It's Wisconsin Valley Fair Week | Your Wausome Weekend Guide
Wausau area events for Aug. 5-12, 2026
There’s something fun and exciting and yet nostalgic about fair week. Amid all the lights and sounds and tasty fair food, you can’t help but feel like you’re part of a tradition going back to the 19th century. But besides that, we’ve got glam rock coming to Tiki Beach, Celtic music at Stoney Acres, a couple of history lessons and a concert in the clouds this week in Your Wausome Weekend Guide.
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Wisconsin Valley Fair
Marathon Park
Wed.-Sun., Aug. 5-9: This week the Wisconsin Valley Fair is in full swing! Besides all the rides, carnival games, animal judging and fair food you all love, the music continues with country legend Shenandoah today (Wednesday), followed by Christian rock band Skillet on Thursday. Both shows start at 7:30 pm. Then Friday and Saturday are the rodeo, 7:30 pm both days, followed by the demo derbies at 4 pm Sunday. See the event page for a full schedule and ticket prices.
The Hype
Tiki Beach Bar and Grill
Thursday, Aug. 6: Tiki Beach is one of those unique Wisconsin experiences where you can kind of have a beach vacation right in your backyard. And on Thursday, you can include a trip back to the 1980s as glam band rockers The Hype take the stage. Schooled in all the ways of 80s rock band glory, The Hype will rock the beach with tight pants and wild hair while you sip on an umbrella drink of some kind. 7 pm. See the event page for more.
Foxfire Affair at Pizza on the Farm
Stoney Acres Farm
Friday, Aug. 7: The Foxfire Affair might only be two people, but this husband-and-wife duo are both masters of several instruments and they put on a full Celtic sound that needs to be experienced to be believed. They have a wide range of music from across the Atlantic, and they’ll be a great serenade for Stoney Acres wood-fired pizza. Music starts at 5 pm. See the event page for more.
Histories, Techniques and Innovations in Print
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Thursday, Aug. 6: Somehow I missed the first two installments of this three-part series, but I don’t think that will take away from the experience of this last one. Histories, Techniques and Innovations in Print seems right up my alley, considering the business I am in. But everyone who enjoys learning how things are made should enjoy this look at the print-making process, including relief, lithography and serigraphy, all through an actual hands-on demonstration. Should be a great time. 5:30 pm. See the event page for more.
Concert in the Clouds: Junkyard Mule
Rib Mountain Amphitheater
Saturday, Aug. 8: Whenever I write about Concerts in the Clouds, I always think about the late Glen Moberg telling us that they’re coming to us “from high atop Rib Mountain.” And the Rib Mountain Amphitheater is the perfect place to watch Junkyard Mule, a Duluth, Minn.-based bluegrass band that brings the genre back to its roots. If you love old-school bluegrass or just talented musicians doing what they do best, this is a great place to experience it. And, it’s your last chance to see a Concert in the Clouds this year. (Wow, where did summer go?). 6-9 pm. Free, parking requires a state park pass. See the event page for more.
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Upcoming
An Old-Fashioned Downtown Tour
Downtown Wausau
Friday, Aug. 14: I wanted to highlight this unique event early this time, because it tends to sell out pretty fast! The Marathon County Historical Center really found gold with this Old-Fashioned Downtown Tour. Grab an old-fashioned (or a non-alcoholic drink) and learned about the history of some of downtown’s buildings including Juliette, the old Hotel Wausau and more. The stories really make these tours, and it’s even more fun with a drink in hand. 6 pm. 21+ only. $37.22. Check out the event page for more.
In Brief
Book Sale: Friends Members Only, 5 pm Wednesday, Aug. 5 at MCPL Wausau
Blockbuster Bingo: “Jurassic Park”, 5 pm Wednesday, August 5 at MCPL Wausau
Concerts on the Square: Krazy Knights, 6 pm Wednesday, Aug. 5 at the 400 Block
Pizza on the Patio, 6 pm Wednesday, August 5 at Willow Springs Garden
Moonbadger, 8 pm Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Faraway Place
Wisconsin Valley Fair, Wednesday, August 5 through Sunday, Aug. 9 at Marathon Park
Book Sale, 9:30 am Thurs.-Sat., Aug. 6-8 at MCPL Wausau
Summer at Mead: Solar Cooking, 12:15 pm Thursday, Aug. 6 at MCPL Wausau
Pizza in the Orchard with Still Reckless, 5 pm Thursday, Aug. 6 at Rock Ridge Orchard
Open Mic w/ Caleb Delaney, 8 pm Thursday, Aug. 6 at Faraway Place
Movie Showing: “Hoppers”, 2 pm Friday, Aug. 7 at MCPL Wausau
The Cheese Doodles, 7 pm Friday, Aug. 7 at The Garage Wausau
Camp Between the Stacks, 2 pm Saturday, Aug. 8 at MCPL Wausau
John, John, and Spawn of John at Pizza on the Farm, 5 pm Saturday, Aug. 8 at Stoney Acres Farm
Soul Whiskey, 7 pm Saturday, Aug. 8 at The Garage Wausau
D.B. Rouse, 9 pm Saturday, Aug. 8 at Faraway Place
Honky-tonk Sundays, noon Sunday, Aug. 9 at Faraway Place
Shane Kronberger, 1 pm Sunday, Aug. 9 at The Garage Wausau
Story Time at the Parks: Alexander Airport, 10 am Monday, Aug. 10 at Alexander Airport Park
Authentic Mexican Buffet, 6 pm Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Willow Springs Garden
Tiki Tuesday Cruise-Ins Car Show, 6 pm Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Tiki Beach Bar & Grill
Concerts on the Square: That 90’s Band, 6 pm Wednesday, Aug. 12 at the 400 Block
Music Bingo in the Beer Garden, 6 pm Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Uncommon Pints
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