Wisconsin Rapids Cranberry Blossom Festival returns with live music, carnival, parade and more

Emalyn Muzzy, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

June 13, 2022 at 7:00 AM·4 min read

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Cranberry Blossom Festival returns Thursday through Sunday, with events spread out across the city including a carnival, parade and live music.

The festival’s website has the full list of activities, which is quite long, but here are the highlights of this weekend’s festival.

Cranberry Blossom Fest Carnival

Whether you’re looking for a ride to entertain the kids or a massive ice cream cone, the Cranberry Blossom Fest Carnival will have it. The carnival will run Thursday through Sunday at the Grand Rapids Lions Club at 2411 36th St. S. Parking for the carnival costs $3.

Carnival rides will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Wristbands cost $20 in advance or $25 at the festival. You can buy wristbands online or in person at the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 131 Second St. N. The Convention and Visitors Bureau is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Kid-friendly activities

The festival is full of events for parents and the little ones. Catch a showing of Disney's "Encanto" during Cinema Under the Stars from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday on West Grand Avenue, between Second and Third avenues. The movie will begin at dusk. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs, and grab some popcorn and snacks.

Children of all ages are invited to participate in a catch-and-release fishing event from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Rapids Lions Club. Learn to fish and tie fishing knots. Gear will be provided, or bring your own. There will be prizes.

On Sunday, the Cranberry Blossom Festival Parade will travel down Grand Avenue from noon to 2 p.m. The route will begin at the South Wood County YMCA and continue to Ninth Street South. It will include trucks, music and candy.

Other events include a free fishing contest for children 14 and younger from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday on the East River Bank, south of the former Elks Lodge, and a rubber duck derby at 2 p.m. Sunday downtown along the Wisconsin River.

Musicians perform during the Cranberry Blossom Festival Parade in June 2019 in Wisconsin Rapids.

Live performances

From live singers to a marching band to an aquatic show, you'll find plenty of live entertainment all weekend long. First up is a free Art Stevenson concert at McMillan Memorial Library, 490 E. Grand Ave., at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Foragers are opening the show, making it a night of bluegrass.

The Echoes of Camp Randall will be performing at the Grand Rapids Lions Club on Saturday, although the time hasn’t been announced. Prepare to be wowed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band. Admission is free, but parking is $3 per vehicle.

If music is not your thing, there’s always the Aqua Skiers Aquatic Show at 6 p.m. Sunday at Red Sands Beach at Lake Wazeecha. There will be food trucks there as well.

Cranberries, food and beer

The Cranberry Blossom Festival will have a variety of foods, including breakfast and beer. On Friday morning, enjoy the June Dairy Berry Breakfast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the East Junior High School cafeteria, 311 Lincoln St. It will cost $9 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5-12 and free for children 4 and younger. Food will include pancakes, sausage, coffee, cranberry products and cheese curds.

Check out Downtown on Tap for craft beer, food and live music starting at 6 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Park, 112 Second St. S. The band Tailwater will perform at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Bring a lawn chair.

For more information about the events, visit Cranberry Blossom Festival on Facebook or email cranberryblossomfestival@gmail.com.

MORE NEWS: Black, mocha, caramel, chai, Americano: Your go-to coffee orders and where to find them in the Rapids area

MORE NEWS: Streetwise: Ice cream, rooftop patios and baked treats kick off summer in Wisconsin Rapids area

Contact Emalyn Muzzy at EMuzzy@gannett.com, follow her on Twitter at @EmalynMuzzy.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Wisconsin Rapids Cranberry Blossom Festival returns June 16-19

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Cranberry Blossom Fest Carnival

Kid-friendly activities

Live performances

Cranberries, food and beer

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