We've had a rainy, cool, dreary week. This weekend, we'll get a little warmer, and sunshine should return by Sunday, if not later in the day on Saturday. I write about roads, places, and events all over Wisconsin for my road trip website, StateTrunkTour.com, so I thought I'd share some options with you here, too. So let's get out of the house and explore some fun options for this upcoming mid-September Wisconsin weekend if you're still trying to decide where to go, and what to do.
Saturday: Oconomowoc Fall Festival
Here's hoping the weather Saturday dries out early, because over 80 vendors with great shopping and browsing, tons of food, kids' activities, kayak races, and more await as Oconomowoc celebrates their Fall Festival Saturday. Just head their downtown via Highways 16 or 67. Check out SteelTank Brewing, Brewfinity, the WIzard of Oz Plaza (that's where the movie had an initial premiere in 1939, you know), and more while you're there!
Saturday: Automotion in Wisconsin Dells
Over 1,200 classic cars including Muscle Cars, Pony Car, Trailer Queens, Land Yachts, Dropheads, and all kinds of antique vs. vintage vs. classics. Automotion was rescheduled from earlier in the year to this weekend, and along with the rides you can check out live music, great food, a swap meet and more. "Hollywood on Broadway" starts at 5pm Saturday and features replicas of iconic Hollywood cars, such as the Ghostbusters car, Kitt and the Smokey & the Bandit, the Back to the Future DeLorean and the Mystery Machine. Automotion is centered at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park this year (right along U.S. 12 and Highway 23 on Wisconsin Dells Parkway) and "Hollywood on Broadway" will be right smack in the middle of the Dells' main drag. I-90/94, U.S. 12, and Highways 13, 16, and 23 bring you to the Dells. It's only two hours or less from various points around Milwaukee!
Local places like the Milky Way in Franklin are still showing movies under the stars even as the season winds down. They're showing Bumblebee and The Purge Friday night, September 11th, and Us Saturday night the 12th. The Highway 18 Outdoor over in Jefferson features Men In Black followed by Ghostbusters both Friday and Saturday night. Find out more options for drive-in movies around the state here!
Restaurant Week continues in Beloit and Green Bay. Bites of Beloit offers special lunch and dinner deals at seven area restaurants, including several in the city's downtown, which has seen remarkable redevelopment over the last several years. Green Bay Restaurant Week offers lunch and dinner specials across the city, from traditional bars to swank, upscale eateries. And yes, 1919 at Lambeau Field is one participant.
All Weekend: WCDC Fall Motorsports Show & Swap in Eagle River
Yeah, it's a long drive up U.S. 45, but if you love fall and winter motorsports the Derby Complex in Eagle River - the "Snowmobiling Capital of the World," might just be worth the trip for you. All weekend, they feature 180 Swap Booths (all properly distanced across the 30 acres of Derby Complex property), new Polaris, Ski-doo, and Yamaha snowmobiles on display, X-Games action under the lights Friday night, live music, a beer garden, and more.
Saturday: Hinder Fest at Hinder Brewing Company in Waupaca
H.H. Hinder Brewing Company develops tasty beers and gives them names that are often the "butt' of jokes. With their 2020 slogan of “Don’t touch your face, grab a Hinder!” it should be a fun-filled afternoon and evening Saturda with great food, live music, and even a new release of a beer called Hinderfest 2.0. Food will be available from Hinder itself along with the Waupaca Lions Club and Aftershock BBQ. It's just off U.S. 10 in Waupaca via the Churchill exit - just head north a mile or so. More details here!
Of course, we love the State Parks, and some of our favorites for this weekend include Harrington Beach, just north of Port Washington in Ozaukee County; Perrot State Park near Trempealeau offers breathtaking views of the Mississippi River amidst the state's Driftless Area; and if you'll be near the Dells anyway this weekend, head west on Highway 60 and head toward Natural Bridge State Park, which features Wisconsin's largest natural arch; that's our main photo today.
Jump on my website for more, and have a great and safe weekend!