweeters! Bird lovers know that this is the peak time for the spring
bird migration and this festival is the perfect time to observe more than 300 species of birds. Theres a
birding bus, a boat tour, bring your bicycle or hoof it on a hiking tours. And when the sun goes down join
one of the exciting night sounds tours. PH: 920-210-4663 or www.horiconmarshbirdfestival.com
Bob Fest Spring Green (Likely May 24) head over to the back yard of the family-friendly Spring
Green General Store in Spring Green, Wisconsin, for a day-long free concert featuring the songs of that
famous Minnesota poet, Bob Dylan. Dozens of singers gather to do their finest covers of Blowin in the
Wind, The Times They Are A-Changin It Aint Me Babe, Like a Rolling Stone and dozens more.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket. PH: 608-588-7070 www.SpringGreenGeneralStore.com

JUNE
6-7 Visit Wisconsin State Parks, Use Trails - Free
Have you ever seen the shinning Mississippi River from Wyalusing State Park? Have you dipped your toe
in Lake Superior at Big Bay on Madeline Island? Have you heard the thunder the Big Manitou Falls at
Pattison Park? Theres no better time than June 6-7 to explore all of Wisconsins great state parks as it is
Free Open House Weekend at all State Parks and Trails. No vehicle admission stickers are required. To
celebrate, many parks plan special events and some even offer refreshments. PH: 608-266-2621;
http://dnr.wi.gov
18-21 Meet the Skinners! Prairie Villa Rendezvous Prairie du Chien
In the mid-1800s one of the biggest and most exciting gatherings of the year along the Upper Mississippi
River was the annual Rendezvous of fur-traders, buckskinners, Native Americans, settlers and pioneer
merchants at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. This community near the juncture of two major highways of
the time, the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, played host to this trading event and celebration. Today,
June18-21 visitors get a chance to step back in time and experience a frontier festival as it was in the
1840s. Shop for muskrat pelts, trader beads, dream catchers, leather crafts or pioneer provisions. Taste
Kettle Corn, Skinner Stew or Maple Sugar Candy. Watch hatchet throwing exhibitions, black powder
shooting and frontier craft demonstrations. Its the largest buckskinner and fur trade re-enactment in the
Midwest. PH: 800-732-1673 www.prairieduchien.org

JULY
11-12 Art Fair on and Off the Square Madison www.MMOCA.org 608.257.0158
16-19 - The Hawk Brian Redman Vintage Auto Races at Road America and Friday & Saturday Street
Concours (free) in Elkhart Lake PH:800-365-7223 www.elkhartlake.com
http://www.roadamerica.com/buy-tickets/the-hawk-with-brian-redman-vintage-cars.html
20-26 Oshkosh - EAA AirVenture Salutes Apollo 13 with Jim Lovell & Gene Kranz Apollo 13
mission to the Moon. Commander Jim Lovell and flight director Gene Kranz will be on hand at the 2015
AirVenture Exact schedule To be determined- www.airventure.org or PH: 1-800-564-6322

AUGUST
10-16 Kohler PGA Championship Golf Tournament - http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/ PH920457-4977

SEPTEMBER
12 - Fire Up the Llamas! Hammond, WI - Wisconsin is known for its creative festivals so the folks in
Hammond took Spains Running of the Bulls and mashed it up with cute, lovable, wooly llamas to create
The Running of the Llamas Festival on Sept.12 . Visitors watch a dozen llamas run down the main street
to the finish line. The winners prize? A tasty basket of vegetables! To make everyone happy, therell be
an Alpaca run too. The competition kicks off with a llama parade featuring unicyclists, hula-hoopers and
kids donning their best llama costumes. Later stick around for the Ribfest. PH: 715-796-2330;
www.therunningofthellamas.com

OCTOBER
Sept 29- Oct 3 - The World Dairy Expo - Madison - Wisconsin has long been known as Americas
Dairyland. The dairy industry contributes more than $26.5 Billion to the states economy, so its no
surprise that the World Dairy Expo (WDE) attracts thousands of people from around the world to catch up
on trends and new developments. The annual event is a five day showcase for the finest in dairy genetics
and the newest technologies available to the dairy industry. WDE celebrates cows and all they do. Visit
the Alliant Energy Center to meet the mooers hear all about new dairy developments. Everyone is
welcome! PH: 608-224-6455; www.worlddairyexpo.com
2-4 Applefest - Bayfield - Recognized as one of the Top Ten Autumn Festivals in North America by the
Society of American Travel Writers, Bayfields Apple Festival is October 2-4, 2015 . Some 60 orchards
surround Bayfield in the hills around Lake Superior, many offer tours and come to town to sell fruit by the
bushel. Sample apple cider, apple pie, apple brats or sweet caramel apples. Catch a ferry ride to lovely
Madeline Island, take a cruise see to the Apostles Lighthouses and enjoy an evening boat parade. The
event wraps up with a parade on Sunday featuring a spectacular 400 person marching band. Wisconsin
Trails readers called it The Best Festival in Wisconsin and its one you wont soon forget. PH: 800-4474094; www.bayfield.org

NOVEMBER
19 Prairie du Sac - "Ruby Nouveau Release Day" at Wollersheim Winery is the first taste of the new
harvest! Reflecting the French tradition of releasing the new vintage the third Thursday in November,
Winemaker Philippe Coquard taps the Ruby Nouveau 2015 barrel. Everyone is invited to join in a
celebratory toast. No admission fee. www.Wollersheim.com PH: 800-847-9463 PH: (608) 643-6515

DECEMBER
(Check for exact dates) Bayfield - Wassail Holiday Dinner Concerts at Rittenhouse Inn
Tis the season for carolers, delicious meals and, of course, figgy pudding. Experience all three at the
Wassail Holiday Dinner Concerts. The Rittenhouse singers perform in the dining rooms, hallways and
accompany dinner during this special event. So practice your best tunes and sing along! Reservations
required. PH: 888-611-4667; www.rittenhouseinn.com
31 Plymouth - The Big Cheese Drop Get cheesy this New Years Eve with the Plymouth Arts Center!
The star of the evening will be the "The Big Cheese Drop," adding a tasty twist to the infamous Times
Square ball drop. The countdown to 2015 will be taking place in the parking lot right next to the Arts
Center. 920-892-8409; www.plymoutharts.org
31 Prairie du Chien - Droppin of the Carp A wacky Wisconsin event you dont want to miss.
Celebrate the new year by watching a 30-pound frozen carp drop from 100 feet in the air. At the stroke of
midnight, spectators will watch in awe as Lucky takes a plunge to welcome in 2015. Beforehand, Lucky
sits atop a throne, and folks can kiss the fish for good luck. Carp-goers can also enjoy a bonfire,
entertainment, carp piata and more. 800-732-1673; www.carpfest.org
31 La Crosse - Skyrockers New Years Eve Fireworks Show See an incredible display of fireworks
on New Years Eve when the La Crosse Skyrockers launches its annual show from atop Grandads Bluff.
Hourly countdown salutes begin at noon, followed by a 10-minute show at 6 p.m., perfect for the little ones
who wont stay up until midnight. The real show begins promptly at midnight. Ring in the New Year while
enjoying this spectacular display.
800-658-9424; www.skyrockers.org