7 minute read
Arts & Culture
Celebrate Heritage, Arts & Culture in the La Crosse Region.
ARTS & CULTURE
Several art galleries, public statues, dance troupes and live music performances await you. Each of the municipalities boast fine venues for experiencing visual and performing arts. Find blues and lounge music, bluegrass and country western, pop and rock, all in big concert venues, holein-the-wall taverns, or fine-dining establishments. Prepare to be enthused for there is no shortage of cultured entertainment opportunities in the La Crosse Region!
@joshua.cunningham
@dylanoverhouse
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse Art Gallery
The UW-La Crosse Art Gallery displays works of various media by student, faculty, regional and nationally recognized artists. In conjunction with the gallery program, the Art Department presents a visiting artist series of lectures, demonstrations and workshops.
Heider Center for the Arts
A hidden gem, this professional-grade facility is just off the Interstate in West Salem. It features an inspired gallery that rotates monthly. The facility boasts a 650-seat auditorium where performers of all kinds provide astonishing entertainment.
Veterans Freedom Park
The Veterans Freedom Park is a must-see while in La Crosse. A local veteran was inspired to create a memorial recognizing the ‘Forgotten War’ to honor Korean War Veterans. Four additional memorials soon followed.
The Korean War Memorial, WWI Memorial, U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, the Hmong and Lao Memorial, and the WWII Memorial bring honor and gratitude to all who have served. They now all stand in Veterans Freedom Park.
Viterbo University Gallery
Located on the campus of Viterbo University in the FIne Arts Center, this free public gallery displays traveling exhibits as well as student and faculty work. Plan to catch these ever-changing displays while school is in session.
Pump House Regional Arts Center
The Pump House Regional Arts Center is a must-see destination in La Crosse. This historic downtown building holds three galleries, a 140-seat theatre, and art classes. If you don’t have time for a full tour, check out the mesmerizing mural on the Pump House’s brick exterior.
Dahl Auto Museum
Are you a classic car aficionado? Then the Dahl Auto Museum is the place for you! Brush up on your automobile history as it relates to the Ford Motor Company. There is even an enticing tribute to La Crosse’s former drive-in theatre. Admission to the museum is just $5 or free to any Dahl Service guests.
MUSIC
@glassstilettomusic
La Crosse Concert Band
The La Crosse Concert Band has been serenading the Seven Rivers Region since 1917, bringing free, quality, multigenerational concerts to La Crosse’s Riverside Park. This proud symbol of the Region provides educational opportunities for both the audience and for the student and adult performers. Catch the band most Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm during June and July.
Onalaska Downtown Sound
Visit Dash-Park for the Great River Sound concerts in Downtown Onalaska to hear great tunes and gaze upon dreamy river views. Enjoy the music on most Tuesdays from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm June through August, and maybe an appetizer at a nearby restaurant. Concerts are hosted by the Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary Club.
Holmen Concerts in the Park
Located at Halfway Creek Band Shell in Holmen, this free concert series is loads of family fun. Pack a picnic and head to the park on Sunday nights from 5pm - 7pm. Concerts run from June to September with concessions provided by the Holmen High School Interact Club.
La Crosse Symphony
The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra has been creating music for the people of the La Crosse region for over 116 years. They continue to enhance the arts and culture in our communities and provide excellent symphonic music and education. Their annual themes captivate audiences and bring an air of freshness each concert season. Hear them at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center.
Moon Tunes
Thursday evenings at Riverside Park are dedicated to the Valley View Rotary’s Moon Tunes. This popular summer concert series features local artists and a wide variety of genres. Soak in the river views while listening to great music. Local food and beverage vendors, such as Piggy’s Restaurant, the Pearl and Pearl Street Brewery, are there each week to quench your thirst and provide scrumptious food.
Ice Cream and Jazz in the Park
Grab those blankets, lawn chairs and coolers and cozy up at Village Park in West Salem. From big band classics to pop tunes, there is something for everyone. The cherry on top? Ice cream sundaes to enjoy!
