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Wisconsin's Cranberry Festivals
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Cranberry-Apple Pie
Wisconsin's cranberry crop turns crimson ripe just as the north-woods foliage bursts into its scarlet and gold glory. What better reasons to celebrate? At cranberry festivals in late September and early October you can tour cranberry marshes amid the changing colors and munch on a variety of cranberry treats. There's lots of other fun, too.
The season opens in the west-central part of the state, with the Cranberry Festival in tiny Warrens (50 miles northeast of La Crosse). The three-day event (September 24-26 in 2004) features arts and crafts, a flea market, needlework, quilting, photography and biggest berry contests. You can chow down at a spaghetti feed, steak fry and pancake breakfast. Be sure to save room for a cranberry dessert. (608)378-4200.
The one-day Cranberry Colorama is September 28 this year in the north-central Wisconsin town of Manitowish Waters (235 miles north of Madison). Festivalgoers can cruise Little Trout Lake on pontoon excursions and take a plane ride for a sky-high view. Browse craft and flea markets, and check out the winners of the cranberry cook-off before eating your fill at the Taste of Harvest, featuring foods from local restaurants. (715)543-8488 Chamber of Commerce.
Northwest Wisconsin's one-day Cranberry Festival will be October 5 in the tiny community of Stone Lake (80 miles north of Eau Claire). Not to be outdone by Manitowish Waters' aerial excursions, Stone Lake offers festivalgoers helicopter rides. The day begins with a pancake feed. Then take in a parade, street entertainment, cranberry bake-off, marsh tours, a crate derby and crafts booths.
Festival season ends October 2 and 3 in Eagle River (125 miles northwest of Green Bay) with Cranberry Fitness Weekend. You won't have to feel guilty about all the snacking after you take part in the walk, run and bike tour. And there's plenty of food when you're done, from brats at the harvest hoedown to the world's largest cranberry cheesecake and treats at the cranberry bake sale. Take a winery tour, shop the arts and crafts show and farmers market and listen in as bands take turns regaling the crowd.
