- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
The first time I did the Fresh Art Tour, I ended up in a potter’s barn on a gravel road outside Maiden Rock, holding a handmade mug while the potter walked me through how every piece gets its glaze. I hadn’t planned on stopping there. I’d just followed a little sign. That’s the whole magic of this tour.
Twice a year, the artists who live and work along this stretch of the river open their studios to anyone who wants to stop by. Not their galleries, their actual workspaces: the barns, workshops, churches and back rooms where the pottery gets thrown, the prints get pulled and the iron gets hammered. It’s been happening for more than 25 years, and it’s one of my favorite ways to spend a day on the Great River Road.
The next tour is June 4–6, 2027. There’s also a fall tour each year, usually the first weekend of October, timed for peak color on the bluffs. Studios are typically open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fall 2026 tour featured about 50 artists at 30 sites across Pepin, Pierce and Buffalo Counties, and the 2027 lineup will be posted at freshart.org closer to the tour.
There’s no ticket and no set route. Pull up the tour map, circle the studios that interest you, then follow the Fresh Art Tour signs. Some stops are right on Highway 35. Others are tucked down gravel roads in the hills, which is half the fun. The artists are there to talk, and most of them light up when you ask how they work. Ask. That’s where the best part of the day happens.
Every tour is a little different, but here are some of the artists and studios from the most recent fall tour, so you can get a feel for the range.
The roster changes from tour to tour, so check the map before you go.
Start at The Kitchen Table on Broad Street. Order the Hangover Hash, grab a coffee to go and head south on Highway 35.
Work your way down the Mississippi, stopping at the studios in Bay City and Maiden Rock. The river views between stops are worth slowing down for.
Make Stockholm your lunch stop. It’s a tiny village packed with makers, and you can hit several studios in a few blocks. When you need a break, grab a slice of Montmorency cherry pie and a Swedish hand pie at Stockholm Pie & General Store.
After lunch, head up into the hills toward Plum City, or continue to Pepin. This is where the map takes you down roads you’d never find on your own, to studios in barns and farmhouses. Take your time. There’s no wrong order.
Follow the river road home and end the day with dinner on the river. If you can, stay the night and do the other half of the map tomorrow.
If you love the Fresh Art Tour, put the Stockholm Art Fair on your calendar too. It’s been going for more than 50 years. Every July, more than 90 juried artists set up in Stockholm Village Park on the shore of the Mississippi, with live music, food vendors and an art-making booth for kids. The 2027 fair is Saturday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park in the upper lot on Mill Street and ride the free shuttle down.
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.
