The Arts and Culture News for August, 2021
August and ARTicipation Week!
It's been a a long time since we had a festival, and with a lot of planning, we are finally here...August! ARTicipation Week and Arts on the Square! Sponsored by Community First Credit Union, this will be our 15th annual event. We are back and better than ever!!! We can't wait to see you! Soon you will see the beautiful booklets in the community, that will contain every event from Sunday August 15 through Saturday August 21. Pick one up at any local business! We also have tons of details online, go here!

As always, we are going to follow CDC guidelines. We will also be checking in with this interactive map. Please be part of the solution that will help us be able to enjoy this fun filled week: GET VACCINATED !!!

And since it's August.... GO HERE for 10 songs about August....we actually love Carole King's song, the first one on the playlist. And the other thing that August brings to mind, besides Arts on the Square, is: Corn on the Cob! Go HERE for some interesting info on mid-Wisconsin's favorite "vegetable," and a shout out to the indigenous peoples of this continent, the first eaters of what we now know as buttery bliss!

Enjoy this newsletter, it is chock-full!!!! As always, we encourage you to browse through: see all the happenings and many opportunities in our community, and if you feel curious, click on the bright blue links to take a deeper dive and get more details!

ARTicipation Week August 15-20
15th Annual Arts on the Square August 20-21

As we head in to this fun filled week of immersion in the arts, we want to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful sponsors. This truly is a community effort, and we thank you all sincerely for supporting us!

Our Title Sponsor:
Community First Credit Union

Our Primary Sponsors: 
  Waupaca Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
  Waupaca Foundry
  Thrivent
  BankFirst
  Kempfert Foundation
Waupaca Foundry

And our Program Sponsors:

Antiques on Main...................................... Aquamos Coffee Collaborative
Bank First.................................................. Ben Lyons Re/Max Real Estate
Blue Skies................................................. The Bookcellar
Center for Living Well................................ Chez Posh
Community First Credit Union................... Culligan Water
Danes Hall .................................................Farmer’s State Bank
Nicole Filiatrault Realtor ............................Gravel Road Farm
Waupaca Historical Society....................... Little Fat Gretchen’s
New 2 You................................................. Office Outfitters
Panache.................................................... Phantom Art Gallery
Premier Community Bank......................... Erricka Raleigh Real Estate
Shambeau & Thern Real Estate............... Stange’s
Studio 212................................................ Synergy Homecare
TDubs Public House................................. A Touch of Glass
Tre of Life................................................. Turner’s Fresh Market
Waupaca Area Public Library................... Waupaca Farm Market
Waupaca Historical Society...................... Weasels
WEGA Arts............................................... Woodpile Foundation
Arts on the Square T Shirts now available!
We are really excited to offer t shirts this year, with the 2021 Festival image created by Mural Artist Leif Larson. The image reflects the wonderful Union Street Mural that he painted! These quality t shirts allow you to support the arts while wearing a little bit of AOTS Whimsy! Order yours today, youth and adult sizes!
Go here to order your t-shirts!
HEADS UP: These 2 activities during ARTicipation Week require pre-registration!!!
The 3 day intensive Kid Art Camp for Tween-agers requires advanced registration. It's an incredibly immersive and worthwhile experience! GO HERE, seats are limited!

