Hairspray through vocals | Your Wausome Weekend Guide
Wausau area news for the week of May 6-12, 2026
This week the stars of the musical Hairspray are back with a show that made its way from Broadway to the Grand Theater. Plus former Wausau band Left Lane Cruiser prepares to rock Nevermore on Third, the 52nd Annual Children’s Festival hits Marathon Park, and more this weekend.
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Momma I’m a Big Star Now
Thursday, May 7: If you loved musicals such as Hairspray, Legally Blonde and Beetlejuice, then this show is for you! Momma I’m a Big Girl Now brings together Hairspray cast members Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, and Marissa Jaret Winokur in this reunion show in which they sing some of the hits from the show. The cast includes Tony nominees and winners, and this show has run both on and off Broadway. It’s now touring the country and The Grand is the next stop. To celebrate, the tickets have been lowered to $35 after fees. 7:30 pm. See the event page for more.
Vintage Video Game Night
Friday, May 8: To me, old school video games — Atari 2600, Nintendo and Super NES — are still really the best. And the Woodson History Center has decided to make a night of celebrating that classic era. Not only will the History Center have a full slate of retro games to play, but it will also include vintage board games and card games for enthusiasts to try. If you’ve been itching to get your Pac-Man on, come down to the History Center on Friday. 5:30 pm. See the event page for more.
52nd Annual Children’s Festival
Saturday, May 9: Hey parents, we get it — you need something to do to get the kids out of the house and wear off some of that youthful energy that just seems limitless sometimes. The 52nd Annual Children’s Festival is a great option for that. The festival will feature all the things kids go nuts for: bouncy houses, fire trucks, magic shows, live music, face painting, a petting zoo and even some performances by children’s groups. You can’t beat this for family entertainment, held at the Marathon Park Multi-Purpose Building. Free. 10 am-3 pm. See the event page for more.
Mother’s Day Spring Serenade
Sunday, May 10: It’s Mother’s Day this weekend, and the Wausau Conservatory of Music has something for you that’s a little different than your run-of-the-mill celebration. The conservatory is hosting this serenade, featuring a number of conservatory solo musicians and ensembles, with some light refreshments to enjoy. $5, children 5 and under free. See the event page for more.
End of a Legacy: A Farewell to UWMC/UWSP-Wausau
Tuesday, May 12: The Wausonian this week featured a guest column from a former UW-Marathon and UWSP-Wausau professor about the closing of the campus. And while UWSP-Wausau will live on at the NorthCentral Technical College campus, the old halls of UWMC will become home to something else. Come celebrate the 60 years the campus served the community at the James Veninga Theater, enjoy some refreshments and say goodbye with fellow alumni and community members. 5 pm. See the event page for more.
Left Lane Cruiser
Saturday, May 9: I’m just going to come right out and say it — Left Lane Cruiser deserves to be a much bigger band than it is. This Fort Wayne (originating from Wausau) rock-metal band kind of channels ZZ Top and Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, blending them into a sound that transcends both of them. It’s hard driving but melodically skilled, and it makes you want to go out and buy a motorcycle. LLC hits Nevermore on Third this weekend, joined by one of our favorites 20 Watt Tombstone and Keith Daniel’s PsychoSwamp Rock Band, which from the name sounds like it will fit right into the lineup. 8 pm. See the event page for more.
Wildflower Rib Mountain Hike
Saturday, May 9: It’s that time of year when the spring wildflowers start blooming, and that makes it a great time of year for this hike! This hike put on by the Friends of Rib Mountain will feature an hour and a half of hiking the trails of Wausau’s little mountain, exploring the variety of wildflowers found on Rib Mountain. Expect uneven terrain and a variety of trails. Meeting at the trailhead at the end of Grouse Lane. 10 am. See the event page for more.
Scaled-Up Reptile Expo
Sunday, May 10: Enthusiasts of the reptile and amphibian world already probably have this on their calendar, but folks with kids know they will be fascinated too. The show features some of the top breeders, keepers and educators in the space, along with plenty of vendors with everything from crickets for feeding to cages and artwork. You reptile fans know who you are, but even if you’re not yet an enthusiast, the little critters can be fun to look at. 11 am-3 pm, $8; children 5 and under, free. See the event page for more.
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In Brief
Silent Book Club, 5 pm Wednesday, May 6 at The Story Cellar
A Palette of Sounds, 7 pm Thursday, May 7 at UW Center for Civic Engagement
Bluez Driver, 7 pm Friday, May 8 at The Garage
Jon Peck and the Bad Dogs, 8 pm Friday, May 8 at Intermission Bar
Stadium Dr, 7 pm Friday, May 8 at Burk’s Bar
Landon McMahon, 8 pm Saturday, May 9 at The Glass Hat
Holistic Wellness Fair, 11 am Saturday, May 9 at Sconni’s
Cameron and Company, 6 pm Saturday, May 9 at Bull Falls Brewing Co.
Klein Creek, 6 pm Saturday, May 9 at Mosinee Brewing Co.
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