Things to do around Monroe, WI

~ Take a tour of the old world at the annual Amish Quilt Auction. Bid on hundreds of handmade quilts, Amish made furniture, collectibles, and even horse implements. Bake sale and hand made ice cream made with a diesel engine featured. The auction is on Saturday at the Amish Schoolhouse - corner of Hwy. 104 and Atkinson Rd.

~ Turn your trip to the auction into an adventure. Bicycle there by joining the ride sponsored by Bombay Bicycle Club, and the Earth Rider van will bring your purchases back for you. Meet at Earth Rider in Brodhead at 8:00am for the ride. Pace 12-14 mph; Distance: 24 miles; Route: Moderate.

~ Come to New Glarus on Saturday to celebrate the 108th Anniversary of the New Glarus Fire Department. This fundraising event will feature bucket brigades, water fights, children's activities and live music. There will be food stands throughout the day, and there is a steak fry in the evening.

~ If you are experimenting with gardening this year and are curious about how to put up your bounty for winter, consider attending the food preservation workshop sponsored by UW Extension. This one day workshop is from 9 am to 3 pm at Pecatonica High School in Blanchardville. There is a $25 per person charge that includes preservation publications that you will be able to take home. Contact Bridget Mouchon at 328-9440 to register.

~ Fore! Join the YPs of Green County for their annual golf outing this Friday. Registration is required, so get over to their website to print out the form and get it in. $45 per person includes 9 holes at the Monroe County Club, beer on the course, and dinner. Tee time is 5:30.

~ The Green County Entrepreneurs Monday at 6:30 PM at the AmericInn Lodge conference room in Monroe. This month's speakers is Kate Walker from the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation.

~ The free outdoor movie in Cedarville this Friday evening is "Calamity Jane". The movie starts at dusk, and there will be series of shorts in addition to the main feature.

~ Downtown Freeport will be happening this weekend. Friday evening is Brats, Beer & Blues at the Freeport Art Museum. Saturday, it is Cruise Night. Classic cars will fill the downtown lots. Starting at 7, the drivers can cruise around downtown Freeport as the roads closed to other traffic. Spectators line the street light a parade to enjoy the show. There is also a burnout contest, winners judged by applause and amount of smoke.

~ Don't forget about the great farmers markets happening in the region: Monroe, Monticello, Paoli, Belleville, Orangeville, Lena... Come out, meet your producer and get some great food straight from the source.

Things to do around Monroe this week

~ Stop by the Historic Cheesemaking Center at 4 pm for the groundbreaking for their newest addition: a farmstead cheese plant that is being restored after sitting dormant for nearly 100 years. This is an exciting addition to the Center, and should be ready to host live demonstrations of cheesemaking in the late 1800 to early 1900s later this year.

~ Bring your picnic dinner and lawn chair to Monroe's Downtown Square on Thursday evening for the Concert on the Square. Spare Time Bluegrass Band is playing this time, with the music starting at 6:30. If you prefer not to pack your own dinner, order a boxed supper from one of the Downtown restaurants. There will be a beer garden raising funds for the Green County Humane Society.

~ This weekend is the Heidi Festival in New Glarus. The festivities get underway on Friday and run through Sunday. Grab a meal at the Lions Club BBQ or the Taste of New Glarus, browse the arts and crafts fair or local merchants, enjoy a wagon ride or listen to (or dance to!) the music at this traditional small town festival. The Dairy Days parade is on Saturday with the crowning of the New Glarus dairy queen.

~ Join local bicycling enthusiasts this Saturday evening for a ride on the Badger State Trail. How does Stewart Tunnel look in the moonlight?? Meet at the Monticello Trail Head at Cty EE along the east edge of the village. Time: 7:30 pm; Pace: 10-12 mph; Distance 10 miles. Co-sponsored by the Bombay Bicycle Club and the Friends of the Badger State Trail.

~ The Friends of the Badger State Trail are also sponsoring a smart cycling class on Sunday. The free class will cover topics like fixing a flat, bicycle safety checks,on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. Meet at the Monroe trail head by Twining Park at 9 am. A trail pass is required ($4).

~ It must be a safety focused weekend here in Green County. Monroe Area Skate Enthusiasts are hosting their 3rd Annual Skate Board Clinic on Saturday from 1-4 pm at Honey Creek Skate Park (rain date is July 10). This event is sponsored by Monroe Park & Rec, organized and conducted by MASE. All participants must have a safety helmet and pads to participate in this free camp. Ages 7 and up.

~ Children of all ages! The Zor Shrine Circus is coming to town this Saturday as well. Bring the kids to enjoy the show at the Green County Fairgrounds in Monroe. There are two shows: 4:30 and 7:30 pm. Free tickets for children can be found at many area businesses and public libraries.

