Getting the perfect, fresh-cut tree can be an amazing family holiday experience, and there are plenty of places in Oz that deliver. Here are the top picks for in or near Oz where you can cut your own or choose a pre-cut fresh tree!
​
Uselding's Christmas Trees
Located on Western Rd. just outside of downtown Cedarburg, choose a pre-cut tree, wreaths and other trimming.

Cedarburg Creek Farm
Located at 649 Hwy 60 in Cedarburg, the Cedarburg Creek Farm has pre-cut trees, wreaths, decorated pots, petting zoo, hayrides and more.
​
Sandhill Tree Farm
Located at 2323 E River Rd. in Grafton, Sandhill Tree Farm will be open for cut your own trees on weekends from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. beginning November 18th through December 10th. Enjoy a bonfire, hot chocolate, candy canes, holiday gift shop, and photo opportunities.
​
Gene Fransee & Son Nursery & Landscaping/ Home of Kletzien Garden Center
Located at 3670 Hwy. W in Port Washington has trees, wreaths, poinsettias, vintage Christmas collectibles and more.

First Congregational Church
Located on the corner of Jackson St. and Grand Ave., along the Sauk Creek, the First Congregational Church is now in their 37th year of selling pre-cut trees as a fundraiser for the church.

​Buechler Farms, LLC
Located at 587 S. Royal Ave in Belgium, Buechler's offers trees, wreaths, planters and a special Christmas Shop with ongoing activities for the kids.

Willoway Farm & Friends
For their fourth year, Willoway Farm and friends are selling pre-cut balsams at N5412 Cigrand Dr. in Waubeka, as well as some other local goodies.  Hours Saturday’s & Sunday’s 10am-5pm, Dec 1-4 3 pm-6 pm, Dec 7th - Dec 11 th 4pm-6pm, & remaining weekday’s open will be 4pm-6pm from November 28th through December 20th.

Anderson’s Greenview Tree Farm
Located at W4266 County Rd. D in Random Lake, Anderson's has pre-cut trees as well as wreaths and a Christmas Gift Shop in the barn, or take a walk or hay ride out to the fields to cut your own.

​Trees For Less
Located at 11550 Wausaukee Rd. in Mequon has cut your own and pre-cut trees.  Open 8 a.m. to dusk on the weekends, enjoy hot chocolate, a visit with Santa, snacks, a hayride, and more!

Stumpf's Tree Farm
Located at 340 Horns Corners Road in Cedarburg, Stumpf's is open from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through December 17th.

​The holidays embody the spirit of giving and Giving Tuesday is an excellent way to take part. Ozaukee has many worthy non-profits to support and who need your help. Make a donation in someone's name and, not only is it a great Christmas gift for someone who has everything, it really is a gift that keeps on giving!  The Ozaukee Nonprofit Center has created this handy dandy Giving Guide to help you learn more about many of the wonderful nonprofits serving Oz, and there are many more on the list below.  Don't see yours?  Send information to mary@ozaukeelivinglocal.com.


Kids & Family
Kettle Moraine YMCA
Ozaukee 4H
Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Arts
Cedarburg Cultural Center
Cedarburg Art Museum
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
North Shore Academy of the Arts
Gathering on the Green
Nature, Food, Environment
Riveredge Nature Center
Friends of the Cedarburg Bog
Mequon Nature Preserve
Treasures of Oz
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust
Wellspring
Animals
Pine View Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Ozaukee Humane Society
Tailwaggers 911
History
Ozaukee County Historical Society
Saukville Area Historical Society
Mequon-Thiensville Historical Society
Port Washington Historical Society
Community
Ozaukee Nonprofit Center 
Advocates of Ozaukee 
Mr. Bob's Under the Bridge
Adult Literacy Center 
Port Washington Main Street
Portal, Inc.
Balance, Inc.
Saukville Community Food Pantry
Family Promise of Ozaukee County 
Family Sharing of Ozaukee County
Just Listen, Inc.
United Way
Family Enrichment Center
Lasata

Fall is here, and that means it's time to get your pumpkins and apples!  Luckily, finding a humble pumpkin patch, or a sweet-smelling orchard in Oz is not too difficult a task.

One of the best ways is to let the farmers come to you at one of the area's Farmers Markets: Port Washington on Saturday, Saukville on Sunday and Thiensville on Tuesday.  Of course, if you're looking for a farm to visit, we have those, too:

Cedarburg Creek Farm has just about every pumpkin hunting experience you could hope for: a kid's straw bale, a corn maze, and much more fall fun, close to home. Add in no admission fees and FREE Hay Wagon Rides, and they are THE place for affordable family fun.  Cedar Creek Farm is located at 649 Hwy. 60 in Cedarburg.