Also, we have a fun challenge: Go forth and Find ART in Waupaca! The week-long Scavenger-Palooza kicks off on Sunday. Go it alone, or get your group together: family, friends, form a team and sign up! Once you sign up you will receive clues! Turn in your Scavenger-Palooza forms at Arts on the Square on Saturday, to be eligible to win a wonderful prize!!!
Here are some of the cool ARTicipation Week events.... and there are more scattered throughout this newsletter! For a quick glance at this fun-filled week, Go HERE!
Opening Day with Dr. Kickbutt's Orchestra of Death
Sunday, August 15, noon-3pm
Town Square
Meet the mural artists, kick off Scavenger Palooza and more!
Shake it Up Poetry Reading
Tuesday, August 17, 5:30-7:30, Aquamos Coffee Collaborative
Hear area poets, including many of the Sidewalk Poetry poets, read their original poems! Sign in to read your own poem. Shakespear would be proud!
Deep Fried Comedy
Featuring Ben Warren and Tim Northern
Tuesday, August 17, 8pm, Weasel's
Get ready to laugh with our own local comedian, Ben Warren, and hilarious Nashville comic, Tim Northern.
Known as Wisconsin's favorie party band, The Presidents are a tight, accomplished dance band that will keep the energy and tunes flowing! Music starts at 7pm in the big top tent behind the Rec Center on Badger and School Streets!
Friday Night Street Dance
Join us for the 15th Annual Dance under the Big Top! Friday, August 20, behind the Rec Center! We are not in the street this year, but we will still be rocking, to the sounds of The Presidents! This band is hot. We will have food, beer, and a special raffle to win the original painting that Leif Larson created for our 2021 Arts on the Square Image! Also, a Kid-run Art Gallery Opening! Don't miss this great night under the big top tent!!!

Go here for literally ALL of the details!
Arts on the Square opens at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 21, on the grounds of the Waupaca Rec Center, featuring multiple music venues, a juried art show, workshops, demonstrations, food court, beer tent, and so much more! You will find creative and inspiring things to do literally all day, so plan to grab a schedule (either a booklet, a schedule grid or check online!) to plan your day. Immerse yourself in creativity and community at Arts on the Square!

Go HERE for the day's schedule of events!
Saturday, August 21, Arts on the Square!
The Main Tent Stage will host five music acts, including Ho Malone, Lizards, and The Foxfire Affair. Children’s performer, Tom Pease, and the Aber Suzuki Center also will perform. 
The indoor Jazz Stage will feature nationally known jazz vocalists, Erin Boheme, 12-2 p.m.; and Steve March-Torme, 3-5 p.m.
Vibhas Kendzia will appear on the Acoustic Stage and throughout the venue. 
The Juried Fine Art Show includes 32 artist booths, featuring a range of art forms from local and national artists. 
On-site workshops and demonstrations include woodworking, glass blowing, clay sculpture, accordion book making, soap carving, and more. 
Two pop-up art galleries are included -- the Phantom Art Gallery, 219 Jefferson St., and The Kids’ Camp Art Gallery in the Art Annex, offering portrait drawing lessons. 
Great food, Beer, beverages, and more!
The 3D murals are getting done!!! Have you walked the alleys yet? You could take a tour on Monday, August 16!

Join one of our three, hour-long Guided Walking Tours and find all 25 murals! Learn about each regional artist and their artwork, while enjoying a summer day! 
Our morning tour departs at 10 a.m. Please meet your WCAB tour guide in the parking lot behind Simpson's Restaurant, 222 S. Main St. Tours take about one hour, returning to the starting point. 
Other tours leave at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. from the same location.
Don’t forget to grab your ARTicipation Week Scavenger Palooza Clues, and bring them along! Find the answers while you tour!! You could be a winner!

Also, meet many of the mural artists on Sunday, August 15 at our ARTicipation Week Opening Day!
Poetry at Your Feet: Sidewalk Poetry has started!!!
There is a 3-step process of creating sidewalk poetry. The first step is embedding the poems in the concrete, and that is what is taking place right now on Main Street, downtown Waupaca. Next step will be to colorize the letters, then the final step will be to seal them so they will be easy to read! WE are going to be one poetic town!!!

Meet the poets at our WCAB's Sidewalk Poetry Page.
WCAB's Summer Nights Concerts continue in August!
There are 2 great concerts in August at South Park. Don't miss these great Wednesday night events!
Wednesday August 4
Double Header with Genevieve Heyward and Baba Ghanooj
This concert was rained out at the end of July! Spread the word, we have rescheduled it!