~ For next week, don't miss the Pork Producers Pig Out on Wednesday evening. Pick up your dinner, dine in or drive up, at SLICE from 4:30 until 8:30 pm.

~ Also next week, Monroe Theatre Guild's production of Music Man opens on Friday evening. Pick up advance tickets to the show at the box office at the STAGE building or by calling 325-1111.

~ Finally, don't forget about the area Farmers Markets.

• The new market in Monticello kicks off this week on Friday starting at 2:30. The Sugar River Market will take place on Tuesday and Fridays through October from 2:30 to 6:30 across from Lake Montesian.
  
• The Monroe Market on the Square takes place on Wednesdays from 2 to 5:30 pm and Saturdays from 8 until 1 on the north side of the Square.
  
• Belleville's Farmer's Market opened last weekend. It is in the library park on Wednesdays from 2 to 6 and Saturdays from 8 until noon.
• The market in Darlington is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am until 7 pm at the fair grounds.
• The Paoli market opens in June, and takes place in the park on Wednesdays from 3 until 6 and Saturdays from 9 until 1.
  

Things to Do Around Monroe

I should have posted some of these events a few days ago because there are some great things happening tonight!

~ The second Stirring the Pot picnic and discussion event takes place this evening on the lawn of the Monroe Arts Center. Chef demonstrations begin at 5:30. Bring your blanket, your dinner and enjoy watching Representative Brett Davis with his friends from Peppercorn Banquets as well as Chef Kate Thomas from BTC as they show us how to prepare some favorite dishes. Discussion will follow the cooking demonstrations, and stay for the live music.

~ Also this evening is the annual Pork Producers Dinner. This popular annual event moved to July this year, and it now takes place at SLICE. Tickets are $8 at the door, and serving starts at 5 pm.

~ The Young Professionals of Green County have a business showcase at Kookaburra's on Monroe's Downtown Square on Thursday evening. Laura will be demonstrating how to make some fun and easy summer appetizers and dinners along with Stef from Goose Chaser Farms. $10 per person.

~ Belleville hosts Bastille Day this Saturday. Who knew we celebrated that here in Green County? The day is full of family events: K-12 talent show, live music, fishing demonstrations and contest, quilt show, bike races, wine and cheese tasting and more. Stop by the Green County Humane Society area in Liberty Park to celebrate Bastille day fully - by liberating a pet and adopting it. Hey, we can be cheesy here in Green County, can't we?

~ Brodhead hosts Twilight in the Park on Sunday evening. This live music event in Veteran's Park is free for everyone. This week's featured act is Opan Jii playing jazz. There is also music at Toffler's in New Glarus on Saturday evening. Join them to hear the Kristy Larson Honky Tonk Trio.

~ The Stephenson County Fair is going on all weekend at the fairgrounds in Freeport. From 4-H judging to grandstand events and demolition derbies, all the classics are here. Are you up for something special? Participate in the American Barnstormers Flying Circus! Aviation enthusiasts have the opportunity to go up in a vintage bi-plane for ride. Go all out and sign up for the Stearman flight. This is a trainer plane, and for 30 minutes, the passenger will be able to fly. The pilot will handle take off and landing, but once in the air, the flying is up to you. No flying experience is required. Interested? Call 815-232-1078 to sign up.

~ Lena is host to wilderness survival skills workshop this Saturday. The focus is Nature Observation, Movement and Camouflage. Learn to how move in the woods without being seen or heard. All ages are welcome, contact the Lena Parks Department to register (815-990-0146).

~ Finish off a fun filled Freeport Saturday with Stargazing at Oakdale Nature Preserve. The Tricounty Astronomers will be at Oakdale at dusk to watch the night sky.

~ Next week, be sure to keep your calendar clear! It is Farm Technology Days (interesting even for cityfolk in my opinion), the Green County Fair, Fairy Tale Theatre performances, the youth triathlon, and Christmas in July on Monroe's Downtown Square. Can we get a couple more days in our weekend please??

~ Biking enthusiasts! There is still time to sign up for next week's Swiss Cheese and Spotted Cow bike tour. This event takes place from July 22 through July 26. Tour the gorgeous back roads of Green and Lafayette Counties as you travel from Mineral Point to New Glarus, Monroe, Galena and finally back to Mineral Point. All of these communities are well know and frequently mentioned in Midwest Living as places to go. Microbrews, local foods, wineries, art studios, bakeries, chocolates, cheeses, beautiful countryside and charming small communities await. You'll average about 60 miles a day over rolling terrain with stops in all of the best places. Participants rave about this tour and come in from all over the nation. Local bike riders, are you ready for a vacation in your backyard?