Ego Con
Saturday, Aug. 19 | Sentry Curling Center, Plover
Calling all you good Doctors! Ego Con has been a long-running Doctor Who, sci-fi, fantasy and just general all things geek convention in the Plover area, and it’s back for another year. Come check out Dalek builders, fantasy authors, wood carvers, artists and more, plus panels that include learning to build your own over-sized game. Past year’s have included life-size Dalek models so that’s worth the price of admission right there. Get your geek on and head to Plover. $13 in advance, at Gaming Generations and Kindred Spirit Books, or $15 at the door. 10 am. Egocon.org.
Vintage game night – Video Games
Thursday, Aug. 17 | Marathon County Historical Society, Wausau
Do you like vintage video games? Well then, you’re in for a treat. The Marathon County Historical Society has been doing these vintage games nights for a while, but they were typically focused on board games, which is fun too. But for this event, they’re focusing on those loveable video games from the past. Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, you name it, they’ve got it. And, they’ll have volunteers on hand to help you learn any games you don’t know. 5 pm. Game time! Check out Marathon County Historical Society on Facebook for more details.
Pickleball Slam-O-Rama tournament
Fri.-Sun., Aug. 18-20, Marathon Park, Wausau
Have you been playing pickleball, and think your skills are tough to beat? Marathon County will once again host this pickleball tournament at Marathon Park, which recently got its own newly developed pickleball courts through fundraising by the local pickleball club. They’ve got a variety of divisions, so there ought to be good competition for all ability levels in the sport. So grab your paddle, go register on the Wausau/Marathon County Parks Department website, and good luck! Check out Slam-O-Rama on Facebook or check out the Parks Department’s website for sign-up information.
Wausau Night Market
Thursday, Aug. 17 | 400 Block, Wausau
Although many of us miss Marketplace Thursdays, the Wausau Night Market is somewhat the spiritual successor to that event. This is the third such night market in the first year of the new event, and it’s the last one of year as far as we know. Check out vendors from around the region, with art, pottery, jewelry, local food, clothing and all kinds of things produced locally. Plus, live music and sidewalk dining. 5-8 pm. Wausauriverdistrict.org.
Big Bull Falls Blues Fest
Fri.-Sat., Aug. 18-19 | Fern Island, Wausau
No blues festival in Wisconsin has been running as long as the Big Bull Falls Blues Fest, right here in Wausau. It’s two straight days of non-stop blues from some of the top performers in the genre. On Friday, see Stefen Geisenger Band (5 pm), Barefoot Jimmy and the Blues Disciples (7 pm) and Lil’ Ed (9pm); and on Saturday, check out Kara Grainger (1 pm), Ghost Town Blues Band (3 pm), Albert Cummings (5 pm), The Jimmy’s w/ Marcia Ball (7 pm) and Walter Trout (9 pm). Tickets are $60 for both days, $120 for VIP tickets. Plenty of food, drinks and apparel sold at the festival, and bring your own chairs (but, you know, no tents or awnings – other people need to be able to see too). Wausauevents.org.
Bradley Sperger
Saturday, Aug. 19 | Mosinee Brewing Company, Mosinee
Bradley Sperger is one of the more unique of the young talented musicians coming out of central Wisconsin these days. Sperger is a one-man band – literally. He uses live looping to build songs right on the spot, playing the drums and the bass parts into the sequence before grabbing his guitar and singing over the whole thing. He plays covers and has some outstanding originals too. What better place to see Sperger than at Mosinee Brewing Company, with it’s delicious beer selection, Wisconsin-made decor and wide open, spacious area. 7 pm. Mosineebrewing.com
