Visitors to the Northwoods of Wisconsin will find a calendar of fun events all year round, from winter festivals and food fairs to community celebrations and car shows. Here’s a look at some of Vilas County’s signature events you shouldn’t miss on your next visit to northern Wisconsin.
Find more Vilas County events here.
Conover: Northwoods Blizzard Blast, February
Winter weather fans: Head to Conover in eastern Vilas County in February for the annual Northwoods Blizzard Blast, a celebration of the snowy season. This daylong event raises money for local fire and EMS departments and features fun activities like ice bowling, skating, sledding, a dogsled dash, a craft bazaar and more.
Find more Conover events here.
Phelps: Maple Syrup Fest, April
Tap into maple syrup season at this sweet festival in Phelps in early spring. Maple Syrup Fest is a family-friendly event that includes an arts & crafts show, tree-tapping and maple syrup cooking demonstrations, tasty treats at the Maple Café, tours of local sugarbushes, and more. Learn more about Maple Syrup Fest here.
Find more Phelps events here.
Manitowish Waters: Wheels, Wings & Watercraft Show, May
Formerly known as the Manitowish Waters Annual Car & Boat Show, this event is held on the grounds of the Manitowish Waters Community Center and features an impressive display of airplanes, classic cars and trucks, vintage boats, and motorcycles. The show also features kids’ activities, a vendor booth, and food and live music sponsored by Little Bohemia Lodge. Learn more about the Wheels, Wings & Watercraft Show here.
Find more Manitowish Waters events here.
Presque Isle: Presque Isle Days, June
Held every June at Presque Isle’s Community Center, this fun event celebrates northern Wisconsin’s logging history with lumberjack shows and competitions, old-fashioned kids’ games, eating contests, live music, and more. The lumberjack show includes unique competitions like speed carving, obstacle pole racing, axe throwing, and log rolling.
Find more Presque Isle events here.
Eagle River: Burger Bash, July
Vilas County visitors can capture the spirit of a backyard cookout in downtown Eagle River every July at the city’s annual Burger Bash. This family-friendly event includes an arts and crafts show, live music, sidewalk sales, and (of course) delicious burgers. Kids can enjoy a variety of backyard games like cornhole and giant Jenga. Learn more about Burger Bash here.
Find more Eagle River events here.
Boulder Junction: Musky Jamboree, August
Boulder Junction is known as the Musky Capital of the World®, so it only makes sense that the town has an annual festival to celebrate this famous fish. Musky Jamboree weekend is held every August and features a full calendar of exciting events, from Friday night’s street party featuring live music to the Musky Jamboree Car Show and Arts & Crafts Show on Sunday. Learn more about Musky Jamboree here.
Find more Boulder Junction events here.
Sayner-Star Lake: Sayner Street Fair, August
In early August, the Sayner-Star Lake Chamber of Commerce welcomes visitors to central Vilas County to join the fun at the annual Street Fair in downtown Sayner. The event includes arts and crafts vendors, live music, kids’ activities, food and refreshments, and other activities throughout town.
Find more events in Sayner-Star Lake here.
Lac du Flambeau: Wild Rice Fest, September
Head to Lac du Flambeau in the fall for a taste of Native American culture and heritage at the town’s annual Wild Rice Fest. The daylong event in downtown Lac du Flambeau includes a wild rice harvesting demonstration, fry bread and wild rice cooking competitions, games, and a powwow at the Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl.
Learn more about Lac du Flambeau here.
Minocqua Area: Beef-A-Rama™, September
Where’s the beef? Well, it’s at Beef-A-Rama™ in downtown Minocqua during the last weekend of September. This annual event welcomes thousands of visitors to the Island City for a celebration of everything beef—events include the Rump Roast Run, beef cook-offs, games, live music, a craft show, and more. Learn more about Beef-A-Rama here.
Find more events in the Minocqua Area here.
St. Germain: Colorama, September
St. Germain welcomes fall colors to the Northwoods at this annual craft fair and fall celebration held at St. Germain Community Park. In addition to arts and crafts vendors, Colorama includes a farmers’ market with seasonal produce and other products, live entertainment, wagon rides, and more.
Find more St. Germain events here.
Land O’ Lakes: Zombie Crawl, October
Spooky season hits its stride in Land O’ Lakes every October, as the town hosts its annual Zombie Crawl, where participants put on their Halloween finest and travel to Land O’ Lakes bars and restaurants via shuttlebus. The event also features live music and dancing, a costume contest, and drink specials at local businesses. Land O’ Lakes Arts also offers free zombie makeup sessions if you don’t have a costume.
Find more Land O’ Lakes events here.
