Happy weekend, Eau Claire! In today’s happening-today edition: Solstice stroll, Expo Center sale debate, and HmongFest 2026 + 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.
Trail impact in focus: Visit Eau Claire is collecting input this summer on state trail use in Chippewa Valley after a study estimated $4.1 million in business activity, with results expected this fall -- learn how to share input.
Downtown shops get a boost: Celebrate summer at the Solstice Stroll today in downtown Eau Claire, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a free passport-style walk supporting local businesses while you collect stamps at participating shops -- see the summer stroll.
County property under review: Eau Claire County is weighing a potential sale of the Expo Center on Fairview Drive, a cash-positive, 27-acre site valued around $3 million, drawing skepticism from a County Board member -- check the Expo Center.
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Dinner plans, solved: Downtown’s Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub serves aged, hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and a locally famous Candied Garlic Sauce that’s dangerously habit-forming. It’s an easy win for a relaxed date or catching up with friends, with that historic brick coziness that makes lingering over another round feel required.
Creekside reset, anyone? Slide out of the house and into O'Neil Creek Campground for an easy escape with a natural swimming beach, kayak and tube rentals, and a mini golf and jumping pillow zone that keeps the kids busy. Grab Chocolate Shoppe scoops at OCC Sips & Scoops, then unwind at full-hookup sites with a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Fore your week: Wild Ridge Golf & Event Center delivers the kind of round that feels equal parts therapy and humble pie. Fast greens, big-sky fairways, and a clubhouse built for post-round stories... grab your usual foursome, chase a couple birdies, and call it self-care.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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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.
🎉 HmongFest 2026 @ Eau Claire Soccer Park | Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 AM – HmongFest takes over Eau Claire Soccer Park with lively tournaments, local vendors, and live entertainment, joining Hmong culture with the rest of the city. Part block party, part bragging rights, all community. Lawn chairs with seniority fit right in, and the people-watching is top tier.
🛍 Birdie’s Outdoor Market | Vintage, Antiques, Makers & Live Music @ Birdie's Gathered Goods | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Grab a latte at Legacy Coffee, then wander Birdie’s Outdoor Market on Hastings Way for vintage scores, antiques, local makers, and music under string lights. It’s where you find the Pyrex you regret donating, the chair you sit in, and no big box deja vu.
🪴 Outdoor Succulent Planter Workshop @ Down to Earth Garden Center | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Whether your green thumb is thriving, indifferent, or you once killed a cactus, this outdoor succulent workshop lets you craft a planter without the drama. Hands-on and pleasantly zen, it runs $10 for soil and rocks, with plants and pots priced by what you pick.
🎨 Paint Pamper & Pastries @ The Paint Shack | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – A mellow morning at The Paint Shack on Golf Road means free pampering and a paint project, plus muffins, coffee, and laughs. Think Mary Kay cleanse, charcoal mask, satin hands and lips, then a little art therapy. Bring your crew, or your well-earned laugh lines.
🛍 Celebrate the 715 @ Chippewa Valley Expo Center | Saturday (6/20) – Celebrate the 715 with a Wisconsin Makers Market, where local makers, small businesses, nonprofits, and young entrepreneurs fill the grounds with goods and hometown pride, families in tow. It’s equal parts shopping stroll, neighbor reunion, and a reminder that Amazon doesn’t know your barber.
🥚 Pysanky 101 @ L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library | Saturday (6/20) – Settle in to learn the art and history of pysanky, those intricate Ukrainian eggs that make our dyed grocery dozen look a little underdressed. You will wax, dye, and head home with two of your own, registration required. Quiet, focused, oddly satisfying.
🍷 Winery and Distillery Trolley Tour 2026 - Sun. June 21 @ Volume One & The Local Store | Sunday (6/21) at 1:30 PM – Hop the trolley for a scenic Chippewa Falls countryside glide to three tasty stops, including Dixon’s Autumn Harvest Winery, The Chippewa River Distillery, and a pleasantly mysterious finale. No choosing sides between grapes and grains, you get both, rolling views, and a built-in designated driver. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Eau Claire report Weather forecastToday — High: 75°F — Low: 52°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 75°F — Low: 53°F — Precip: 5%
Partly sunny, with a high near 75. East northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind around 5 mph. This house is wildThis well-maintained 4-bedroom, 3-bath southside Eau Claire home sits on a half-acre lot with a lush, park-like yard and wooded trails tucked in back. The spacious kitchen flows into the dining area, while the walk-out lower level adds a fireplace-warmed family room, brick patio, and extra bedroom. New shingles and updated front siding arrive in fall 2025.
Take a peek inside → |
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