A FEW MORE FOOD FESTS
Not all food fests in Wisconsin happen in summer. If morels are your thing, mark next May on your calendar for the Morel Mushroom Festival in Muscoda. Assorted maple syrup festivals occur even earlier — in March and April — around the state.
Here are a few other food-friendly festivals still coming up:
June Dairy Month: This is not a single festival, but a month filled with events (many of them farm breakfasts) that clearly showcase dairy foods — and the farms behind them. Events begin in late May and continue throughout June. Visit hooraywisconsindairy.com/events.
Cherry Fest: Get your cherry fix on site or to take home in the form of kolaches, cherry pie and ice cream, cherry sundaes, cherry floats, jams, pie fillings and other cherry products — even cherry brats. Held in Jacksonport in Door County, the 24th annual fest will be Aug. 4. Visit jacksonport.org/cherry-fest.
Pardeeville Watermelon Festival: We assume there is watermelon to eat, but more importantly, this 50-year-old fest is home to the U.S. Watermelon Speed-Eating & Seed-Spitting Championships. Both have multiple age divisions, from 0 to 6-year-olds all the way up to seniors. There’s also a largest watermelon contest and watermelon carving contest. It’s held the first Saturday after Labor Day (Sept. 8 this year). Check out pardeevillewatermelonfestival.com.
Wild Rice Fest: Celebrate Native American heritage in downtown Lac de Flambeau (at Peacepipe Road and Simpson Ave.) on Sept. 15. Food festivities include wild rice harvesting demonstrations, wild rice and Indian fry bread cooking contests, a pie eating contest, pow-wow and more.
Beef-a-Rama: There’s something irresistibly goofy about folks set up all along main street in Minoqua from before dawn cooking beef — then later, strolling about with their meat in the “Roaster Parade.” Fest-goers (many dressed in cow costumes) can buy roast beef sandwiches starting at 10. The fest also boasts a 10K and 5K Rump Roast Run/Walk, a beef eating contest and a Cow Plop competition. This year’s beefy event will be Sept. 29. Check out minocqua.org (search “beef-a-rama”).
Bayfield Apple Festival: Take a scenic autumn drive up north and celebrate this favorite fall fruit Oct. 5-7 in the land of orchards. Stroll among 60-plus booths selling local apples and apple-y treats, including caramel apples, apple pies, apple tortes, dumplings or tarts, apple sundaes, apple cider — even apple bratwurst, mustard and butter. Or pick up a bag or bushel of apples to take home. Visit bayfield.org (search “Bayfield Apple Festival”).