Ongoing events and activities in Eagle River, Wausau/Central Wisconsin, Sportsman's Lodges, and Granite Peak Ski Area.

and some old, but nice features...

Eagle River Privy Parade, in 1998.

Ode to Christmas and El Nino, 1998.

Eagle River's Annual Ice Palace Goes Up Between Christmas & New Year's Each Year!

Ice Palace Construction and Ongoing Display in Eagle River, Wis. -- by Volunteer Fire Department and many other volunteers. A decades-long tradition in Eagle River. Built between Christmas and mid-January each year (weather permitting), Eagle River's Annual Ice Castle is now constructed by the Eagle River Area Fire Department and other volunteers. More than 2,600 eleven-inch blocks of ice are cut from Eagle River's Silver Lake and transported to downtown Eagle River; put together differently each time for a magnificent edifice. Back-lit at night in vivid colors. Fun to watch ice cut, castle construction, and then, Eagle River's Ice Palace stands all season long, into March (weather permitting).

Ice Castle is located RIGHT ON snowmobile trail that goes through Eagle River. For cool memories, snowmobilers, locals, and tourists have their pictures taken in front of Eagle River's unique Ice Castle! Excellent and historical pix available. Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center: 800-359-6315; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

*** Wausau/Central Wisconsin Ongoing Events:

-- May to August: State Park Speedway; Watch sno-cross ice oval races in the winter and late model and stock car racing on Thursdays from May to August. Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau:  888-948-4748, or 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web: www.visitwausau.com

-- Wisconsin Woodchucks Baseball Games:  Competition in the fourteen team Northwoods College League.  June through August at historical Athletic park. Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau: 888-948-4748, or 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web: www.visitwausau.com

-- Summer Concert Series;  Free admission. Organized at various locations in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area for an evening of summertime enjoyment. Series includes:  Concerts in the Clouds at the Rib Mountain State Park Amphitheatre.  Concerts in the Garden at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Concerts in the Park at the Marathon Park Band Shell.  Concerts at River park in Mosinee.  Concerts on the Square in downtown Wausau.
For information, dates and times of the various concerts: Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau:  888-948-4748, or 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web: www.visitwausau.com

-- Farmer's Markets: Mosinee Weekly Farmers Market. River Drive Farmers Market. River District Marketplace. Weston Farmers Market.  For information, dates, and times of the various farmers markets: Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau:  888-948-4748, or 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web: www.visitwausau.com

-- Seasonal Produce and Activities:  Many local growers, farms and orchards feature wonderful seasonal produce, gifts, sleigh rides, hayrides, antiques, petting zoo, walks, and handmade crafts. For a list of the wide variety of these offerings, information, location and dates of operation, contact: Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau:  888-948-4748, or 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web: www.visitwausau.com

 Granite Peak Ski Area, Wausau, Wisconsin Ongoing Events:

While waiting for the 2007-2008 ski and snowboard season, Granite Peak will host many warm-season special events, including weddings, as well as fall chairlift rides to view the colors and scenery from the top of Rib Mountain.  Contact Granite Peak at any time to discuss YOUR special warm-season plans and events. Visit SkiGranitePeak.com or call 715-845-2846.

Sportsman's Lodge and Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge on Lake of the Woods, Baudette, Minnesota Ongoing Events:  

Have walleye, will travel! Gregg Hennum and his Sportsman's Lodge crew do walleye feeds for corporate get-togethers, special events, celebrations, promotions, meetings and "happy times" of all sorts – they'll bring it to you!  Sportsman's Lodge and Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge, 3244 Bur Oak Rd., NW, Baudette, MN 56623; phone: 800-862-8602, or 218-634-1342; e-mail: sportsmans@mncable.net; web: www.sportsmanslodges.com

Contact info for each area: 
            
* Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

* Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau; phone:  888-948-4748; 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web: www.visitwausau.com.

* Sportsman's Lodge and Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge, Baudette, MN; phone: 800-862-8602, or 218-634-1342; e-mail: sportsmans@mncable.net; web: www.sportsmanslodges.com
            
* Granite Peak Ski Area at Wausau, Wisconsin: SkiGranitePeak.com or call 715-845-2846.  

