Labor Day weekend is upon us! Here's a sign of fall: Packers pre-season is over and Badger football fires up in Las Vegas tomorrow night! There are a TON of events happening this holiday weekend, too (see below!) Meanwhile, we're updating a number of highways, so come back often to stay on top of the updates - a lot of videos are coming, too! The State Trunk Tour continues to check out all of Wisconsin's roads, towns, and all kinds of crazy stuff along the way. Join us for some road trip fun, and check out events happening around the state so you can make your plans - or just help you plan for spontaneity! Keep checking back for regular updates and be sure to follow us on Twitter!
Labor Day weekend will be filled with activities all around Wisconsin. Here are some great options and the highways that'll get you there.
Marshfield hosts the Central Wisconsin State Fair now through Monday - the Beach Boys and Ted Nugent are among the acts playing! (Highways 10, 13)
Speaking of beaches and surfing, did you know Sheboygan hosts the Dairyland Surf Classic this weekend (Highways 23, 28, 42).
Re-enact the "fur trade" era at the Baraboo River Rendezvous Friday through Sunday (Highways 12, 33, 113).
We checked it out last year - you should this year! The Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw is flingin' Friday and Saturday. Shoot the you-know-what with other spectators, or better yet, roll up your sleeves and get ready to toss. (Highways 12, 60, 78, 188).
Bust out the kilts and the bagpipes! The Wisconsin Highland Games are on in Waukesha from Friday through Sunday (Highways 18, 59, 164)
More than 75 restaurant stands, 20 beverage stands and three entertainment stages await you at the Taste of Madison Saturday & Sunday (Highways 12, 14, 18, 30, 51, 113, 151).
It's still summer, technically... check out the boats and the waters of Door County at Marina Fest in Sister Bay's Waterfront Park. (Highways 42, 57).
Up for some jazz? Two great choices are yours this weekend with the Rievrfront Jazz Festival in Stevens Point (Highways 10, 51, 52) and Fox Jazz Fest in Menasha (Highways 10, 41, 47, 114).
Oshkosh is busy this weekend with a Gallery Walk Saturday and Hydroplane Boat Racing Saturday and Sunday (Highways 21, 26, 41, 44, 45, 76, 91).
And hey, since it's Labor Day weekend, consider Janesville for its annual Labor Fest, Saturday through Labor Day (Highways 11, 14, 26, 51).
And of course, it's still county fair season. Hit our Events Calendar to check out links to county fairs in Walworth, Shawano, Ashland, Iowa, Sheboygan, Portage and Calumet Counties.
There's PLENTY more going on, scroll below or check out the Events Page for all of 'em!
This is a SMALL sample of the goings on in our fun little state. Get PLENTY more events and details by checking the list toward the bottom of this page. Everything is listed in chronological order, then in location order. More updates can come to you via the State Trunk Tour Twitter feed and our Events page. Enjoy!
State Trunk Tour Picture & Video:
Staying with stuff way up north, the World's Largest Corkscrew twists in front of a liquor store just west of Hurley along U.S. 2. It's not as large as I imagined, but I welcome the bottle of wine this thing could open.... View Picture Archives.
The Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw in Prairie du Sac from last year (we did some dodging) - check it out again this weekend!
The Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw is an annual event in Prairie du Sac, and it's coming up again this weekend, Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th. You can find Prairie du Sac and its twin, Sauk City, along the Wisconsin River where U.S. 12, Highway 60, and Highway 78 all meet.
We'll be posting a lot more videos of State Trunk Tour travels as we go through the seasons. Comments are welcome. Enjoy! View Video Archives.
Recently Traversed Trunk Tours & Updates
Have you checked out Highway 28 yet? Fully covered now from Horicon Marsh to the Sheboygan skyline, it's a fun little ride through some nice towns and pretty territory. Major updates have also been made to Highway 70 from Spooner to Florence. We also just finished touring all 18 miles (wow!, huh?) of Highway 169...check it out! We've also covered more of Highway 77 and Highway 47, as well as sections of other state and U.S. roads throughout northwestern Wisconsin. Coverage of Potosi and the National Brewery Museum along Highway 133 as well as several new videos will be up, too. This is always a work in progress - and things can change quickly - so check back often. contact us if you have ideas or want to see certain routes covered first!
Featured Item:Highway 190 is a brief ride, but you see a lot of cross between lakeside town, expansive suburb, big city and older village on your ride, which is also known as Capitol Drive. One thing of note: Milwaukee briefly had the world's tallest free-standing tower, and you can find out what and where it is by checking out the page!
So just what IS the State Trunk Tour?
The State Trunk Tour celebrates the fun of road tripping in Wisconsin by selecting certain state highways and riding them in their entirety, reporting everything along the way. Wisconsin’s state highways connect all sorts of points of interest, cities, towns, recreation trails, scenic byways, lakes, rivers, bridges, historical sites, geographic markers, taverns, antique shops… you get the idea. With descriptions, pictures, links and more, it's designed to be a fun ride through the state and a good source for inspiration. We're updating routes almost daily, so check back often!
EVENTS COMING UP
Upcoming or Current Events Along the State Trunk Tour routes include (sorted by start date, then city):
State Trunk Tour TV hits Time Warner Cable Digital Channel 411
Navigate to "Around Wisconsin" and you'll find the State Trunk Tour.
Highways 19 and 113 are up, with more coming soon!