Appleland in Fredonia has apples, of course, and a stunning variety of them, at that, but they also have pumpkins to pick or already picked, and an assortment of jams, bakery, caramel apples, cider, and more in their market store.  Free wagon rides on the weekends.  Appleland is located at 4177 Highway 57 in Fredonia.  Join them for their Fall Festival on Saturday, September 23rd!

Buechler Farms offers a fun family fall experience on the weekends in October, beginning October 6th with their Fall Festival!  The farm is located at 587 South Royal Ave in Belgium.  Join them for a Breakfast with Minnie & Mickey on October 7th or Snow White & Cinderella Brunch on October 8th with the kids, then return for live music in the pavilion and barn with Whiskey Throttle and Star Six Nine.  Regular pumpkin season will continue every weekend in October, then return for Boo! At the Barn on October 28th.

Creekside Valley Farm opens for their season on Saturday, September 16th, with a pumpkin patch, hay maze, petting zoo, fall decor, pedal tractors, and more.  Find them at 13101 N Wauwatosa in Mequon, open daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Nieman Markets, located at 14335 N. Wauwatosa Rd. in Mequon, has apple picking, a corn maze, pumpkins, a petting zoo, a market, and more.  

Barthel's Fruit Farm is synonymous with apple picking.   Located at 12246 N Farmdale Rd. in Mequon, the barn has plenty of already picked pumpkins and gourds, or you can go to the field to pick your own, plus visit the Corn Maze!   Barthel's apples are also available at Outpost in Mequon.  Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, Barthel's offers homemade bakery as well as a Beer Garden (weather permitting) from noon-6 Fridays through Sundays.  Join them for their Oktoberfest September 23-24!

If you're willing to venture a bit out of Oz, there are a few places worth the trip:

Spieker's Pumpkin Farm in Random Lake features a massive corn maze, hay rides, and an incredible variety of pumpkins and gourds, as well as a petting zoo, and more.  Find it at N1181 Hwy. 57 in Random Lake.

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm and Market in West Bend has quite the exotic petting zoo, and a haunted corn field, a totally unstaged and hair-raising adventure through 8 plus creepy houses and 3/4 miles of narrow trails in tall, dense corn, on narrow confined trails.  Not exactly family fun with young children, but possibly a great outing with your teenagers or adult friends.  Find Meadowbrook at  2970 Mile View Road in West Bend.

​Happy picking!!

Did you know that Father's Day did not become an official national holiday until 1972?!  In contrast, Mother's Day has been in official existance since 1914, though the first Father's Day in the country was actually celebrated before that.  According to the History Channel, Sonora Scott Dodd of Spokane, Washington is considered the founder of Father's Day after she successfully established it as a holiday in her state in 1910 in honor of her own father, a widow who raised her and her 5 siblings.

Eventually the holiday spread, but why such a long delay in being recognized nationally? Well, most likely it was because the idea wasn't considered commercially marketable; after all, men aren't as 'sentimental' as women and weren't, historically speaking, given gifts to demonstrate affection in the same way that women were.  In fact, it was the fathers, themselves, who slowed the spread, complaining of commercialism and, after all, it was "their money" that paid for the gifts.  My, how times have changed.

If you have a father to celebrate in your life on Father's Day, you'll want to do it locally, of course, and we can help you with that!  Read on for the more traditional, and not so traditional, gift-giving ideas for dad available in Oz.

For the Golfer

Let's face it, there are a good number of dads who like to golf. Luckily, there are a good number of places in Oz to do that and gift certificates or a tee time make a worthy present for the father who loves this particular hobby.  Ozaukee's own county courses, Hawthorne Hills and Mee-Kwon Park, are worthy spots, but you can also try Missing Links in Mequon, The Bog in Saukville, and Edgewater Golf Club or Fire Ridge Golf Club in Grafton.  Speaking of Fire Ridge, their Flannery's Restaurant offers a special Father's Day Breakfast with Dad from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 18th with a chance to win a foursome on the course!

Traditional golfing is great, but some dads go for Disc Golf and Oz has two great courses, including Tendick Park in Saukville and Stoney Creek Disc Golf Course in Fredonia.  Looking for a new disc for dad?  Try Cedarburg Toy Co.!

For the Outdoorsman

For the father who is into hunting, fishing, camping or kayaking, look no further than Sherper's in Port Washington!  From knives to boots and tents to decoys, Sherper's has what the outdoorsman in your life is looking for.  

