|
|
Historic Sites Set to Begin the 2008 Season
An heirloom garden at
Old World Wisconsin Just as the arrival of spring heralded the beginning of another growing season for 19th-century Wisconsin farmers, spring signals a flurry of activity at Wisconsin's historic sites. And, after the sites' most successful season in several years in 2007, hopes are high that 2008 will be another banner year. Old World Wisconsin opens its doors on Thursday, May 1, and has several springtime events in its season-long special events lineup, including a Mother's Day Buffet on May 11, its annual Rituals of Spring observance on May 17, and its celebration of Decoration Day (the precursor to Memorial Day) on May 25.
Wade House, an 1860s stagecoach inn built as a pit stop and lodging place for travelers on the old plank road that connected Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, opens its doors on May 12 and gets right into the swing of things with its first game of vintage base ball (the sport was spelled as two words in the 1860s) on May 18. The game will pit the home team Greenbush Dead Citys against their arch rival, Old World Wisconsin's Eagle Diamonds. The Greenbush squad will return to the playing field, playing by 1860s rules the third Sunday of every month through September. Wade House will close out the month with its popular Historic Trades Weekend on May 31 and June 1.
Across the state, nestled alongside the Mississippi River, the historic Villa Louis Victorian mansion begins welcoming visitors on May 3, with daily tours highlighting the mansion's breathtaking, top-to-bottom restoration that returned the house and the adjacent office building to the elegance of their 1890s heyday.
Circus World will kick off its 50th live performance season on May 17-18, featuring a daily performance schedule that includes a Classic American Circus show twice daily at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., the Razzle Dazzle Revue Variety Show at 1 p.m., and tours of Historic Ringlingville, comprising the remaining structures of the original Ringling Bros. Circus Winter Quarters. Other acts include KidsWorld Circus, where kids are the stars of the show, at 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m., a Clowning Around Show at 2:45 p.m., the Illusions of Reality Magic Show at 5:15 p.m., and much, much more. Of course, no trip to Circus World is complete without a stop to see its incredible collection of antique circus wagons — the largest collection of its kind in the world.
Follow the links at left and below to learn more and to get a preview of what's in store for the 2008 season.
All-Sites Visitor Information at a Glance:
|
