Things to Do Around Monroe

After a brief hiatus, "Things to Do Around Monroe" is back. What is on your agenda for the weekend?

~ The Young Professionals of Green County have their Annual Event this Thursday evening at Kuhn in Brodhead. The event starts at 6 pm with networking, and the recognition of the nominees for Young Professional of the Year starts at 6:30.

~ The Bloody Lake Rendezvous starts today in Woodford. The Rendezvous is open to the public on Saturday from 9 until 4 and Sunday from 9 until 3. Learn about the life of early 19th century trappers and explorers at this living history encampment. Admission is $2, but children under 12 and military service personnel are free.

~ If you rather work on your family history instead, the Green County Genealogical Society is open to the public this Saturday. Use their resource center to look up genealogical information and Green County historical data. They are located at 1609 10th Street Suite #4 (above Kookaburra's on the north side of Monroe's Downtown Square).

~ Check out the garage sales! The Green County Humane Society has a fundraising garage sale in the parking lot of Monroe Auto Sales this Friday and Saturday. If you don't see what you need there, head over to Belleville for their citywide garage sale weekend.

~ The Mighty Richland Players have a dessert theatre performance this weekend in Orangeville. "Belle of the Wabash" is a musical melodrama by Mike Carver. Set in the 1880s, "Belle of the Wabash" is the story of a group of steamboat performers who are shipwrecked near Galena and find their way to Orangeville where they sing for their supper, so to speak. $20 per person, dessert included.

~ Are you up to participating in the 3/50 Challenge? Visit 3 locally owned, independent businesses that you would miss if they were to go out of business. Spend $50 at locally owned, independent businesses over the course of the month. What local businesses do you love? Bakery, hair salon, restaurant, pharmacy, movie theatre, bookstore, auto service center...there are so many choices. Supporting local businesses can be just as convenient and inexpensive as shopping chain stores, and when you spend $50 at a local, independent business, $34 stays in the community as opposed to only $21.50 staying local when you shop a chain store (or $0 when you shop online).

~ River Valley Trading Company has two workshops this weekend:
Blending Herbal Teas and Tonics, and Creating Herbal Preparations with Local Lovely Weeds. Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, the workshops start at 12:30 with herbal teas along with sweet and savory herbal treats. Cost is $25 for a single workshop or $40 for both. Space is limited, to contact RVTC for a reservation.

Looking ahead to next weekend, make your plans to attend the Brodhead Farm Tours on Saturday.

Things to Do Around Monroe

Happy Thanksgiving! Are you looking for something to do after the traditional dinner is finished?

~ Come to Downtown Monroe on Friday evening for the annual Lighted Holiday Parade. The parade kicks off from the middle school starting at 6 pm. This year's theme is "Frosty and Friends". Many of the entrants will be creative in their use of lighting, and generators are donated for use by PDC.

~ New Glarus lights the Community Holiday Tree this Friday evening at 6:30. Come downtown for all the festivities and join your neighbors to see the magic of the lights.

~ Turner Hall is the setting for the local Christkindlmarkt. This old world holiday shopping event has its roots in the markets dating back to 1432 in Germany. Stop by the Grand Hall between 9 am and 4 pm either Friday or Saturday. There will be a variety of fiber and fabric arts pieces, candles, soaps, floral arrangements, decorations, Scherenschnitte, Kerbschnitte, Holzschnitte (traditional Swiss-German crafts) along with a European cafe and Swiss baked goods.

~ Come to Flannery's William Tell restaurant in New Glarus this Saturday to enjoy live music by Amber Skies starting at 8:30. Amber Skies plays everything from americana to rock. Amber Skies is a popular local band with roots in Belleville.

~ Coffee house night in Freeport! Higher Grounds is hosting a Turkey Jam. Enjoy great music from Aaron Whalen, Nate Yeske and Dustin Hyatt, and Anneliese Schrader. Admission is $5 which includes a $1 coupon. This is our favorite Freeport coffee shop, and a very comfortable place to spend time.

~ Stopy by the Monroe Middle School this Saturday for "Shop for the Cure." Sponsored by the Green County Relay for Life, all proceeds from the day go to the American Cancer Society. There will be more than 40 independent local consultants, vendors and crafters offer a wide variety of gift items, making this a great place to work on your holiday shopping. The day will also include door prizes, raffles, baked goods, and a light lunch.

~ The Family Movie at Lindo Theater in Freeport this Saturday morning will be Planet 51. Bring the kids for a fun movie experience. $5 per person, and the kids will receive a holiday gift.

~ Stop by the Monroe Arts Center to view the items for this year's Silent Auction. This annual event supports all the great programming at MAC. There is usually everything from Dr Najat's honey to framed art pieces, special event dinners in your home to gift cards to local businesses. There is always something for everyone and every price range.

~ The Mighty Richland Players Dinner Theater will present A Christmas Madrigal: Handel and Gretzky" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This laughter filled show will feature songs and comedy from the Renaissance era. Bring your appetite as dinner will be an English groaning board (roast beef dinner). $40 per person, call 815-819-1310 for ticket information.

~ Pick up your tickets for the upcoming Festival of Trees or performance of A Christmas Carol. The deadline for tickets for Festival of Trees is Monday at 10 am; contact Pam at the Chamber to reserve yours (3257648). A Christmas Carol will be performed by the Monroe Theatre Guild the second and third weekends in December. This year, all children under 12 are free with an adult ticket thanks to the generosity of Scrooge (aka John Bauman).