Featured Photo Courtesy of Lung
The Picks: Popcorn Tavern Live Shows, Artist Reception at The Pump House, Upcoming Summer Events & More Weekend Picks!
May 27-29, 2022
New local picks every Thursday evening to get your weekend started! Check back each week to see La Crosse Local’s picks and to make sure not to miss out on events throughout the year.
Photo by Lung
All Weekend
Live Music at the Popcorn Tavern – Look no further for live, local music than at the Popcorn Tavern all weekend long. The venue is kicking off its summer concert series on Friday with The Remainders at 8:30pm. On Saturday stop in for Popcorn Bass, a night full of bass brought to you by a variety of bands including JK, Ginja, and Rusker. Finally on Sunday head down to see the art-punk electric cello & drums rock duo from Cincinnati, Lung, along with local favorite WRST. Audiences can expect early grunge, fuzzy electric guitar, bass riffs, and pounding drum beat sounds for a killer night. The show starts at 9pm and is 21+.
On The Road
Midwest Land Art Biennial – If you’re up for some weekend road trips this summer you may be interested in checking out 4Ground’s Midwest Land Art Biennial, an inaugural contemporary art festival taking place June-August 2022. The festival runs all summer long and includes a full calendar of events, public programs, and suggested road trips that highlight, draw on, and raise awareness for the 10,000+ year tradition of Native land art created in the Upper Midwest. The first official launch event for 4Ground takes place at Franconia Sculpture Park on June 4, 2022.
Photo by We Are The Willows
Friday
Pump House Regional Arts Center Exhibitions – The Pump House recently displayed its newest exhibition featuring four local artists, and guests can attend the Artist Reception on Friday at 5pm. The exhibition includes Hammer Gams by Catherine Williams, The Elect and the Damned by Carole Spelic, JUXTAPOSITION by Susan Morrison, and Beauty and Beyond Disability by Mauree Childress.
Saturday
We Are The Willows with D. Janakey – Head to downtown La Crosse on Saturday night to see We Are The Willows live with D. Janakey at The Root Note. The band stems from the art pop project of Minneapolis based singer/songwriter and producer Peter Miller. The live show starts at 7:30pm and has a cover charge of $10 in advance or $12 at the door. While you’re there, be sure to try something from The Root Note’s menu, which includes food, cocktails, beer, beverages, and coffee.
Photo by Great Rivers United Way
Coming Up
Artspire – La Crosse’s largest, free arts celebration in Downtown La Crosse, Artspire is back again this summer with a full weekend of visual arts, performing arts, dance, theater, literary arts and storytelling, interactive arts, and demonstration arts. Presented and funded by the Pump House Regional Arts Center, Artspire is a free community event that fosters meaningful arts experiences within our diverse community. Situated in La Crosse’s Arts District near the Pump House Regional Arts Center, the celebration runs June 10-11, 2022.
Great River Shakespeare Festival – Running from June 18th to July 31st, come on down to Minnesota’s Premier Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minnesota! The Great River Shakespeare Festival has plenty of drama and excitement in store for it’s 2022 season, including performances of The African Company Presents Richard III, The Taming of the Shrew, and Twelfth Night. Plus there are two additional events, All the Town’s a Stage: A Winona Story and Callithump! that are sure to add to the fun and entertainment. Currently, you can also enter the Great River Shakespeare Festival’s sweepstakes to win tickets to The Taming of the Shrew. The Great River Shakespeare Festival is known to be an essential part of summer in Minnesota and a fantastic theatrical festival, so make your plans to go this summer!
United We Chalk – Join Great Rivers United Way in downtown La Crosse on Saturday, June 4th for their second annual United We Chalk chalk art competition. The event is a family-friendly, all abilities art competition for a great cause, with proceeds going to Great River United Way’s 51 funded programs. There will be cash prizes of $200 each for the People’s Choice winners as well as trophies for a variety of categories. Register to participate (individual or teams of 2-5) or come down to watch and vote for your favorite chalk drawings that you think deserve to win. There will also be food trucks and vendors in attendance.
Photo by Them Coulee Boys
Saturday Brewery Tours – Enjoy Saturday Brewery Tours with Pearl Street Brewery the first Saturday of the month! Tour the brewery, get a PSB pint glass souvenir, one free fill, and a BOGO voucher for participating bars & restaurants. Tours run from 2:30pm to 4:30pm and cost $10.00 in person, but you can reserve your spot online for $11.00.
Live In Viroqua Summer Music on the Streets Series – Join the Viroqua community for Live in Viroqua, the city’s first-ever summer concert series offering free outdoor live music. Every first and third Saturday of June, July, and August, you can come out for an evening of live music from nationally and regionally known musicians including Dead Horses, Them Coulee Boys, Chicken Wire Empire, and more. The venues will include Court Street outside of the Historic Fortney Hotel and Railroad Avenue outside of Driftless Books and Music. Each evening the event will start at 5pm with local food, beverages, and vendors on site, with music playing from 6 to 9pm.
Fourth Fridays – The La Crosse Area Chamber is launching a new summer event in Riverside Park, Fourth Fridays. Occurring every fourth Friday of each month, you can head to Riverside Park for vendors, arts and crafts, music, and fun. The event is family-friendly and free for all ages to attend from 3pm to 7pm.
About La Crosse Local
La Crosse Local is an arts, food, and entertainment podcast and publication for La Crosse County and its surrounding communities.
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