Adept at both guitar and piano, Genevieve writes the songs she sings, songs firmly rooted in the contemporary, with faint hints of tendrils running deep toward the influence of old footsteps. Genevieve will start out the evening at 6:45, followed by local favorite, Baba Ghanooj!

Baba Ghanooj is a locally famous band that has been playing together for so long even those who are not blood relation are considered family. Listen as they play songs form Steely Dan, Tom Petty, the Beatles, and some fabulous original gems.
For all Summer nights concerts: Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and some cash for the 50/50 raffle! (we will call the winner at 8:20!) and, please bring an item for the Waupaca Area Food Pantry. Your support is so appreciated!!!



Wednesday, August 11
Family art at 5:30 Music starts at 7!
MoJoe & Flipside is a Central Wisconsin band of talented musicians. Funky-Blue Americana best describes their style music. Featured musicians are Tony Wagner, Kelvin Kasper, Charlie Sauter, Joe Fittante, and Bill Jordan. Waupaca loves MoJoe, and you will too! Be ready to dance to their great tight sounds!

Food will be provided by Purple Basil out of Wisconsin Rapids. Check out their menu!
And finally, to our generous 2021 music sponsors, we are so grateful for your support!
Thank You!
Faulks Brothers Construction
Toto Foundation
Hansen Furniture, Appliance and Flooring Center
Wheelhouse Restaurant
The Filling Station
Bank First National
Neuville Motors
Farmers State Bank
Noffke Lumber
Premier Bank
Turner’s Fresh Market
L and L Propane
Delicious Foods of Wisconsin
Faye Wilson Realty
Waupaca Foundry
Dave’s Painting
Udoni and Salan Realty Group
WCAB's Waupaca Local Live:
We are doing something completely different for August! Our show will be during ARTicipation Week, so we are going to change it up! Join us:
Thursday, August 19 at 5pm in the Historic Bandstand on the lawn of the Library!
In conjunction with the Waupaca King and In Between's Annual Kids Chalking event, we will feature music teachers from the Waupaca Community Arts Hub, playing their instruments as individuals, as a group, and also leading a group song! We call this an "Instrument Petting Zoo" because we will be inviting kids to be part of the show! Kids can come up in to the bandstand, handle the instruments, meet the musicians and sing along! What better way to get kids interested in playing an instrument? Plan to bring your kids down to join us on the radio!
View previous programs from the past 5 years here! Great musicians, interesting dialoque and great music!


Waupaca Local Live is collaborative venture between the WCAB, Waupaca's 96.3 FM radio and WAUP 99.1 fm radio.
We seek to bring local and regional musical excellence to the airwaves!

If you know of a musician who has original music that you think would be great on our show, send us a FB message! We are doing fall and winter booking now!
The Waupaca Community Arts HUB
The Waupaca Community Arts Hub is growing! We have art classes, some new music opportunities, and Fall Scholarships!

Our August ART classes: art classes for kids ages 8-14
Go here to sign up for art classes!
Stay tuned for Fall After School Art Classes for kids, on Tuesdays and Early-release Wednesdays! Check our website in about 10 days for how you can get your kiddos signed up for this great after school opportunity!

Fall Music Semester starts August 14! Private Music Lessons are available: Drum, Piano and Guitar, and starting in September: Band Instruments!
Go here for more information on how to sign up for music lessons.

Scholarships available:
Our Biggest News is that we are able to offer scholarships for eligible students starting with our fall semester. Go here for all the details!

And, read our blog, "The Hubbub!"

Check out our website, and join us at the Hub, a place where creativity comes to grow!!!
We are growing, and it's been a little hectic but fun! Our website will be fully updated in the next 10 days. Thanks for your patience! And... Would you like to give the gift of Art or Music? What better way to support the creative kids in your life? Purchase an Arts Hub Gift Card!
In September, we will be adding Music Lessons on Band Instruments, with Mr. Dan Radley! Dan is a musician (His primary instrument was the Tuba!) and an educator with 35 years of experience teaching kids from middle school through high school! He has retired from teaching but still plays in several ensembles, subs at our Middle School and is beloved by all. Dan will be taking on students starting on Wednesdays in September. GO HERE for more information on how to sign up for private lessons with Dan!
Other AUGUST Happenings... in and around our community!
Events, classes, stress relief and local artisan shopping!
Harry Potter Day:
A Night at Hogwarts
Saturday, August 7
starts at 2pm

If you are an adult Harry Potter freak, this event is definitely for you!

