Fairs & Festivals

For the Art & Culture Enthusiast

In the spring, head out for one of the finest quality art fairs in the Midwest and attend the Festival of the Arts. The event features the works of more than 50 artists at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. 

Want more local art? Attend ArtsWalk in Downtown Stevens Point. The art-filled evening will feature dancers, musicians and interactive art activities, including the Mass Guitar Incident on the square. 

To learn and experience more of the cultures that create the local communities diversity, plan to attend the AIRO Pow-wow, the Portage County Cultural Festival or the Festival of India. Want to experience a slice of Portage County’s history? Plan to attend Heritage Days at Heritage Park, one of four historical sites in the region.

Music is the backbone for a number of great summertime festivals. Plan to attend Bluegrass in the Pines, hosted at Rosholt Fair Park each summer for this fun filled event. For a different flavor, head to central Wisconsin’s largest jazz festival. The Riverfront Jazz Festival, hosted the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day is held at Pfiffner Pioneer Park along the Wisconsin River. 

Each fall, travel along the nooks and crannies of the Ice Age Trail as it weaves its way through Portage and Waupaca Counties in central Wisconsin for the Hidden Studios Art Tour. The event features working artists’ studios that open their doors for the public. 

Local Iconic Festivals

In January, enjoy the Central Waters Anniversary Bash complete with music and special release beers. Plan ahead here, as tickets are sold in advance and go quickly!

Looking to expand upon ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’? Get the ideas you need the third weekend in June, from the World’s Largest and longest-running renewable energy event, the Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair. Fun for the whole family, featuring workshops, exhibits and demonstrations, live entertainment, and a pancake breakfast on Sunday. While the Energy Fair won't be held in 2021, save the date and get ready for its return June 24-26, 2022!

Potatoes grown here in the Stevens Point Area (known as the golden sands region) aren’t your ordinary spud. Here potatoes have a livelihood all their own. No matter the variety, at the annual Almond Tater Toot in July, potatoes are the cause for the celebration.

Get your motor running to attend the Midwest’s Largest Car Show the Iola Old Car Show & Swap Meet hosted each July. For more fun with equipment, don’t miss the Rosholt Thresheree featuring antique machinery or the Iola Vintage Military & Gun Show to see the classic equipment in action.

Looking for an adventure? Check out PaddleQuest, a paddling-based adventure event with games and scavenger hunts that provide new challenges around every corner. Geared to all skill levels and ages, the event offers two days of fun in August, where canoeing meets Comic-Con (with a side of conservation). 

In the fall, get in the spirit of the season with Stevens Point Brewery’s Pointoberfest, complete with lederhosen and pints. Just before the festivities begin, the event is kicked off with the Blubber Run, a fun run that starts at the brewery.

Kid-Friendly Festivals

Summertime festivals are full of live music, children’s activities, and more family fun. Plan to attend Riverfront Rendezvous at Pfiffner Pioneer Park. Most of the children’s activities will be found in the South Tent, but don’t stop exploring there. Bring your fishing pole and drop in a line for the Carp Classic. (Bonus – the event includes fireworks, too!) 

For more fun, attend Celebrate Plover held annually in late July. The event, held at Lake Pacawa Park, offers a craft, farmer and flea market, local food, live music and fireworks at dark. 

Don’t miss the two fairs in the Stevens Point Area, and attend the Portage County Fair in Amherst and the Portage County Fair in Rosholt. More festival fun can be found in September at Panacea and Celebrate Amherst River Fest.

Need more fun family-friendly event options? Check out the ‘Movie in the Park’ series geared towards families. Held on select Friday’s in the summer, the event features a movie, children’s activities and free popcorn. Or on Wednesday’s you can picnic to the sounds of the Stevens Point City Band, featuring a different theme each week typically run June through August. 

Each spring and fall, don’t miss the Schmeeckle Reserve’s Candlelight Hike Festival. Each event features family friendly activities, campfires (and s’mores of course!) as well as hiking paths lit with torches (in the spring) and carved pumpkins (in the fall).