The Picks: Upcoming Music Festivals, Live Local Music at the Popcorn Tavern, and More Weekend Picks!

July 17-17, 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 Mid West Music Fest

Featured Event Giveaway

Mid West Music Festival – La Crosse Ticket Giveaway – Win a pair of tickets to Mid West Music Festival – La Crosse for the September festival. You can see regional acts from all genres of music and enjoy a whole weekend of entertainment and fun (more details below). Enter now to win!

Photo by Great River Shakespeare Festival

All Month

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 its 2022 season, including performances of The African Company Presents Richard III, Always…Patsy Cline, 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. 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!

Photo by Cloud Caravan

All Weekend

Live Local Music at the Popcorn Tavern – Live music this weekend at the Popcorn Tavern featuring local bands and artists. On Friday night, stop down to see Horrible Redenbacher for a fusion of funk and rock, and the Winona-based indie rock band with blues roots and a jam-band vibe, Cloud Caravan. The music continues all weekend with Popcorn Bass on Saturday and Popcorn Cuban Music Night on Sunday.

Photo by Mid West Music Fest

Coming Up

Mid West Music Fest 2022 La Crosse – Mid West Music Fest is coming to La Crosse this September for a weekend of music, entertainment and the arts! Featuring regional artists for over 13 years, the festival promotes music and art of all genres and mediums and supports the connection of the community to our local music and art scenes throughout the area. This special Driftless region festival was held earlier this year in Winona, and the second festival is approaching quickly. This year’s lineup in Winona included Poliça, Bad Bad Hats, Durry, and many more! Check out the lineup for the La Crosse Mid West Music Fest coming up in September here. Get your tickets now and get ready for a final weekend of entertainment, music, and the arts!

Cheech’s Deecefest – Prepare for the third annual Cheech’s Deecefest Family Music Festival from July 29th to the 31st! Presented by Deece Productions, the festival is an all-ages, family-friendly event held in Smith Valley at Bluebird Springs Campground. The weekend will include live performances by local and regional artists and bands, including TUGG, Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball, The Lake Effect, Matt Mahlum, and many more. Cheech’s Deecefest weekend passes are $50 and can be purchased at Deaf Ear Records, Tree Hugger’s Coop, Cannabiz Depot, Instrument Repair of La Crosse, and online at Deece Productions. The festival is free for kids under 10.

19th Annual La Crosse Storytelling Festival – The annual La Crosse Storytelling Festival is returning on July 22nd and 23rd for its 19th year of storytelling performances at the Pump House Regional Arts Center Theater. Proudly the first ever Storytelling Festival in Wisconsin, the festival will draw the nationally recognized storytellers Jeff Doyle, Pippa White, and Kay Weeden. The Storytelling Festival is a family friendly event with a variety of talented storytellers and performances, kids’ activities, food, a story slam, and a silent auction.

Photo by Great River Shakespeare Festival

Saturday

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 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.