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(Always check ahead for detail or schedule changes)

OLDIES BUT GOODIES...

(Old, but good)... Privy Parade, Vintage Vehicles, Historic Happenings & Class Parties on Tap For Eagle River's Week-Long All-School Reunion & Sesquicentennial Celebration August 8-15, 1998.

Note: This is an event that was held in 1998... a great story...
Privy Parade, Vintage Vehicles, Historic Happenings & Class Parties on Tap For Eagle River's Week-Long All-School Reunion & Sesquicentennial Celebration
Attendees Coming from All Over the World

A week-long "Chain of Events" will unfold in Eagle River Aug. 8-15 (1998), when former classmates of every age & grade will return to their "old-home-town" in northern Wisconsin for an All-School Reunion & Sesquicentennial Celebration.

To date, more than 500 participants, representing 60 different graduating classes, are coming from 32 states (including Alaska & Hawaii), Canada, and Germany. The oldest attendee will be 100 this year and the youngest will start school in 2002!

"There'll be "something special every day," say Sharon Benda, Tourism & Hospitality Coordinator, and Cathy McGinnis, Events Coordinator for the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. Events kick off on Aug. 7 & 8, with an Antique Show and "Portraits of Wisconsin" (an original sesqui-centennial play by Eagle River's 1998 Creative Writing Class); continue with multiple reunion activities through the week, includling the privy parade; & culminate with Vilas County's Annual Fair Aug. 13-16.

Individual classes will hold their own reunions on Sat., Aug. 8. The combined, "All School Homecoming" is Sun., Aug. 9, at the high school, with tours, teachers; music, lectures, formal program, and picnic lunch. On Aug. 10, Eagle River will dedicate its new Historical Museum at Trees for Tomorrow. Aug. 11 will have shopping & touring during the day, with the Privy and Old Car Parade scheduled for 7 p.m. in downtown Eagle River, followed by an "Old-Tyme Street Dance."

"The privy parade will include a series of privy floats by each class, pulled by vintage cars of the year they graduated," says Benda, herself a long-time Eagle resident and reunion participant. "I'll bet there's never been a parade like this," she smiles. "I've even searched the area for privies in case classes needed them; it's a subject of archaeological interest; I know everyone is going to have a lot of fun with this."

On Aug. 12, there'll be Native American storytelling and music at the Eagle River library, and old timers are invited to stop by and chat with visitors. Aug. 13 is the Downtown Business Association's Annual Sidewalk Sale and Aug. 14 is the "Homecoming Golf Outing." There'll be an art show and sale throughout the week; the 37th Annual Youth Days Auction will run Thurs. through Sat. (Aug. 13-15); and the County Fair runs Aug. 13-16.

We're also encouraging visitors to tour our historical boathouses and buildings on Eagle River's Chain of 28 lakes (largest chain of freshwater lakes in the world); hike, bike, boat, fish, antique, shop, or do whatever typical tourists would do in our area," McGinnis adds.

"EVERYONE is invited to attend our historical, grand celebration," says Eagle River's Mayor and Chamber Director Dan Meyer. "Wisconsin's 150th birthday is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how great Wisconsin people are, in general, and the Eagle River people are, in particular," Meyer concludes.

For more information, contact the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, Box 218, Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521-0218; 800-359-6315, Ext. C.; e-mail: info@eagle-river.com; website: www.eagle-river.com

Old, but good)... Historic Boathouses & Buildings of the Eagle River Chain of Lakes (Note: This tour was available in the late 1990s in Eagle River).

Eagle River, Wisconsin's "Historic Boathouses & Buildings" Self-Guided and Guided Tours on Its Chain of 28-Lakes (note: Maps no longer available

Boathouses of Historic/Architectural Interest, Plus One Featured in a Movie, One Used As a Nunnery

In a tour anchoring Eagle River's historical boathouses, the heritage of
Wisconsin's Northwoods, and the Eagle River Chain of 28 Lakes, Eagle River
will this fall again launch its "Boathouses of Vilas County...Eagle River"
promotion, including mapped, self-guided waterway tours designed to take
visitors past dozens of magnificent turn-of-the-century boathouses brimming with
history and unique architecture.

