Soul Asylum unplugged | Your Wausome Weekend Guide
Wausau area events for the weekend of April 1-7, 2026
Soul Asylum and The BoDeans both grace the Grand Theater stage this weekend - plus two Hmong festivals, a bevvy of Easter Egg hunts and festivities, and much more this weekend.
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Soul Asylum Acoustic
Thursday, April 2: One of my favorite songs off the Clerk’s soundtrack (where my GenX folks at?) is Misery by Soul Asylum. It caps off one of the most raunchy indie films of the 90s and Soul Asylum is one of those bands that seems iconic for the decade. (And isn’t Misery a perfect icon of 90s angst?) It’s far from their biggest hit — Runaway Train probably comes to mind for most people, as it played on MTV constantly. So their coming to the Grand Theater is not to be missed. In this show, Dave Pirner and Ryan Smith of the Minneapolis band will deliver an acoustic performance of many of their classic songs. GenX for sure, as well as other generations, won’t want to miss this rare opportunity. 7 pm. $44-70. See the event page for more.
An Evening with Larry Meiller in Wausau
Wednesday, April 1: Larry Meiller has been an omnipresent voice on Wisconsin Public Radio for nearly six decades. He’s been part of people’s lunch hours, bringing them content about gardens, therapy, personal finance and even how to best trim a lilac bush. Join Meiller for a night of his long experience on the radio at the Veninga Theater at UWSP-Wausau. 7 pm. Free, must register. See the event page for more.
Wausau Hmong 50 Year Celebration and Hmong Fest
Saturday, April 4: That’s right, you counted correctly: This weekend there are two events celebrating the Hmong people in Wausau! The first is Wausau Hmong 50, a celebration of the Hmong migration to Wausau that began 50 years ago this year, held at the Central Wisconsin Expo and Convention Center. Expect a day of cultural performances, storytelling and a Hmong business expo celebrating Hmong entrepreneurs, plus a traditional Hmong banquet. 11 am, details at the event page. Then there’s Hmong Fest, held at Wausau West High School. The event features a volleyball tournament, a cornhole tournament, food and merchandise vendors, and raffle baskets. 7:30 am. $3, discounts to children and seniors. See the event page for more details.
Pond Skim and Red Bull Jib Jam
Saturday, April 4: Did I know what a Jib Jam was when I started writing this paragraph? Reader, I did not. But I do know what the pond skim is, and the premise is this: Skiers and snowboarders will attempt to make their way across a pond that forms on one of the Granite Peak ski runs every year. And in order to participate, you will need to wear a wacky costume of some sort (there will be tutus, rest assured). The whole thing is good fun and quite the spectacle, and worth checking out even if you’re not a skier. And in case you’re wondering, a jib jam is where skiers and snowboarders ski or board across manmade obstacles. Noon. Learn more at the event page.
5th Annual Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 4: We shared with you a few pre-Easter eggcellent events (I’m done, I promise) over the past couple of weeks, but this weekend is full-on Easter time. The Wausau/Marathon County Parks Department is hosting its annual Easter blowout, with its Easter Egg Hunt, arts and crafts, and a little quality time with the Easter Bunny. 9-11 am, staggered egg hunt times for different age groups. See the event page for the full schedule.
Other Easter activities:
Easter Egg Hunt at Spring Celebration, 10 am-1 pm Saturday, April 4 at Willow Springs Gardens
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8 am-11 am Saturday, April 4 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
Egg Hunt with Nevermore and Glass Hat, 1 pm Saturday, April 4 at Nevermore on Third and The Glass Hat
Easter Egg Hunt at Homestead, 1 pm Saturday, April 4 at Homestead on 52.
The BoDeans
Friday, April 4: It’s been 40 years since The BoDeans released its debut album — and that was the start of a huge career for this Waukesha-originating band. The BoDeans went on to share the stage with nationally known acts including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and U2. To honor the 40th anniversary, The BoDeans are putting on this 2 1/2-hour retrospective show featuring songs from their 14 studio releases going back to the 1980s. Cool to see a Wisconsin band achieve that level of success. 7:30 pm. $48-$77. Check out the event page for more.
Dyngus Day Polish Festival
Monday, April 6: Alright, so everyone knows about St. Patrick’s Day, (Or St. Paddy’s Day as many like to spell it). But did you know about Dyngus Day? I’ve been called a dyngus, but I didn’t know there was an entire day dedicated to it. Here Salty Bones bar in Mosinee is hosting its first-ever Dyngus Day Festival. In Poland, it’s a post-Easter holiday with people visiting family and friends and delivering eggs. Here you can wear your best red and white garb, enjoy a menu of Polish food, hoist a drink in the air and celebrate all that’s Polish. 3 pm. See the event page for more.
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In Brief
MR SPEED - A Night of KISS, 7:30 pm Friday, April 3 at the Grand Theater
Smelt Fry Dinner, 5:30 pm Friday, April 3 at Willow Springs Gardens
Humane Society Adoption Event, noon Saturday, April 4 at Fleet Farm
Fangerlis et al, 8 pm Saturday, April 4 at Intermission Bar
Jordan Blanchard Trio, 7 pm Saturday, April 4 at The Garage
Mattea Joy, 7 pm Saturday, April 4 at J&P Tippling House
SixtiesMania, 7:30 pm Tuesday, April 7 at the Grand Theater
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