The Central Wisconsin Book Festival was a much smaller affair when it began in 2017, but it’s grown to be a major event on Wausau’s calendar. Plus plenty more pumpkin spice (read: fall) activities, bellydancing, cider tasting and more this weekend. All in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.
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Central Wisconsin Book Festival
Various locations
Wed.-Sun., Sep. 23-27: The Central Wisconsin Book Festival has only grown since its inception in 2017, and this year is no exception. Starting with a launch party at the Wausau Club, the festival features a number of talks from multiple authors, workshops such as Zine making and turning your idea into a book, a local author fair and, frankly, far too many events throughout the five days of the festival to count. Spread out between Wausau, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, if you’re a book lover this is where you want to be. Check out the event page for the full schedule of events and locations.
Wild Trillium Bellydance at Stoney Acres
Stoney Acres Farm
Saturday, Sept. 26: We highlight music at Stoney Acres Farm often, because a slice of farm-sourced, wood-fired pizza with some great music in the background is always a blast. But the rustic setting is even more perfect as a backdrop for Wild Trillium Bellydancing, which is mesmerizing and exciting. These ladies work really hard to perfect their craft, but since we’re in fall, that means they bring out the fire as the sun goes down, which is really a treat to watch. Pizza season may be on the wind down, but this is worth the trip. Just don’t eat all my pizza before I get there. 5 pm. See the event page for more.
Harvest Cider Sessions: Allen Brothers Trio
Rock Ridge Orchard
Saturday, Sept. 26: It’s officially pumpkin spice season, and apple orchards are a big part of that experience. And if you’ve always wanted to stop by the orchard but didn’t feel like the pizza buffet, this weekend is perfect. With the excellent trio The Allen Brothers bringing their talent to the orchard, you can enjoy that with some taps from their cider bar, with a number of rotating varieties to choose from. Made to order pizza and cheese curds are also available. 11 am-2 pm. See the event page for more.
Bradley Sperger
The Garage
Sunday, Sept. 27: What’s impressive about Bradley Sperger is how he managed to get a full, complete sound all by himself. Sperger plays a number of covers and writes his own originals, and he handles both a bluesy rock sound and a modern mix as well. It’s really impressive to watch Sperger building a song as he grabs different instruments through his live-looping system, and so his show should make for a nice, relaxing Sunday at The Garage. 1 pm. See the event page for more.
Tour de Marathon County
Various locations
Saturday, Sept. 26: Walking history tours are really fun, but when it comes to countywide history… well, that would be one heck of a walk! This bus tour of some of the historic sites of Marathon County starts at the St. Andrew Lutheran Church parking lot in Rib Mountain and visits sites including a church built in 1906, and historical societies in Athens, Spencer and Marathon to get a sense of history from some of the more rural areas of our county. Bus leaves 11:45 am. $55. See the event page for tickets and more info.
RiverWest Fest: Food Truck Rally & Concert
Milk Merchant Parking Lot
Saturday, Sept. 26: Last year’s RiverWest Fest Food Truck Rally got a heavy dose of rain, so here is your chance to check out this cool event with, hopefully, a little drier weather! Besides being a good reason to check out some of the wonderful businesses on that end of town, such as The Milk Merchant and Shelves of Aeaea, there will be a beer garden, animals to pet and food trucks. And did we mention dueling pianos! That’s really the key to this event. 4-8 pm. See the event page for more information.
History Speaks: The Wit and Wisdom of JFK
Marathon County Historical Society
Saturday, Sept. 26: Many know about JFK’s presidency, but what about his campaign? Frankly, it was a blend of folly, humor and mishaps turned around into strengths which manifested in several of his Wisconsin campaign stops. This talk looks at the interesting twists and turns Kennedy’s campaign took in Wisconsin, and the aplomb with which he handled those twists and turns on his way to a successful presidential race. 2 pm. See the event page for more.
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In Brief
Oktoberfest, 5 pm Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Wausau Elks Lodge
CWBF: Launch Party, 6 pm Wednesday, Sept. 23 at The Wausau Club
That Moonbadger Show, 7 pm Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Faraway Place
Trivia @ The Glass Hat, 7 pm Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Glass Hat
Wax Wednesday/Record Swap, 8 pm Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Nevermore on Third
Powerhouse Open House, 10 am Thursday, Sept. 24 at Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
Wausau: Being the Best Caregiver with Former Wisconsin Governor Martin J. Schreiber, 2 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at Marathon County Public Library—Wausau Headquarters
Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce Fun@5 - Nicolet Bank, 5 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at Nicolet National Bank
Shrimp & Fish Boil, 6 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at Willow Springs Garden
Thursday Trivia at Glass & Grain, 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at Glass & Grain House
Open Mic Night, 8 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at Faraway Place
Karaoke with Jim at The Glass Hat, 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at Glass Hat
Throttle Thursdays - SEASON CLOSER, 6 pm Thursday, Sept. 24 at J&P’s Tippling House
Music at Pizza Night: Scott Kirby - Hodag Harmonies, 5 pm Friday, Sept. 25 at Stoney Acres Farm
“CenterStage Yearbook” by CenterStage Band & Show Choir, 7 pm Friday, Sept. 25 at Wausau West High School
Come From Away, 7:30 pm Friday, Sept. 25 at UW Center for Civic Engagement
Dueling Pianos: Season 4 Kickoff, 8 pm Friday, Sept. 25 at bantr - Rothschild
Electronic Recycling Event, 9 am Friday, Sept. 25 at Good News Project
Phil Kitze & The Resonator, Friday, Sept. 25 at The Garage Wausau
Come From Away, 1 pm Saturday, Sept. 26 at UW Center for Civic Engagement
Midwest Polka Powerhouses Headline “PolkaToberFest”, 5 pm Saturday, Sept. 26 at Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center
“CenterStage Yearbook” by CenterStage Band & Show Choir, 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 26 at Wausau West High School
Through Crimson, 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 26 at The Garage Wausau
Come From Away, 2 pm Sunday, Sept. 27 at UW Center for Civic Engagement
Harvest Cider Sessions: The Foxfire Affair, Sunday, Sept. 27 at Rock Ridge Orchard (Cider Bar)
Route 66 Corn Maze, Sunday, Sept. 27 at Willow Springs Garden
Sunday Funday with Mattea!, 3 pm Sunday, Sept. 27 at The Glass Hat
Wausau: Tech Time: Free Help with Technology, 4 pm Monday, Sept. 28 at Marathon County Public Library—Wausau Headquarters
Mondays @ Monk: Yard Games & Chill, 5 pm Monday, Sept. 28 at Monk Botanical Gardens
Oktoberfest, 5 pm Monday, Sept. 28 at Wausau Elks Lodge
MANIC MONDAY KARAOKE, 9 pm Monday, Sept. 28 at Moua’s Callon Street Pub
Weekly Trivia, 7 pm Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 713 Grant St
Trivia Night @ Uncommon Pints, 7 p[m Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Uncommon Pints
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The Wausau Noon Optimist basketball tournament on Thursday Sept. 24th is NOT a thing. It us February of 2027.