Blue Stars, Performing Arts for Youth, Inc.
1100 Kane St., Suite 125A | La Crosse, WI (608) 799-5323 | bluestars.org
Creative Canvas and Board All Glazed Up
313 Pearl St. | La Crosse, WI (608) 784-0737 | allglazedup.com
International Performing Arts Campus
923 12th Ave S, Ste 103 | Onalaska, WI (608) 779-4642 | internationalpac.com
La Crosse Community Theatre
428 Front St. S. | La Crosse, WI (608) 784-9292 lacrossecommunitytheatre.org
La Crosse Symphony Orchestra
201 Main St., Suite 230 | La Crosse, WI (608) 783-2121 | lacrossesymphony.org
Marie Heider Center for the Arts
405 E. Hamlin St. | West Salem, WI (608) 786-1220 | heidercenter.org
Pump House Regional Arts Center
119 King St. | La Crosse, WI (608) 785-1434 | thepumphouse.org
River City Gallery
321 Main St. | La Crosse, WI (715) 379-8611 | rivercitygallerylax.com
Viterbo University Fine Arts Center
900 Viterbo Dr. | La Crosse, WI (608) 796-3100 | viterbo.edu/fac
LOVELY
La Crosse reminds us a bit of " a mountain town, and we love it so much we’ve been twice with plans to go back! Hiking, biking, swimming, river fun, historic hotels, shopping, and delicious restaurants are just some of the things we really like about this lovely
Midwest city, situated along
Wisconsin’s Great River Road! - Michelle "
@nicholas_waltons_photography @andrewschneyer
bird
The La Crosse Region and the surrounding areas are home to some of the best birdwatching locales in the Upper Midwest.
From bald eagles, tundra swans, and Great Egrets to bluebirds, warblers, and sparrows, the area hosts a wide range of species sure to satisfy birders. In spring, hundreds of bald eagles can be seen during migration at various locations along the River. One of the best times of year to see bald eagles is during the month of March when they gather around open holes in the ice to do some fishing. The Bald Eagle Viewing Area located on Hwy 35 just south of I-90 is a great location to pull over and catch a glimpse of these majestic birds. Numbers of warblers and other songbirds peaks in mid-May; more than 150 species can be discovered in the La Crosse Region. Take a hike just north of Lytle’s Landing on the Brice Prairie along The Great River State Trail in the spring for topnotch views. Grab a friend and some binoculars and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring! During the fall, the artistry of nature is revealed in the hillsides as thousands of waterfowl migrate following the river highway. During the peak fall migration in late October, hundreds of thousands of canvasbacks, common mergansers, goldeneyes, mallards, shovelers, blue-winged teal, and coots gather in the Region. One of the most unique sights to see are the tundra swans who migrate through in late October and early November. Between their size and whistling song, they are truly a delightful sight to see. Stop at one of the many scenic overlooks along the Great River Road to catch a glimpse of the migration.
Covering over 260 miles of river and 240,000 acres of land, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge is one of the nation’s largest wildlife refuges. The La Crosse District boasts one of the area’s largest birding attractions, with regular yearly visits from over 250 species of raptor, songbird, and waterfowl. Explore abundant wetland, forest, and river ecosystems year round!
Van Loon State Wildlife Area & McGilvray Bridges
The 4,000-acre Van Loon State Wildlife Area, located north of Onalaska off Hwy 53, is home to five historic and rare bowstring arch truss bridges built in the late 19th century. The Black River Bottomlands is a globally significant floodplain forest that is notable for its wide variety of wildlife. The fall is a great time to hike the path across the bridges, offering opportunities to spot native woodpecker species, bald eagles, Red-Shouldered Hawks, and Indigo Bunting
Myrick Park, Hixon Forest, and Riverside Park
The five-mile trail from Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse through the river marshes and into the Hixon Forest bluff land offers some of the area’s very best birding opportunities. Observe Great Egrets and terns from the forested hillsides, and spy soaring raptors from the lookout area atop Grandad Bluff.
watching
@lutzr2
