Many of you may be familiar with the Paine Art Museum for its wonderful exhibits throughout the year and with the Nutcracker over the holidays, but you may not have heard about Festival of Spring. This is a free outdoor festival featuring the Paine’s annual Spring Plant Sale and more than 200 vendors of original art, fine crafts, plants and garden supplies. There is also the corner flea market which is located at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Congress Street. there will be plenty of great food and entertainment throughout the day as well. While there, tour the Paine’s spring garden featuring more than 10,000 blooming spring wildflowers, tulips, daffodils and flowering trees.
Kick off the garden season at the Paine’s annual Spring Plant Sale widely recognized by gardening enthusiasts and master gardeners for its unique selection of rare and unusual plants. Choose from annuals including the “Perennial Plant of the Year” as well as a wide selection of unusual herbs and wildflowers.
Mingle with the Paine’s friendly staff and volunteers who are eager to offer recommendations and answer your questions. With more than 200 vendors of garden supplies, original art and crafts, it is a festival not to be missed, so plan on attending the Paine’s annual Festival of Spring on Saturday, May 18.
Last year was the first year of for this winter celebration and this year is expected to be better than the last. This outdoor event is great for the entire family. It takes place, Saturday, February 16th.
One of Oshkosh’s most unique events is the Dragon Boat Race Festival this Saturday, September 22nd from 9:00 AM -4:00 PM. These ornate dragonboats are each fully laden with a crew of paddlers that race on the Fox River. The Dragonboat Races are done as part of a Chinese cultural tradition that dates back more than two millennia. Since 2006, the races have become one of the highlights of fall in Oshkosh. In addition to watching the races, spectators will enjoy a full day of entertainment on the Main Stage at the Leach Amphitheater. Okinawan Drummers, a magic show, a jump rope demonstration, cheerleading, jugglers and other live entertainment are scheduled.
LiFest which starts July 11 and goes through July 15 has been around since 1990. It started originally in Appleton as a run/walk fundraiser. Since then a Christian music festival was added and moved to Oshkosh at Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh. Last year it hit is second largest attendance ever with over 16,500 people. Some music headliners include Newsboys, Skillet and Lincoln Brewster are just to name a few. There will also be a 5K run/walk, Zero Gravity which performs action sports with high energy music, petting zoo, art space, skatepark, basketball, volleyball and dodgeball tournaments, archery and a prayer journey.
Rock USA goes on from July 12-14 at Ford Festival Park in Oshkosh. A few bands you can expect to see there this year are Skid Row, Papa Roach, Shinedown on Thursday, Hinder, Tesla and Montely Crue on Friday night, and Kid Rock on Saturday.
Saturday is the weekly farmers market downtown on Main St. from 8:00-12:30. Then head down to the annual Brews and Blues Festival at the Leach Amphitheater from 4:00-8:00 where the money raised goes towards local charities. This year, all proceeds will go towards the Take 5 club which helps needy children in the community receive new school clothes so they fit in with everyone else and don’t get teased and bullied because the clothes they wear are too small, don’t fit or worn out. Brewers will be on hand and attendees have the opportunity to sample over 100 brews while enjoying background music from several local blues-esque bands.
Gallery Walk is also happening downtown Oshkosh from 6:00-9:00.