With A Farmer's Market, Weekly Music, And Seasonal Festival, There's Nothing Like A Summer Weekend In This Wisconsin Town
By Ben Jones|Published July 18, 2023
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
There are scores of Wisconsin towns that offer a farmers market, weekly music and a summer festival – just pick a county and you’ll find several places that check these boxes. But a few towns offer an unbeatable mix of fun that’s worthy of a long weekend. Shawano is a place like this. Tucked into the heart of Wisconsin, this charming town is livelier than ever, with gorgeous outdoor concerts, an awesome farmers market held every Saturday, and an iconic summer festival that’s filled with family fun and worthy of putting on the calendar. Welcome to Shawano, a seriously underrated Wisconsin getaway spot.
Shawano is located in northeastern Wisconsin, about 40 miles northwest of Green Bay. It’s right on the beautiful Wolf River, which offers a mix of recreational opportunities and plenty of scenic beauty.
The Wolf River is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and water sports. The area offers opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Shawano Lake, on the city’s east side, covers over 6,000 acres and is a destination for fishing, swimming, boating, and fun in the sun.
While there’s a lot to do in the great outdoors, for a complete Shawano experience, you’ll want to head downtown. There’s a nice mix of stores and restaurants and plenty of fun things happening every weekend.
Don’t forget to pack your dancing shoes! Arrive Thursday night to catch Thursdayz @ Franklin, a free live community concert that features some of the best bands in north central Wisconsin. If you can’t make a Thursday show, head to Arlington Park on Sunday for a Summer of Music free performance. The concerts feature polka and instrumental classics. And if you miss these shows, there are numerous other opportunities for live performances – this is a town that loves music!
A weekly farmers market takes place every Saturday in Washington Street. Grab a cup of coffee and explore a vibrant selection of fruits, vegetables, and flowers grown in the rich surrounding farmland.
Don’t miss Shawanofest, an annual festival that takes place each July. It takes place in Franklin Park, and it features a car show, craft vendors, kids' activities, music, and more.
I just love Shawano – I stayed here last year and was really impressed by the new park development downtown. This is a city on the move! Find the perfect lodging on Booking.com, and here’s where to find more things to see and do in Wisconsin.
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