By Devon Welsh
Poem in Your Pocket Day
Thursday, 4/18 | UWSP Libraries, Stevens Point/Wausau/Marshfield
April is National Poetry Month, an opportunity to showcase and promote poetry throughout the country. Poem in Your Pocket Day was created by the American Academy of Poets and is one of the main single-day events of this month-long celebration of poetry. Essentially, the day celebrates sharing poetry – you keep a poem ‘in your pocket’ to share with someone during the course of your day. Poems are available to pick up at any of the UWSP libraries, and can then be shared with friends and strangers alike! You can also share a poem online or by text – there is no wrong way to share a poem for the occasion. While you’re at it, you can check out the large selections of poetry books at all the UWSP libraries. A long list of community partners in Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wausau are also taking part in the event by offering poems to customers. A full list is available on the UWSP Libraries website. All Day. Free. More at libraryguides.uwsp.edu/PIYPD2024
Poetry Reading and Open Mic
Thursday, 4/18 | Whitewater Music Hall, Wausau
Another event celebrating National Poetry Month, this one is a poetry reading featuring former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Max Garland, current Wausau Poet Laureate Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee as well as an open mic that offers local poets a chance to read their own work. Max Garland comes from Eau Claire and was the state’s laureate in 2013-2014 and is also formerly a professor of English at UW-Eau Claire. He has published two award-winning books of poetry. Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee became the second poet laureate of Wausau in 2023. This event is organized in part by the Marathon County Public Library, and it is open to teens and adults without any registration required. 7 pm. Free. For more information call (715) 261-7230.
Earth Day Extravaganza
Sunday, 4/21 | Monk Botanical Gardens, Wausau
Earth Day is an annual event meant to demonstrate support for environmental conservation, officially held on April 22. The occasion has close ties to Wisconsin – two-term governor and three-term senator Gaylord Nelson helped to found the event and organized the inaugural Earth Day in 1970. The event has a long and fascinating history, and remains a focus of organizing for the global environmental movement. Monk Botanical Gardens is putting on an event on the Sunday prior to Earth Day. They are promising family crafts and a spring scavenger hunt, and asking for volunteers to help clean up the gardens. Dress for the weather, since this is an outdoors-only event. The deadline to register is Thursday, so sign up soon. 9 am. $30 per family or group of up to 6. 20% discount for members. More at Monkgardens.org
Erin Krebs Duo
Sunday, 4/21 | Campanile Center for the Arts, Minocqua
Another Wisconsin treasure, Erin Krebs is a jazz vocalist who performs in a number of configurations, including as vocalist for Mama Ginger & the Red Hots, Oshkosh’s Big Band, and the Water City Jazz Orchestra. For her appearance at the Campanile Center for the Arts, Krebs will be performing with her longtime partner, guitarist Jeff Johnston, who has been playing his instrument for over thirty years. Together, they perform a broad range of standards and originals. 2 pm. $27 for adults, $15 for students. More at campanilecenter.org
B2Wins
Tuesday, 4/23 | Grand Theater, Wausau
From the slums of Rio de Janeiro, twin brothers Walter and Wagner Caldas learned to play classical music on violins hand-made by their father. After performing on NPR, the twins earned full scholarships to study music in the US. They now tour as B2Wins, performing a musical blend of electronics, violin and ukulele. Their show is high-energy and covers 40 years of hit songs across a wide range of genres and styles. 7:30 pm. $10-$45. More at grandtheater.org
