Looking for something to do this weekend? City Pages has you covered. Check out The Big Guide in your copy of City Pages for complete event listings.
Central Wisconsin Book Festival
Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2023
If you love books, this weekend is basically your Super Bowl. The Central Wisconsin Book Festival has become a staple of the Wausau area. Hosted by the Marathon County Public Library, the festival includes book readings, author appearances, and events that go beyond the library. The festivities begin on Thursday, and they continue on all weekend until Sunday. See https://mcpl.us/cwbf/ for a complete list of events. A few events that look especially interesting:
Poet Laureate Night Sat · 9/30, Whitewater Music Hall. Join past and present Wausau Poet Laureates as well as the current Wisconsin Poet Laureate in an evening of poetry readings. 7 pm
Small Town Wisconsin with Mary Bergin · 9/30, Marathon County Public Library, Wausau. Freelance writer Mary Bergin is probably familiar to many readers in the Wausau area as her writing was often featured in the Sunday edition of the Wausau Daily Herald in addition to publications around the state. She’ll discuss her newest book that looks at some hidden gems of the Bager State. 11:30 am
Local Author Spotlight with Nikki Kallio and Kathy Sherwood · 9/29, Portage County Library, Stevens Point. Join local authors Nikki Kallio and Kathy Sherwood as they discuss their works and the publishing process for emerging authors. 5:30 pm
Brian Regan
Wednesday, 10/4 | Grand Theater, Wausau
Brian Regan has been a powerhouse in comedy for a long time. How long? He made his television debut on the Tonight Show back in 1991, when it was still hosted by Johnny Carson, after starting standup in the 1980s. He’s never stopped since, with numerous television appearances, comedy specials and comedy albums. He recently released a comedy sketch program on Netflix that was produced by Jerry Seinfeld. Regan is known for keeping his act pretty clean, while also incorporating facial expression and body language. 7:30 pm. $45-$78. Grandtheater.org
WCT: God of Carnage
Thurs-Sat, 10/5-7 | Whitewater Music Hall, Wausau
This is actually a side production by the Wausau Community Theatre group. This play starts with a group of parents trying to civilly resolve a simple playground dispute, but it very quickly descends into chaos in this uproarious comedy. And since it’s held at Whitewater Music Hall, patrons can enjoy a craft cocktail or beer from the music hall before enjoying the show. 7 pm. $18. There are a limited number of table seats that are first-come, first serve. https://www.wausaucommunitytheatre.org/
Old-Fashioned Harvest Festival
Sunday, 10/1 | Willow Springs Gardens, Maine
It’s decorative gourd season, and that means that there are plenty of corn mazes, harvest fests and other fall festivities. Willow Springs Garden will host its own Harvest Fest this Sunday, and it’s full of fun for the kids and adults alike, including a craft section, bounce house, face painting, and live music. There will be a breakfast from 9-11 am, a charcaol chicken and ham buffet from noon-3 pm plus wagon rides all day. And of course, you can’t miss the corn maze, which will be open for the fest. 9 am. willowspringsgardens.com
Wausau Grass Drags
Fri-Sat, 9/30-10/1 | Trailmates Snowmobile Club, Wausau
There’s just nothing quite like the high-octane scream of snowmobiles, but because of this yearly event, you don’t have to wait until the snow flies! The grass drags and swap meet will be ongoing Friday and Saturday at the Trailmates Snowmobile Club at 140914 Stettin Drive. Gates open at noon on Friday and Saturday at 8 am. Watch various classes of snowmobiles race across the grass, plus watch the dirt pullers tear up the separate dirt track and browse numerous vendors on the site. $10 per day, no weekend passes. trailmatesclub.com
