Your Wausome Weekend Guide

Events in the Wausau area for the weekend of May 7-May 13, 2025

May 07, 2025

Welcome to a brand new feature of The Wausonian: The Wausome Weekend event guide. We happen to think there are a lot of cool things to do in the Wausau area on any given weekend, and so every week we put together this guide for you. Use it as your guide to weekend fun and Wausau nightlife, and share it with your friends!

The BriTins

Saturday, May 10: The Merrill Area Concert Association series is a unique set-up in that instead of buying individual passes, you buy a season pass to all the shows they host. This Beatles tribute act is based in Milwaukee and is known for accurately re-creating the look and sound of everyone’s favorite British Invasion band. The Beatles redefined modern music and this act captures that magic faithfully. 7 pm at Merrill High School Auditorium. See details on the event page.

51st Annual Children’s Festival

Saturday, May 10: This is one of the unsung children’s events in the area, but if you have kids this is a great option for you this weekend. The 51st Annual Children’s Festival is coming to Marathon Park again, and this year the theme is “Step Right Up: The Greatest Festival On Earth.” That’s an homage to the old circus days and this year will have a circus theme, with food trucks, magic shows, arts and crafts, fire trucks, bouncy houses, live music and more. 10 am to 3 pm. Free to attend, bring cash for food trucks. See more at the event page.

Scaled-Up Reptile Show

Sunday, May 11: If reptiles, amphibians and even spiders are your thing, then this Scaled-Up Reptile show is where you want to be. 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, $5; children 5 and under, free. See the event page for more.

Spring Wildflower Hike

Saturday, May 10: It’s that time of year when the browns and greys give way to the greenery and colors of flowers in Rib Mountain State Park along with the rest of the area. Friends of Rib Mountain will lead this hike starting at Grouse Lane for about 1 1/2 hours through the trails while you enjoy the rising wildflowers. Bring water and tick repellant. 10 am. Check out the event page for more.

The Dinner Detective Wausau Workshop

Monday, May 12: I had never heard of these Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Shows, but this workshop at the Holiday Inn in Rothschild seems to be a preview of future events that will be coming to the area. You’ll learn how they work, get to practice a little and learn how these are put together. It’s free to attend, so if this interests you, there’s not much harm in checking it out. 6 pm. Check out the event page for more details.

Foxfire Affaire

Friday, May 9: 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 seen to be believed. If you’re in the mood for something a little different than rock, blues or country, this is a good bet for a fun evening at the Intermission Bar in Wausau. 9 pm. Check out the event page for more.

IN BRIEF

Storytime in the Garden

Thursday, May 8: These are a regular series on the second Thursday of the month, and a great excuse for stay-at-home parents to get out of the house with their children. This one is in the Leigh Yawkey House Garden, which is meticulously maintained via notes left by the original gardeners. 11 am. See the event page for more.

Central Wisconsin School of Ballet Student Showcase

Saturday, May 10: This showcase is special for CWSB because they will be performing pieces to honor the late, great Waltraud Karkar, known to most as Madame Karkar. (There is also a ceremony 5:30 pm Friday at Stewart Park to celebrate the naming of the amphitheater after her.) 1 pm and 6 pm, $22 adults and less for children. See the event page for complete details.

Local Heroes Duo

Friday, May 9: Malarkey’s Pub is closed Wednesday and Thursday as it undergoes renovations, so come celebrate its reopening with Tyler and Justin, your Local Heroes Duo. 8 pm. See the event page for more.

Alive Again: A Tribute to Chicago

Saturday, May 10: If you love Chicago, this is the next best thing to seeing the band itself. This tribute act has returned to Wausau several times now and people always love it. 7 pm. James Veninga Theater, Wausau. $40, discounts for seniors and students. See the event page for more.

UPCOMING

Riverdance30

Wed-Thurs, May 14-15: I remember working at Target when the Riverdance videotapes (yeah, I know) were flying off the shelves. Tickets to this energetic performance blending technology and traditional Irish-style dancing are similarly flying off the shelf, and there are limited tickets available for both these shows. This recent season is the first for a whole new generation, meaning the performers currently involved weren’t even born when Riverdance first started. 7:30 pm. $70-$200. Check out the event page to see for yourself.

The Wausonian