Sites of interest along the waterway include the boathouse featured in the movie,
Omen II; a boathouse that served as a chapel for Our Sisters of Mercy, Sunset
Point; boathouses that still harbor antique boats and artifacts; and boathouses
significant in Eagle River's tourism and industrial development.

The original Boathouse Promotion was funded, in part, by a JEM (Joint Effort Marketing)
Grant from the State's Department of Tourism. Wisconsin Gov. Tommy
Thompson said: "We're pleased to join efforts with the Eagle River Chamber of
Commerce to support 'The Boathouses of Vilas County... Eagle River' as a
unique fall activity and opportunity for travelers to experience the history and
beauty of Eagle River's Chain of Lakes."

Berry Good Time To Be Had at Eagle River's Annual Cranberry Fest
Activities Include Bog & Winery Tours, Fitness Events, Cranberry
Foods, Goods & Cookoffs, Exhibits, Auction, Craft Show, Petting Zoo,
etc.

Visitors to Eagle River's Annual Cranberry Fest can join the locals to eat, drink, wear, bake, and decorate with cranberries, tour the cranberry bogs and area winery, participate in
cranberry cookoff events, and visit all kinds of exhibits.

"A wide array of cranberry-related foods will be available," says Eagle River Chamber of Commerce Executive, Conrad "Connie" Heeg, "including fresh cranberries, the World's Largest cranberry cheese-cake, hot spiced cranapple drink, gourmet cranberry meatballs, cranberry chili, cranberry mustard, lots of fresh baked goods, and more."

The two-day event will also feature a cranberry fitness walk-run-or-bike; continuous entertainment starting with a big kick-off dance Friday evening, bus tours of area bogs and cranberry winery; and petting zoo for the kids. Shuttle buses will transport visitors to the various activities in the Eagle River area during Cranberry Fest.

The bake-off features competitions in breads, main courses, and beverages.
There'll also be a Bog Bridge Tournament; weaving exhibit; photo contest;
auction; and huge craft show.

"This is a celebration of northern Wisconsin's number one fruit crop and the
goodness and joy of Wisconsin's entire fall harvest season," Heeg smiles.
"We try to insure that everyone -- singles, seniors, and families with kids -- will
enjoy the varied activities, and also learn about the history and importance of
cranberries to the Eagle River area."

And, since some 20,000 people generally attend this two-day annual event,
Heeg recommends early reservations to insure lodging and facilities of
choice.

Ode to Christmas in Northern Wisconsin... Winter, 1997-1998).
(With a nod -- or glare -- to El Nino, who seemed to be causing some warm weather that winter)...

By Naomi K. Shapiro, Creative Brilliance

"T'was the night before Christmas and all through the north...
Resort owners were wond'ring what snow would be worth...

The snowmobiles were lined by the trailways with care..
In hopes that the snowbase soon would be there...

When up in our woods there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk and said, this shortfall will matter...

Unless we can keep those snowmobiles humming.
We've got to do something to keep people coming.

Our snow is in New Mexico!
And the responsible party is El Nino.

We've got to plan and promote and open our mouth
To keep our profits from going south!

We've got to do something to save our dough,
So let's plan great things on the ice, not the snow.

So plan we did, and here's what we've gotten...
Activities on ice... on Lake Namakagon.

Treasure hunts, speed runs, fishing, and more.
Scavenger hunts, prizes, and fun are in store...

So come to Northern Wisconsin, there's always good reason.
Packers, Cheeseheads, great recreation all season.

May your winter be merry when you spend it here...
In particular, in Wisconsin's north tier.

And you'll hear us exclaim as we behold this great sight...
Merry tourism to all... we made lemonade from our plight.

By Naomi K. Shapiro, Creative Brilliance

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Above are some old features, but fun to keep and read...