Hmong Wausau Festival | Your Wausome Weekend Guide
Wausau events for the week of July 23-30, 2025
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Hmong Wausau Festival
Sat-Sun, July 26-27: This event launched pre-pandemic as a sports festival and quickly grew into a major Wausau event, bringing Hmong residents from around the Midwest and beyond to this celebration of sports and Hmong culture at the Peoples Sports Complex. See dozens of vendors, enjoy volleyball, soccer and flag football matches, and performances of traditional Hmong dance and singing competitions. Admission opens both days at 6 am. $11 per day, or $20 for the weekend. See the event page for more details.
Brass Differential
Wednesday, July 23: These guys are a Concerts on the Square mainstay, and one of the few from the old days of the Concerts on the Square. This brass-filled band plays covers and originals with that brass twist that brings people back to the 400 Block every year. That includes the second-half march around the 400 Block they do, one of the annual crowd favorites. 6-8 pm. See the event page for rules and other information, and keep an eye on Wausau Events’ Facebook Page for weather updates (rain location is the Rothschild Pavilion).
The Magic of Isaiah
Thursday, July 24: If there is one thing that children love, it’s a good magic show. And The Magic of Isaiah is a pretty good bet to entertain your kids for some time. Self-taught since the age of 9, Isaiah Foster has been performing for audiences across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa for ten years now and is bringing this interactive magic and comedy show to the Wausau area. Shows are 10 am at Marathon Elementary and 1:30 pm at George Street Park in Rothschild.
Wisconsin Valley Fair kickoff
Tuesday, July 29 (and through Aug. 3): The Wisconsin Valley Fair at Marathon Park is back! It kicks off Tuesday, and is very different than the fair you probably grew up with. There are far fewer bands, with Sawyer Brown, 7:30 pm Tuesday, July 29; Parmalee, 7:30 pm Wednesday, July 30; and Night Ranger, 7:30 pm Thursday, July 31. Friday and Saturday feature a rodeo at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 4 pm is a demo derby, a crowd favorite. Tickets vary per event, check out the event page for more information and ticket info.
Paddle Pub Crawl XI
Saturday, July 26: It’s one of those events that comes up every year and somehow I almost always miss it - but the annual Paddle Pub Crawl is back for another year! This annual event brings thousands (I’m not kidding) of kayakers, canoers and paddleboarders to Lake Wausau to paddle the lake/Wisconsin River, stopping at several pubs along the water. It’s rowdy and wild and packed, and if you’re into the party atmosphere, this event is for you. Starting at 11:30 am at D.C. Everest Park. From there? Well, as the event page says, if you know, you know. See the event page.
Uncommon Pints Bike Ride
Saturday, July 26: This one was just unusual enough to catch our attention - Uncommon Pints, known for their selection of beer from around the Midwest that one doesn’t often see on tap (hence the name), is hosting a bike ride. The ride will leave from Uncommon Pints and stop at a few beer bars, and participants are welcome to bring any kind of bike they like. Starts at noon. See the event page for more.
Critter Camp
Tuesday, July 29: This children’s event is just different enough that I simply had to include it. Combining arts and crafts with shelter pets - perfect! This event aims to let children ages 6-10 have some fun while also teaching them about proper pet care and a little about what the Marathon County Humane Society does. And your child will also leave with a T-shirt. $25. 1-3 pm. (Parents drop off their child and pick them up, according to the event page.) See the event page for tickets and more info.
Between Howls
Saturday, July 26: Between Howls comes out of the Duluth, Minn. area (or northern Wisconsin, depending on which paragraph of their bio you’re reading?) but also spent time in Anaheim, Calif. The husband and wife duo are currently touring for their latest album, Cabin Fever. Ren Howl has also played violin for Nashville country musician Kashus Culpepper, and even appeared on CBS This Morning with the band. Between Howls brings a folks blues style that’s a blast to listen to. Check them at Malarkey’s Pub and grab yourself one of those MumbleWrap wraps if you’re hungry. 7:30 pm. Check out the event page here.
In brief
Also noteworthy: Film, Farm and Culture Fest film screenings Fri-Sat, July 26-27 at the Woodson History Center; Summer Fun at Mead: Survival Strategies, 10 am Friday, July 25 at Mead Wildlife Center; Movie in the Park: Transformers One 7 pm Thursday, July 24 at the 400 Block; Ignite Softball Double Header, 5:35 pm Friday, July 25 at Athletic Park; Jazz on the River: Stuck on Blue, 5 pm Sunday, July 27 at Kickbusch Park; Weston Concert Series: Christy Anna, 7 pm Tuesday, July 29 at Machmueller Park, Weston; Trailside Country Jam, 9 pm Saturday, July 26 at Trailside Sports Bar and Grill.
Upcoming
The Wallflowers
Thursday, Aug. 7: This show is starting to sell out, so for those Wausonian readers who want to go, you might want to pick them up fast! Helmed by Jakob Dylan, Bob Dylan’s son, The Wallflowers is one of those bands that got big but also somehow seemed to stay under the radar to a degree. Their song “One Headlight” was all over the radio in the late 90s (but their first and only song to hit the Billboard 100 was “Sleepwalker,” off their third album. Dylan was also part of Echo in the Canyon, a documentary on Netflix where he and other musicians retrace the history of some of the great 60s musicians of Laurel Canyon (including Jade Castrinos, formerly of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros). 8 pm. $54-84. Check out the event page for more.
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