FOND DU LAC – Schedules across Fond du Lac County are packed for events this month.
The start of summer brings several community festivals, and June itself calls for celebrations of Juneteenth, Pride Month and Dairy Month.
Here’s what’s going on in Fond du Lac County this month.
Ripon Pride Rally
Ripon High School’s Social Justice Alliance kicks off the county’s Pride Month activities with the fifth annual Ripon Pride Rally from 1 to 4 p.m. June 6 at the Village Green, 101 Seward St.
The event is family-friendly, with food, kids’ activities, and music and other entertainment, as well as appearances from resource groups and other organizations.
Art on the Island
The annual Art on the Island brings several artists onto Lakeside Park’s Oven Island from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7, featuring paintings, pottery, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, weaving and more.
Many artists will have live demonstrations at their booths in addition to selling their wares, and winners of the High School Art Scholarship will have their artwork on display.
The event also includes music, face-painting, balloon art, a silent auction, and raffles for the Fond du Lac Artists’ Association and its scholarship program.
Walleye Weekend
Walleye Weekend, Fond du Lac’s biggest sign of summer, kicks off June 12 at Lakeside Park with its popular slate of activities, including food, live music, sports and fishing tournaments, and children’s areas.
New this year will be a sand sculpting showcase, bingo, the Beans & Bites Curbside Coffee truck, and storytime sessions on Imagination Island with the Fond du Lac Public Library.
The free festival runs all weekend, open 3 to 10 p.m. June 12, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 13, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Family Day June 14.
North Fondy Fest
North Fond du Lac’s North Fondy Fest starts at 4 p.m. June 19 at Village Park, 200 Winnebago St., featuring food trucks, a beer tent, a playground and bounce house, and live music from Jeremiah Jams Band.
Events continue 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. June 20 with more food, carriage rides, face painting, a dunk tank, a Touch-a-Truck event, an appearance by Sandi Paws Pet Rescue and fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday tournaments include softball, basketball and cornhole, and live music features Kip Jones at 1 p.m. and Chasin Mason at 8 p.m.
Juneteenth
Ebony Vision’s biggest event of the year is shaping up to be grander than ever with the Juneteenth celebration June 20 at Buttermilk Creek Park.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring live entertainment, vendors, kids’ activities and food, including the new addition of food trucks.
Guest performers this year include live performance painter Patcasso, Milwaukee’s Caribbean band KOJO, and a Black-owned dance company that will teach line dancing.
Guys and Dolls
Fond du Lac Community Theatre will present the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” June 25 to 28 at the Fond du Lac High School Performing Arts Center, 801 Campus Drive.
The 1950 musical follows Nathan Detroit, who tries to set up a secret craps game while his fiancée Adelaide longs for a wedding after their 14-year engagement. Gambler Sky Masterson gets caught up in Nathan’s plans, leading him to pursue missionary Sarah Brown to win a bet.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. June 25 to 27, and 2 p.m. June 28. Tickets are available at hometowntickets.com.
Celebrate Waupun
Celebrate Waupun will run June 26 to 28 with carnival rides, food, games and vendors, as well as a particularly grand fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. June 28 in honor of America’s 250th birthday.
Some of the events include Pier Pups all three days, a fish fry June 26, and the Homan Auto Car Show June 28.
Advanced sale for A&P Carnival wristbands — good for unlimited rides — are available for $50 at hometowntickets.com or Waupun’s Piggly Wiggly, 100 Gateway Drive, until June 25. The wristband price at the event will be $75.
America 250 parade
Fond du Lac’s America 250 Semiquincentennial parade steps off at 1 p.m. June 27, traveling Main Street from Rees to Second streets.
T-shirts are still available to order at fdlamerica250.com or at Hopper’s Screen Printing, 77 N. Main St.
Pride Picnic
Fond du Lac’s annual Pride Picnic will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 at a new location, Prairie Theater & Event Center, 400 University Drive.
So far, the event will include vendors, a brat fry, face painting, crafts and other activities, all in celebration of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies that strive to create “a world where everyone can be proud and safe to be who they are,” according to the Pride Picnic Facebook page.
Breakfast on the Farm
The Fond du Lac Area Breakfast on the Farm, presented by Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Agri-Business Council, invites visitors to Tower View Acres, N7268 Tower Road in Mt. Calvary, from 8 a.m. to noon June 28.
In addition to a large country-style breakfast, visitors get access to local cheese tasting, the Alliant Energy Foundation Farm Education Zone and $2 Culver’s custard cups.
Tickets are $10 for ages 13 and older, $8 for ages 6 to 12, and free for ages 5 and younger at envisiongreaterfdl.com.
Adventure Day
The A.D. Sutherland Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America will host its free Family Outdoor Adventure Day and Great Teddy Bear Hunt from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 28 at the chapter grounds, N6491 County K.
Activities for kids of all ages include archery, gun safety, BB gun shooting, backyard bass casting, make-and-take nature projects, and a campfire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac events in June celebrate community, Pride and Juneteenth
Reporting by Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter / Fond du Lac Reporter
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