NOW THAT DONNIE AND LINDA ARE LIVING IN TOWN, IT WON'T BE SO FAR TO DRIVE TO AUSTINS MANY CELEBRATIONS.

If there's any city that can come up with a reason to celebrate, at the drop of a hat, it's Austin, Texas.

The next big event is the Pecan Street Festival May 3rd and 4th with
street art, music acts, street magicians and crowds that usually number around 200,000 for this "fest".  Sounds like a good party to me!

I sure would love to be in the "home land" today.

Have fun, you wild and crazy Dutch folks!

If you like MUSHROOMS, you'll want to mark May 16-18 on your calendar.

The 32nd ANNUAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL will be held, on those dates, in MUSCODA, WISCONSIN.

There will be arts & crafts, live entertainment, fireworks and you'll be able to taste every kind of mushroom dish you can think of including MUSHROOM BRATS.

Muscoda is just a nice 74 mile drive, from La Crosse, on highway 14 through Westby and Viroqua to Muscoda which is between Richland Center and Boscobel.

The Queen's Beer Week started last night.

When I first heard about that I had visions of her royal highness sitting on the throne getting drunk on her ass.

 

It was a relief to be told they were talking about the borough of Queens in New York.  I went to a party in Queens many years ago.  I got drunk on my ass but that's a story for another time.

Who could it be??

Summerfest organizers say they've landed a performer who doesn't plan to play anywhere else this summer. #News3 http://t.co/QxuDvuylkX
— WISCTV News 3 (@WISCTV_News3) April 8, 2014

THE WIND CHILL IN LA CROSSE AT 7 A.M. WAS 33 DEGREES

BETTER TO BE IN BERGEN
The Bergen Film Festival Starts today.
DISCOVER BERGEN - CLICK HERE

A DAY TO REMEMBER
THE FIRST OKTOBERFEST
It was October 12, 1810 and the very first Oktoberfest ANYWHERE was held in Munich to celebrate the marriage of  Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

BIG WEEKEND IN LA CROSSE

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL OKTOBERFEST WEB PAGE

WISCONSIN CHEESE FEST COMING EARLY NOVEMBER

This looks like a lot of fun. Check it out here: WISCONSIN CHEESE FEST IN MADISON

CRANBERRY TIME

This weekend the little town of Warrens will hold it's annual CRANFEST. The town of less than 400 folks grows to 100,000 during the Cranfest weekend. I remember the first year I was back here Rita, Roger and I did some "Cranfesting".

This apple crisp with cranberries looks good...and healthy!

GOOD APPLEFEST WEATHER TODAY

Applefest got off to a good start.

With sunshine and temperatures in the low 60's, this should be perfect for spending the day in La Crescent. Tomorrow, however, not so good. There's an 80% chance for showers which could come in handy for extinguishing all those candles on Rita's birthday cake.

APPLEFEST WEEKEND

APPLEFEST OPENS AT 4 THIS AFTERNOON IN

LA CRESCENT!

Click here APPLEFEST TO CHECK OUT ALL THE ACTIVITIES!

SEASONS

Another sign of autumn.  The band from the middle school in our neighborhood is out on the street practicing for the upcoming Oktoberfest Parade.  It will be here before we know it.  I think it's the middle school Rita went to but I can't remember the name.

FEST

It's too bad Donnie won't be here next weekend for our first LABOR DAY WEEKEND BIKE FESTIVAL.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

There will be bike rides for new and experienced riders for 5 days. The bike rides are all free and the tours will cover 28 to 85 miles. There will also be a 56 mile race. There are a lot of other activities planned including live music on Pearl street.

The event is being sponsored by the State Department of Tourism and Mayo Health Care system.

It all starts Thursday and I hope it's a big success. This would make a great annual event.

The Holmen Kornfest was once a big deal in our family.

I just saw, in the paper, it's going on today.  I didn't know it was this weekend.  I always saw posters up or heard about it in other ways but didn't have a clue this year.

I think it was about the first year I moved back that Rita, Roger and I went to the parade.  It was so cold we nearly froze to death.  Haven't been back since.  It may be a lot bigger, these days, but it sure isn't as much fun as the first Kornfest when we sat in Grandma and Grandpa's  yard and ate the corn.

I'm hoping for a dry weekend.

SAND ON THE RIVERFRONT is one of my favorite La Crosse events.  It starts Friday at 8:30 A.M., when the teams begin creating their sand sculptures, and runs through Sunday.  I'll get some pictures.

MONEY IS TIGHT BUT SHAKESPEARE IS STILL SELLING

The Winona Shakespeare Festival played host to more than 15,000 fans this year and they reported record box office receipts.  I'll bet old Will is sitting on his cloud and grinning from ear to ear.

71ST ANNUAL STURGIS RALLY STARTS TODAY

CLICK HERE FOR THE STURGIS RALLY WEBSITE

BEER FESTIVALS EVERYWHERE YOU GO!

Check this website BEER FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD-2011 to check them all out.  It's amazing how many there are and there's sure to be one near you.  For Wisconsin it's The Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison a week from tomorrow.  More than 100 brewpubs and microbreweries represented on the shores of Lake Menona sounds like a party to me!

RIVERFEST STARTS TODAY!

The opening ceremonies are at 11 AM.  Following that, the events, including sand sculpting on the riverfront, will get underway.  I haven't decided if I'll go today but I like to go on Saturday to check out the finished sand sculptures.

CLICK HERE FOR RIVERFEST HOME PAGE