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

We are at peak fall colors this weekend! I am looking out my window as I write and am admiring the splendid reflections of colorful trees mirrored on Green Bass Lake. The breathtaking green, red, yellow, and burnt orange are the colors of fall.

Tonight is Family Night at the YMCA of the Northwoods. There's going to be an old-fashioned barn dance, so dress the kids in Old West attire and bring them to the Y! There will be a free taco dinner, art and crafts, games, and open pool. The event is free to members and $7.50 per family for non-members. For more information call the YMCA at 362-9622.

The 43rd Annual Beef-A-Rama happens this weekend in Minocqua. Tonight's events include a Fantastic Planet concert. Saturday events start early, beginning with the ‘Rump Roast Run' at 9 a.m. The Minocqua stores host open houses all day as they cook their beef roasts. The roasts are paraded downtown at 2:45 p.m. The roasts are judged, and then sliced to sell for delicious roast beef sandwiches starting at 3 p.m. There is a fall ‘arts and crafts' show happening all day at Torpy Park. Call the Chamber at 715-356-5266 or go to www.minocqua.org for more information or to register for the Run.

The Cranberry Colorama takes place Saturday at the Manitowish Waters Community Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live music, food, and fall tours of the local cranberry bogs. There is a ‘Taste of Harvest' from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring the area's fine restaurants along with a cranberry cooking contest. Call 543-8488 or go to www.manitowishwaters.org for more information.

Come to the Rhinelander Hodag Farmers' Market at Pioneer Park on Saturday morning to select your pumpkins, gourds, and corn stalks. Additionally, you'll be able to see all the fall root vegetables that are available. This Saturday the market is hosting the kickoff event for Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence with a special ceremony at 10 a.m. There will be a free children's art activity during the morning, and caramel apples will be sold to raise funds for the council's needs. Purple balloons will be displayed to represent the abuse cases in Wisconsin last year. For more information about Tri-County Council, call 362-6841.

The Memory Walk starts at 10 a.m. at the Riverwalk Centre by Trig's in Rhinelander. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. The annual walk raises awareness for Alzheimer's Disease and helps in support and research. Call 362-7779 for more information.

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau hosts its annual OktoBird Festival on Saturday from 11 to 3 p.m. This family event provides music shows by Tom Pease and Jason the Juggler. The event is held outside in the courtyard and is free to the public. The ‘Birds in Art' exhibit is open to the public inside the museum. There will be crafts, games, and food available. Go to www.lywam.org for more information.

The Eagle River Cranberry Cook-Off takes place in Eagle River on Saturday. Participants can drop off cranberry goodies at the Chamber between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. with judging to follow. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded. Call the Chamber at 1-800-359-6315 for the complete rules and details.

Warrens Cranberry Festival happens this weekend. There are thousands of flea, craft and antique vendors congregating in this tiny town for their biggest festival of the year. There is a gigantic parade on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. Be prepared to fight big crowds, but this is a festival you don't want to miss seeing at least once in your lifetime. I can't explain how it got to be so popular, but it has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Plan to travel, as Warrens is about 13 miles north of Tomah off Interstate 94 on County Highway E.

There will be a Scrap Pink stamping event this weekend at Nosser's Stamp & Scrap in Rhinelander. Participants can do "make and take" projects and a percentage of the sales goes to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Call Nosser's for more information.

The 25th Annual WXPR Art Auction will be held at Holiday Acres Resort in Rhinelander on Sunday afternoon. The viewing of the artwork donated from area artists and crafts people begins at 2 p.m., with bidding to start at 3 p.m. Complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Proceeds benefit our local public radio station (WXPR is independent of the state public broadcasting system). Call Jessie Dick at 362-6000 if you have questions.

Sunday night is the Rhinelander High School Talent Show. The show is sponsored by the National Honor Society and is the start of the Homecoming week celebrations. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium and tickets are $3 each.

The Rhinelander District Library is continuing their 2007 Author Series with author Ann Bauer from Minnesota speaking Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the library. She is the author of "A Wild Ride Up the Cupboard," the story of living with an autistic child. Call the library at 365-1050 for more information.

The Family Resource Connection's fall sessions of Play Shoppe and Music Garden have begun. The Play Shoppe is held on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Music Garden is on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Both programs are wonderful for the children as well as their caregivers. Call the Family Resource Connection at 888-266-0028 for more information. By the way, if you would like to donate toys in good condition you can drop them off at Family Resource Connection, 1020 Kabel Avenue, Rhinelander.

Reserve your tickets now for the Lakeland Arts Series concert next Friday. The Official Chorus of the State Symphony Orchestra of the U.S.S.R. will perform at Lakeland High School at 7:30 p.m. Call 356-5550 or tickets.

Next weekend is Cranberry Fest in Eagle River so plan now to travel north for arts and crafts, entertainment and a variety of cranberry treats on Saturday and Sunday. This is always a big, big event for our area.

Next weekend is also the annual Hodag High School Football Homecoming with a parade on Brown Street downtown Friday afternoon followed by the game on Friday night.

We just went online to a great Web site for kids and grandkids. The site, www.spatulatta.com is an excellent fun cooking video. They will learn to cook as well as learn weights and measures and a whole lot more. We are going to try the Baked Apples recipe for dinner.

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