The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

I get really excited about all the opportunities for attending fall festivals at this time of year. For the next six weeks there are community festivals celebrating the vibrant colors all around our beautiful state. You can pick up fall brochures and maps at your local chamber offices. Many Wisconsin Internet sites can give you information on where and when to travel as well. Such sites include www.travelwisconsin.com, www.explorewisconsin.com, and www.wiparks.com.

My favorite fall festival starts this weekend in Wausau. Their downtown Festival of the Arts Fair on Third Street features a juried art show showcasing the best artists in the Midwest on Saturday and Sunday. An art area for children provides plenty of creative activities for kids. There will be plenty of food vendors, music, and entertainment. There are wonderful restaurants and coffee shops as well as beautiful green spaces to sit and enjoy the scenery. As an added feature, Marathon Park hosts the annual Art in the Park both days. They fill every building with arts and crafts. There are many specialty food stands and family entertainment, but beware of the crowds in the morning. If you plan on taking strollers you may find it more navigable later and enjoyable in the afternoon. When the heavy crowds are present it can get hot in the barns. For all the gals, this is the perfect opportunity to ask a few of your friends to join you and leave the kids with Dad. As part of Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum opens their Birds in Art Exhibit. The museum hosts this annual exhibit highlighting nature artists. The museum is free and open to the public and they have a wonderful garden area to stroll through as well as a family area in the lower level. All events and parking are free to the public and there is a shuttle available to take you to all three events. Go to www.wausauareaevents.com for all the details.

The pumpkins are coming into season at the farmers’ market and the local food stores. You can pick out your favorite ones at the Hodag Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning at Pioneer Park and use them to decorate your fall entry.

The first annual Kids Wellness and Safety program will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Roth Family Chiropractic Clinic in Rhinelander (it’s free!). Children’s activities include free computerized health screenings, finger printing, car safety and learning fire escape routes. Cliff the Magic Man will perform and each child receives a goody bag. Call 365-1200 for more information.

There are three Musky Classic fishing events this weekend in the Northwoods. The first is the 31st Annual World Championship Musky Classic in Manitowish Waters. Call 715-385-2400 for information. The second is the Musky Classic on the Upper Three Lakes Chain. Call 715-546-3344 for more info. The third is the Holiday Lodge Musky Tournament in Phelps. Call 715-545-2515. Good luck fishermen!

The Northwoods Senior Olympic Games are being held throughout various Northwoods communities starting Monday through Friday. Open to men and women ages 55 and older, this event features a wide variety of competitive events, such as bridge, bocce ball and a 5k run. Make your reservations at 1-800-379-7499.

Speaking of health and exercise, the YMCA of the Northwoods starts their fall schedule of classes on Monday so go online today to register for classes. Go to www.ymcaofthenorthwoods.com for the complete schedule of special fall events to mark on your calendar.

On Tuesday night the Rhinelander District Library will host Rolf Reisgies, who will share details on how to grow his exquisite dahlias. Rolf’s dinner-plate size dahlias explode at this time of the year in his garden outlining his home on Coon Street. I started my own dahlia collection this year after admiring his garden each year. He is an expert on buying, growing and reusing the bulbs each year. The program starts at 7 p.m. and you don’t have to register.

On Wednesday the Family and Child Learning Center will offer a breastfeeding class starting at 10 a.m. Lunch will be provided (it’s free) but call 369-6111 to register.

All parents and guardians of preschool children are invited to come every Thursday morning at 10 a.m. to the parent-tot program in the Rhinelander District Library’s Children’s Department. Stories, books, a short movie and a craft are all part of the program. The program is free of charge and there is no need to register. The program provides great socialization for the kids as well as the parents. The Library is offering a lap-sit story time for babies six months to two years of age this fall starting September 24 and every Monday morning. Registration is required for this program so call 365-1050 for more information.

If you want to see how cranberries are harvested drive over to Manitowish Waters any Friday from now through the month of September. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Manitowish Community Center and you will follow a guide through the weekly-featured marsh. Many marshes offer gift and gourmet food products as well as fresh cranberries for sale. If you enjoy bike riding, I might suggest you pack your bikes to travel through the scenic back roads. Call 715-543-8488 for more information.

I think most of us would like to give a big thanks to the Downtown Rhinelander group who designed, planted and watched over the beautiful planters in our historic areas—you did a terrific job! It was a big step towards improving our downtown image and we appreciate the hard work everyone put into the project.

Remember that this is the time of the year to leave work on time, turn off your cell phone and laptop, and venture outside to enjoy the most exquisite autumnal sunsets with the special people in your life. Let’s see if my husband reads this!

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