Full Quidditch Field, Trivia, Sorting Hat Ceremony, Great Hall Buffet, Magical Cocktails and much much more!

1:50 PM, Doors Open, gift bags given along with raffle ticket (door prize)
2:00 PM, First film Starts (The Sorcerers Stone)
2:30 PM, Announcements, house point rules, raffles, and schedule.
3:00 PM, Sorting hat ceremony 🧙‍♂️
4:00 PM, Horcrux Scavenger Hunt
5:00 PM, Trivia
6:00 PM, Great Hall Buffet
6:15 PM, Outdoor Movies starting with Order of the Phoenix.
7:00 PM, Quidditch matches begin 🧹🧹🧹
8:00 PM, live performance by Wizard Band "My Immortal"
11:00 PM, Points Ceremony, prizes awarded🏆

Check out all the details by

The Amherst Community Musical will be putting on a fabulous musical... The Rockin' Tale of Snow White production is full of the cutest of cutie pies and is sure to bring about giggles, chuckles and literal LOLs! You do not want to miss this show. Get your tickets now before they are sold out!
Registration is officially open for the 2021 River Run! Set for October 9th, this will be a rain or shine event, taking place outside Central Waters Brewing Co. in Amherst, WI.


Through August 5, check out the park programs...
Join us for a variety of fun activites outside! We'll enjoy a mix of STEAM activities: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, and more!
Our stories help define who we are as a community. Help make a difference by sharing with us your story about how the Waupaca Library has helped enrich your life. Your story might help secure funding for the library or encourage others to get a free library card. Everyone has a story to tell, and we would love to hear your library story!
GO HERE to submit!
The Waupaca Area Public Library
We are at 55% of our goal with 31 more days to meet our goal....keep reading, Waupaca!
Imagine people all across Waupaca reading together toward a common goal! Do you think we can collectively read 10,000 books by August 31st? We need your help to do it. As you read and report the number of books read you will be adding your name in a weekly drawing for local gift certificate. Keep reading and reporting so we can reach our goal.
Grand Prize Drawing will take place on August 31st for a customized $50 basket-o-fun!

GO HERE for more info and to sign up!
The Waupaca Library is now open! Stay tuned to their website and FB page for updates about lessening restrictions, but things are looking up!

The Waupaca Historical Society
It's potato harvest time! Come to the Depot with your bag of potatoes (or just come for potato fun!) and have a chance to win prizes! Then try printing with potatoes, play the hot potato game and listen to a potato storytime with the Waupaca Area Public Library. Enjoy some food at the brat fry and take a tour of the Depot. AND the Spudmobile will be there!
Potato awards ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m.
Check the Historical Society Website for info on dates and times that you can tour the Historic Depot, Hutchinson House, or go to the Holly Center!

As always, watch the Historical Society FB page for "Where are we on Wednesdays" for pics and clues, and then lots of interesting history on places in Waupaca!

And, if you have not already seen it, the 3 panel display of the history of Waupaca will be set up down at the Arts on the Square grounds, August 20-21!
Thursday, August 5
WEYAUWEGA CLASSIC CAR SHOW & MOVIE NIGHT
Thursday, August 5th
Classic Car Show on Main street from 4-8pm
Beer Stand - Brat fry - Music - Raffle
Featuring vintage vehicles from Greg’s Speed Shop in Waupaca!

8pm at the Gerold Opera House
Limited Seating - Advance Tickets $7
Available at Blessings & Friends,
Wega Motors & The Book Cellar in Waupaca
Tickets $8 at the door
The Gerold features a full bar and fresh popcorn!
GO HERE for more information!


Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce
The Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce has been a part of the downtown Placemaker's committee, helping to raise money for many amenities that will enhance our downtown: new bike racks, a bike fix-it station, sidewalk poetry and a downtown outdoor sound system. We are seeing all of these things appear in our newly reconstructed Main Street, along with benches and gorgeous planters. Check it out!

Check the Waupaca Area Chamber's Community Calendar for tons of summer events, including an impressive number of area live music events!

Our downtown retailers want to remind you that they are still OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Check out the back door entrances of many of our local retailers: Explore the alley in August, and view over 20 3D murals!

Go here for an online directory of our downtown businesses.
The Annual Arts on the Square Kids Chalking takes place Thursday August 19! Join kids downtown as they chalk on the town square, then stick around for the Singalong and Instrument Zoo!!!

Winchester Academy's August program
The August lecture will be on the Winchester Facebook Page at 6:30 pm. You can also go to the Danes Hall Granite Cellar Viewing party to watch it on a big screen!

Myanmar: Days of Hope, Nights of Terror: Wisconsin natives Steven Wilson and Julie Foote were living in Yangon, Myanmar when a military coup shattered the country's future. They bear witness to the incredible bravery of Myanmar's citizens in their struggle for democracy, as the creativity, generosity, and humor of protesters have been met with unconscionable violence. By sharing their experience of life under the military junta, Julie hopes to amplify the voices of those who have been brutally silenced.

The Phantom Art Gallery of Waupaca will be popping up during ARTicipation Week!
They will be opening their 2021 show at LOOT, VINTAGE AND SUPPLY on Friday August 20 from 5-9 pm, featuring live music from the Cocktail Flamingos, and wine!

The gallery will also be open on Saturday August 21 from 10 am til 4pm. Come view the beautiful artwork and enjoy the atmosphere at LOOT!
Hartman's Creek State Park Programs
There are quite a few interesting things going on at the park in August, check them out on their Facebook Page!
Perseid Meteor Shower
Saturday, August 14
9:00 pm
Known for its fast and bright meteors, the Perseid meteor shower is anticipated to be one of the best meteor viewing pportunities this year. Let the kids stay up late and the entire family can join the naturalist to learn about and enjoy this phenomenon.
Be sure to wear bug spray and bring a lawn chair.
  • Located on the Athletic Field
Full Moon Hike
Saturday, August 21
7:45 pm
Join the Naturalist as we watch the sun go down and the moon come up. We will celebrate the Sturgeon Moon as we take an easy hike around Hartman Lake. All ages are welcome!
  • Meet at Hartman Lake Beach
is a technique based school that focuses on loving dance and longevity of dance.
They will be hosting a
This Ballet intensive is for ages 10-18. Ballet is from 2:00-4:00. Pointe is from 4:15-5:15. Variations is from 5:30-6:00. The intensive is 5 days. It will combine kinesiology and ballet to dance safely and to understand the mechanics of the body.
The students of this dance group will be performing at Arts on the Square on Saturday August 21 at 1pm! Come check them out!
We need your stories!
Our all-encompassing theme for the August 18th event is: The Art of Storytelling. We are looking for your personal, poignant, life-changing, happy, sad, humorous experiences! Submit YOUR CHOICE of story to us by WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4TH. The story must be your true story and about 5 minutes long. (That works out to about 1.5 typed pages).

Accepted stories will be read during ARTicipation Week
Wednesday August 18 from 7-9 pm.

ARTicipation Week and Arts on the Square 2021...it's nearly here, and we are ready!
We are really looking forward to seeing you during ARTicipation Week and at Arts on the Square. It takes a small army to plan and carry all of this out, and we have a lot of fun because being creative together is a blast.

If you would like to volunteer at our events, or if you would like to just generally join us, send an e-mail to our president and she would be happy to discuss the many ways that you can be part of WCAB! There is a place for everyone in our group!

Stay Safe, and stay creative!!!