Gunshine doesn’t mess around — it’s still of rock is straightforward, heavy and seems designed to work up a crowd. They’ll make their way to the Q&Z Expo Center today, but that’s not all this weekend with more fall events, a garden light show, some heavy music at Nevermore and so much more this weekend in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.
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Gunshine
Q&Z Expo Center
Thursday, Oct. 15: It’s been a while since we covered something at the Q&Z Expo, but when they host a band, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect: The guitars will be distorted and the sound heavy. And that’s the case with Gunshine, a hard-hitting hard rock band from the panhandle of Florida. The band claims on their website that they’re a no-frills, straightforward rock act, and after giving them a listen, it’s hard to argue otherwise. 7 pm. $17.85. See the event page for more and for tickets.
Blossom of Lights
Monk Botanical Garden
Friday, Oct. 16: I tried to go to one of these kinds of events in Milwaukee once, and it was so packed they turned us around on the road. So it’s good that Monk Botanical Gardens has been hosting a similar event, in which the gardens are lit up with beautiful light displays to peruse as you make your way through the garden in the evening. It’s a sight to behold. Blossom of Lights opens Friday. 5–9 pm. See the event page for full schedule and times.
Sweetalk, Cruel Kaiser and Zippnutts
Nevermore on Third
Friday, Oct. 16: Sweetalk describes itself as post-grunge, or at least the flier for the event does, but this Green Bay power trio has a strong hard rock bite to it, while playing with melodies that reach outside its genre. Listen for yourself here. Joining them for this rock show at the gothic-themed Nevermore on Third are Cruel Kaiser, a newly formed power trio out of Wausau making their Nevermore debut, and Zippnutts, a — sorry, checking my notes — scrap metal band. If head-banging is still in your repertoire of things that you do, you’ll probably be at this show. 9:30 pm. See the event page for more.
Wausau Ghost Tours
Wausau Elks Lodge
Friday, Oct. 16: Some of Wausau’s best-known locations are also said to be haunted. The old/new Wausau Club; the old Rogers Theater, which became The Fillmor and then a church; and even the Elks Lodge! Wausau Paranormal Research Society (fun fact: I went to the first-ever meeting of the group in my 20s) is leading these ghost tours, and they ought to be a fun time for anyone interested in Wausau history and the figures of that history who might still be milling around in these old haunts. Start times of 6, 7, and 8 pm, with another set next Friday. See the event page for more details.
Route 66 Corn Maze
Willow Springs Garden
Sunday, Oct. 18: Oh, did you think we were done with pumpkin spice season? Reader, we are not. And the latest fall activity is this corn maze at Willow Springs Garden on Sunday. This one is Route 66-themed, to celebrate the 100th year of the road’s history, and your kids can enjoy wagon rides, train rides, cornhole, a campfire and more at this great fall event. Personally I just enjoy an excuse to see the big round barn. This is the last Sunday for the regular daytime maze, so go see it and be amazed. 10 am-6 pm. See the event page for more details.
Alex Dalnodar, Kevin Troestler and Chase and Cassandra Williams
The Glass Hat
Sunday, Oct. 18: Kevin Troestler is one of those musicians who deserves to be a lot bigger than he is. The under-the-radar country singer is one of the Wausau area’s best-kept secrets, but likely not for long. Joining him are Alex Dalnodar and Chase and Cassandra Williams. This ought to be a great way to spend a Sunday listening to some stellar music. So don’t miss it at The Glass Hat, which is now under new ownership.
&$%# The Speakers Up
CW Fly Bags
Saturday, Oct. 17: This one is one of the more interesting events to come across my radar for two reasons. One, it’s an EDM show, something we haven’t highlighted much around here; and two, it’s at CW Fly Bags, which I hadn’t heard of until I saw this event. Apparently, it’s ordinarily a building where people play cornhole. Huh! But on Oct. 17 it’ll transform into a “low-frequency wonderland,” and if PLURR vibes and Kandi trades mean anything to you, you’ve probably already bought your tickets. This one is for those 21 and older. 9 pm. $15. See the event page for more.
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In Brief
LAST 2026 Pizza on the Patio, 6 pm Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Willow Springs Garden
Sea Glass Jewelry Class, 6:30 pm Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Willow Springs Garden
Moonbadger Fall Series @ Faraway Place, 7 pm Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Faraway Place
Trivia @ The Glass Hat, 7 pm Wednesday, Oct. 14 at The Glass Hat
Trivia Night, 7 pm Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Mosinee Brewing Company
Wausau: The History of Skiing in Marathon County, 6:30 pm Thursday, Oct. 15 at Marathon County Public Library—Wausau Headquarters
Poetry Open Mic, 5 pm Thursday, Oct. 15 at Center For The Visual Arts
Wausau: Teen One-Shot Adventure: The Man Who Casts No Shadow, 5 pm Thursday, Oct. 15 at Marathon County Public Library—Wausau Headquarters
Ghosts in the Cellar Haunted Art Workshop!, 6 pm Thursday, Oct. 15 at The Story Cellar
Open Mic w/ Caleb Delaney, 8 pm Thursday, Oct. 15 at Faraway Place
Karaoke with Jim at The Glass Hat, 9 pm Thursday, Oct. 15 at The Glass Hat
Blossom of Lights, 5 pm Friday, Oct. 16 at Monk Botanical Gardens
The BREWERY COMEDY TOUR, 8 pm Friday, Oct. 16 at Mosinee Brewing Company
Underground S&L Productions, 9 pm Friday, Oct. 16 at The Garage Wausau
Tattoo You WI (Friday–Sunday, Oct. 16–18), 8 am Friday, Oct. 16 at Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center
Wausau: Book Sale: Friends Members Only, 9:30 am Saturday, Oct. 17 at Marathon County Public Library—Wausau Headquarters
Cribbage Tournament @ Uncommon Pints, 12:30 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at Uncommon Pints
The joe g. duo @ The Mish, 9 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at The Intermission Bar
Beyond Asana: Introduction to Yogic Philosophy, 3 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at Shelves of Aeaea
Doubles Cribbage Tournament!, 5 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at Nevermore on Third
2026 Costumed Guided Ghost Tours, 5:30 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at Wausau Elks Lodge
Noah James Hittner, 6 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at Mosinee Brewing Company
The Cheese Doodles, 7 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at The Garage Wausau
Krazy Knights @Homestead on 52, 7 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at Homestead on 52
Mattea Joy LIVE @ the Glass Hat, 8 pm Saturday, Oct. 17 at The Glass Hat
Wausau Symphony and Band: An October Overture, 3 pm Sunday, Oct. 18 at First Presbyterian Church
Nostalgia Cartoons, 11 am Sunday, Oct. 18 at J&P’s Tippling House
LIVE Music Bingo With Caleb and Emily!, 12 pm Sunday, Oct. 18 at Faraway Place
Music Bingo @ Mosinee Brewing!, 1 pm Sunday, Oct. 18 at Mosinee Brewing Company
Open Mic w/ Jake Ramsey, 9 pm Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Nevermore on Third
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