ALL OVER THE MAP
EVENTS NEAR AND FAR
Appleton: Maple Syrup Sunday. Kick off your day on April 8 with a pancake and porkie breakfast at 8:30, 9 or 9:30 a.m. at the Girl Scout service center at Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve. It costs $9 for adults, $6 for kids ages 412 and is free for those 3 and under. Stick around for a tour of the preserve’s sugar bush and a look at how sap gets turned into syrup. Registration is required for breakfast. See bubolz preserve.org.
Baraboo: Midwest Crane Count. The International Crane Foundation takes the lead on this regional crane count from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. April 8. More than 1,000 volunteers are expected to take part in 90 counties across six states. Visit the foundation’s website at saving cranes.org for local coordinators.
Kohler: A Taste of Scotland. Scotland is in the spotlight in Kohler on April 8. Visitors can enjoy scotch and beer tastings and a special dinner with scotch pairings. Fees vary for the events, and hotel packages at the American Club are available. See destinationkohler.com.
River Falls: Roots and Bluegrass Music Festivals. Enjoy three days of roots and bluegrass music at venues throughout River Falls April 7-9. The festival kicks off with a beer and wine tasting at Junior’s Bar & Restaurant from 5 to 8 p.m. April 7. The cost of that is $20 in advance and $25 at the door; the rest of the festival is free. See riverfallsbluegrass .com.
Superior: Gitchee Gumee Brew Fest. Sample from dozens of breweries at this beer festival at the Wessman Arena at UWSuperior from 5 to 8 p.m. April 8. General admission is $25; VIP admission (includes entry at 4 p.m.) is $50. See ggbrewfest .com.
West Bend: Festival of Arts. This campuswide event at UW-Washington County includes a juried arts and crafts fair, a student art competition, a farmer’s market, music, seminars and more. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students and free for those 12 and under. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 8. See washington.uwc.edu.
Whitewater: Search for Spring Hike. Soak up the first signs of spring during this hike along the Ice Age Trail in the Kettle Moraine at 10 a.m. April 8. Meet at the Highway 12 crossing about four miles east of Whitewater. See iceagetrail.org.
Wisconsin Rapids: Greater Prairie Chicken Festival. See the annual spring mating ritual of the greater prairie chicken on April 8. Sign up for viewings and bird tours from 4:30 to 7:30 a.m., browse exhibits and vendors at Hotel Mead & Conference Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy guest speakers in the afternoon. See the event’s Facebook page for more information.