Happy weekend, Central Wisconsin! In today’s happening-today edition: Free art trip, $1 million theater match, and Ho-Chunk cultural event + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Nature-inspired creative outing: Marathon County Public Library will offer a free art trip to Mead Wildlife Area on June 25 with landscape painting and whittling. Registration is required due to limited space -- learn how to register.
Theater restoration advances: An anonymous donor offered a $1 million matching gift for Wausau's Grand Theater restoration, boosting the Second Century campaign to $15.9 million toward its $17.5 million goal as construction continued -- see the matching gift details.
Nature learning for all ages: Schmeeckle Reserve in Stevens Point is offering free summer programs led by student naturalists, from AM Ornithology and Mullein Medicinals to plant walks plus weekly story time and crafts -- see the full program lineup.
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Small plates, big win: Spice up a weeknight this week with Father Fats Public House, where globally inspired small plates and craft cocktails make it dangerously easy to over-order and still feel smart about it. Grab a couple friends, claim a patio spot if the weather cooperates, and graze your way through the menu.
Swing smarter this week: Fore INDR GLF & SHP - Point keeps your game sharp with top-tier indoor sims, a friendly bar vibe, and leagues that make midweek feel competitive, so you can chase birdies, settle bets, and avoid mud season without waiting for Mother Nature to cooperate.
Easy local escape: Sneak out to Jordan County Park this week for a low-key day that feels miles away. You’ll find an 85-acre pond with the Plover River flowing through, a swimming beach, boat ramp, picnic lodges, a nature center, plus campsites with electric and a few canoe-in spots if you want to stay over.
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04 — Our recommendations
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧘 Root + Rise: Yoga in the Greenhouse @ Food + Farm Exploration Center (Plover) | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Greenhouse yoga at the Food + Farm Exploration Center is peak local zen, no crystals required. Enjoy a one-hour flow among the plants, followed by coffee, exhibit wandering, and a guilt-free excuse to move slowly. Your joints, and your inner horticulturist, will thank you.
🪶 Ho-Chunk Cultural Event @ McMillan Memorial Library (Wisconsin Rapids) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Trade your usual errands for a day at McMillan Library exploring Ho-Chunk culture, with traditional games, hands-on crafts, and food that puts microwave dinners to shame. It is family friendly, genuinely educational, and the rare event where you leave smarter and well fed.
🌸 Cranberry Blossom Festival Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair @ Downtown Wisconsin Rapids Wisconsin | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Clear the calendar and stroll downtown Wisconsin Rapids for the Cranberry Blossom Festival arts and crafts vendor fair, 80+ makers, tasty eats, and small-town people-watching. Shop local, find unique gems, bump into neighbors you like, and at least one you don’t, all with Rapids charm.
🏛 Heritage Days 2026 @ Heritage Park (Plover) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Ready to time-travel without leaving Plover? Heritage Park turns into a living museum with live bands, blacksmith sparks, 11 historic buildings, and hands-on kid fun, plus Point Brewery on tap. Admission is free, and there is a cash raffle, because of course.
🚗 Cruisin' for Ringle Tornado Relief Benefit @ Fast Lane Bar & Grill (Wisconsin Rapids) | Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 PM – Fast Lane throws a Ringle relief bash with two music stages, food and drink specials, and a 50/50 raffle. Ten bucks at the door goes straight to families rebuilding after the EF-3. Cruise in with your classic, bike, trusty beater, or anything that rolls.
🥞 Marshfield FFA Alumni 29th Annual June Dairy Breakfast @ D&B Sternweis Farms | Sunday (6/21) at 7:00 AM – Think you can out-eat a farm kid? Marshfield FFA Alumni’s 29th Annual June Dairy Breakfast piles on all-you-can-eat buttermilk, blueberry, and potato pancakes with real maple syrup, sausage, cheese curds, applesauce, ice cream sundaes, milk, and coffee. Breakfast with curds and dessert, because Wisconsin.
🎶 International Make Music Day @ Downtown (Stevens Point) | Sunday (6/21) at 12:00 PM – Think you know downtown’s best buskers? For Make Music Day, the whole district turns into a casual concert crawl, with sidewalk sets, pop-up jams, and every genre you forgot you liked. Stroll, sip, and let Stevens Point handle the playlist, no cover, sunscreen suggested. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Central Wisconsin report Weather forecastToday — High: 73°F — Low: 50°F — Precip: 3%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West northwest wind 6 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North northwest wind 1 to 9 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 73°F — Low: 51°F — Precip: 8%
Partly sunny, with a high near 73. East wind 2 to 7 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. This house is wildSet on a private, landscaped 0.92-acre lot in Walden Subdivision, this spacious two-story home offers more than 4,700 square feet of stylish, easy-living space. The updated kitchen brings double ovens, hard-surface countertops, and a large island, while the vaulted great room adds a fireplace, big windows, and plenty of charm. The main-floor suite steals the show with a remodeled bath and Jacuzzi tub.
Take a peek inside → |
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