- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
Some of my favorite memories in this valley happened on a random Saturday when I stumbled into a street dance, a parade, or a sky full of hot air balloons. The river towns from St. Croix Falls to Pepin know how to throw a party, and nearly every season brings a new reason to visit.
Here’s what to put on your calendar, season by season.
When most towns hibernate, Prescott heads outside. Winterfest brings cold-weather fun, live local music, meat raffles, and specials at shops and restaurants around town. It’s small-town Wisconsin at its coziest: bundle up, grab something warm, and bar-hop down Broad Street with friends.
This is one of the most magical winter events in the Midwest. Picture dozens of colorful hot air balloons rising over a snowy landscape at sunrise. A friend dragged me out of bed before dawn for the mass ascension, and the moment the first balloon lifted off, I stopped complaining about the cold.
Don’t miss: The Friday night torchlight parade and the Saturday evening moon glow, when the balloons light up against the night sky. Many downtown shops and restaurants run specials all weekend.
Good to know: Launches depend on the weather, so check the schedule the morning of. Dress warmly. You’ll be standing outside.
Fans of the Little House books gather at the Little House Wayside, the replica cabin at Laura’s birthplace, to celebrate her birthday each February. It’s a sweet, simple celebration and a lovely excuse for a winter drive down the Great River Road.
Just a short drive from Prescott, Ellsworth is the official Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin, and every June it throws a party worthy of the title. USA Today readers have ranked it among the best specialty food festivals in the country four years running, and after one visit, you’ll understand why.
The first time I went, a friend told me to wear stretchy pants. She was right. We worked our way down Food Truck Alley sampling hand-battered, deep-fried curds made with Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery curds, a different dipping sauce with every basket. Each year brings an exclusive festival flavor, and there’s a top-secret dessert curd that gives mini doughnuts a run for their money.
Don’t miss: The cheese curd eating contest, the classic car show, and the Craft & Curd pairing, where local breweries compete for the best beer-and-curd match. Grab a Spotted Cow and settle in for live music.
Good to know: Admission, parking, and the festival shuttle are all free. Tasting experiences require tickets and sell out, so buy early. Pick up a bag of fresh squeaky curds at the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery on your way home.
Hudson kicks off the summer with carnival rides, food, music, and fireworks over the St. Croix. It’s a classic small-town Fourth, and kids love the midway.
For nearly 70 years, St. Croix Falls and its Minnesota neighbor, Taylors Falls, have celebrated the river spirit with Wannigan Days. The name comes from the floating shelters loggers used during the old river log drives. Expect two parades, street dances, live music at the downtown overlook, a kid zone, arts and crafts, and a fun run.
A friend’s favorite part is the tug-of-war across the river, with one team on each side. Only here.
For one day, more than 90 juried artists fill the shady village park in tiny Stockholm, overlooking the Mississippi. Pottery, jewelry, paintings, glass, woodwork, and folk art are all here, with live music drifting through the trees. I always go with a plan to “just look” and come home with something handmade.
Good to know: It’s a one-day event, and parking fills fast. Get there early.
RiverFest is Hudson’s “party with a purpose,” celebrating the St. Croix while helping protect it. The week kicks off with a community river cleanup, some of it by kayak, followed by nature programs, family activities, live music, and a movie night under the stars.
On summer evenings, bring a lawn chair to Hudson’s riverfront bandshell for free live music with the St. Croix as your backdrop. The lineup ranges from jazz orchestras and big bands to opera and local rock. A friend makes it a weekly tradition: takeout from downtown, a blanket on the grass, and music as the boats drift by.
Good to know: Most shows start at 7 PM. Arrive early for the popular ones.
The Pierce County Fair has been a local tradition for more than a century, and it’s four of the best days of summer. There’s everything you want in a county fair: 4-H animal shows, barns full of exhibits, carnival rides, magicians, a truck and tractor pull, and a demolition derby that brings out the whole county.
A friend’s kids spend the day hopping between the livestock barns and the midway, while she makes a beeline for the food stands. Of course, in the Cheese Curd Capital, the fresh curds are a must.
Don’t miss: The demolition derby and the evening drone show.
Good to know: Buy admission tickets online to skip the line. Derby tickets are sold separately and are cheaper in advance.
With more than 50 vendors, Hudson’s Saturday market is the place to stock up on fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and food truck treats. A friend’s kids always make a beeline for the mini doughnut truck and the lemonade stand.
Good to know: Open 8 AM to noon at Faith Community Church on Carmichael Road.
Right in Prescott, the Borner Farm Project is a working urban farm that hosts summer pizza nights. Grab a slice, a cold drink, and a shady spot, and enjoy an evening on the farm.
Good to know: Pizza nights are seasonal. Follow them on Facebook for dates.
This is Prescott’s biggest celebration, and I’m biased, but it’s the best weekend of the year. The whole town comes out for four days of family fun on the river.
Past years have featured a medallion hunt with clues posted around town, a fishing contest at the boat launch, a car show, a cheese curd booth, kids’ games in Lions Park, and a Saturday night street dance with live music. Sunday brings a pancake breakfast and music in the park, and yes, sometimes llamas.
Good to know: Admission is free. Book your stay early, because this weekend fills up fast.
Laura Days is Pepin’s big celebration of its most famous daughter. Visitors dress in prairie clothes, fiddlers compete on stage, and craftspeople demonstrate the skills Laura would have known, with some demonstrations held by candlelight in the evening. There are kid-friendly games, crafts, and plenty of food.
Don’t miss: The fiddle contest. And wear your bonnet. You won’t be the only one.
This free, one-day event takes over Osceola’s airport with an aerobatic air show, vintage planes, and hundreds of classic cars and motorcycles. A friend’s son still talks about the pilots doing loops overhead while he ate pancakes at the breakfast.
Good to know: Admission is free. Arrive early for the pancake breakfast and best parking.
Make downtown Prescott your home base and book direct with us: The Port of Prescott for boutique king suites steps from the river, Port After Dark for romantic suites made for couples, The Harbor Hotel for themed rooms and extended stays, and The Cove Guest House for downtown condos and group getaways.