For the Handyman or Gardener

A new tool or a gift certificate for dad to pick out his own is a great idea!  Try Drew's True Value in Port Washington, Hahn Ace Hardware in Mequon, the Grafton Ace Hardware, or Beyer's True Value in Cedarburg.  For the dad who can't get enough plants, try Heyden's Garden Center or Groth's Country Gardens in Cedarburg, Frenz Garden Center in Thiensville, or Gene Fransee & Son/Kletzien Garden Center in Port Washington

For the Craft Beer Aficionado

One thing Oz really has going on is a lot of local breweries, so take dad there or bring some to him, but keep it local!  Try Rebellion Brewing or The Fermentorium in Cedarburg, Sahale Ale Works in Grafton, Inventors Brewpub in Port Washington, or Foxtown Brewing in Mequon.  For the dad who is looking for a different drink, try The Shinery, The Cedarburg Winery or Handen Distillery in Cedarburg, or Vines to Cellar in Port Washington

For the Birder

For the birding dad in your life, a new birdfeeder, seed, or a gift certificate for those might be just the ticket.  Try Wild Birds Unlimited or The Feed Bag Pet Supply in Mequon, Landmark Feed, Seed & Supply in Cedarburg, or Saukville Feed Supplies or Pet Supply Port in Saukville. For an added gift, consider spending some time at Riveredge Nature Center, Mequon Nature Preserve, or one of the many Treasures of Oz natural areas to do some bird watching!

For the Father's Day Cookout

A Father's Day cookout is the tradition for many families. Looking for the perfect cut of meat for the grill?  Try Bernie's Fine Meats in Port Washington, The Creamy Pig in Cedarburg, Blau's Saukville Meats, Foxtown Heritage Meats in Mequon, or Schwai's Meat & Sausage in Fredonia.  For the perfect charcuterie board for the party, or ham & rolls for a Sunday Father's Day brunch, hit up Frannie's Market in Cedarburg.  Don't feel like hosting the event at your place?  The Port Washington Beer Garden at Upper Lake Park opens for the season with their Cheers to Dad event from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., featuring live music, food, and beer, of course!

Shopping for Father's Day Gifts

Sometimes you just need to wander around the right shop to find the perfect gift and Oz has several that appeal to the menfolk.  The Cedar Creek Apothecary, located in the Cedar Creek Settlement, is offering 20% off all male grooming products through Father's Day weekend.  While in Cedarburg, you might also try Weeds or The Irish Boutique for the Irish father in your life.  In Port Washington, Locally Inspired or Eclectic Avenue are good bets.

Whatever you decide to get the fathers in your life for Father's Day, shopping locally makes it a win-win.  That being said, don't underestimate the value of your time; sharing it with the people you love is one of the very best gifts you can give.  Happy Father's Day, dads of Oz!

One of the best parts of summertime in Ozaukee County is the plethora of outdoor concerts to attend.  From Summer Sounds to Gathering on the Green, there's something for everyone.  Here's the 2023 lineup:

Belgium Summer Nights LIVE  Beginning Friday, June 2nd from 6-9 p.m., Belgium's Community Park will feature live music and family fun for all.  Food and drinks are available for purchase, and sign up for a cornhole tournament!  Join them again on Friday, July 21st.

Summer Sounds in Cedarburg  The 20th Season of Summer Sounds kicks off Friday, June 16th, at Cedar Creek Park with Yam Haus and special guest, Bellends, and continues every Friday through August 18th.  Each concert begins 6:30 p.m. and there is plenty of food and drink available on site, as well as a playground for the kids nearby. Bring a blanket or chairs, find your spot, and plan on an evening of fun!

GALA in the Park: Bollywood Nights in Thiensville  On Saturday, June 3rd, GALA in the Park returns as part of its fundraising efforts to complete funding for the splash pad inside Village Park with a special evening of Indian-inspired food and entertainment.

Mequon Public Market 2023 Music Series The Mequon Public Market hosts concerts on their outdoor patio on mostly Friday evenings or in their indoor mezzanine on mostly Tuesday evenings from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Shully's River Sounds in Thiensville will have free concerts on the first Thursday of each month, except July, from 5:30-9 p.m., rain or shine, with some delicious food available, made (of course!) by Shully's.  June 8th is Random Maxx, August 3rd is Eddie Butts, and September 7th is Five Card Studs.  RSVP at https://www.shullyscuisine.com/specia​

Live at the Triangle in Saukville's Veteran's Park will return with 6 free concerts this summer on every other Wednesday evening from 7-9:30 p.m., beginning with Tangle Foot on June 14th and ending with Bad Habitz on August 23rd.  Food and beverages are available for purchase on site.

Gathering on the Green at Mequon's Rotary Park returns on Friday, July 15th with Ann Wilson of Heart and special guest Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.  On Saturday, July 16th, Rise & Shine in the Park, a Christian music concert, features CAIN with special guest Franki Moscato.

The Shipyard Bar in Port Washington has an impressive Summer Lineup of Live Music, beginning with their Outdoor Patio Grand Opening on June 17th with Tanglefoot and running through the ShadLads on September 3rd.

Climb the hill to the iconic St. Mary's church on Fridays from noon to 12:30 for the 7th Season of their St. John XXIII Summer Music Series: Music on the Hill!  The perfect accompaniment to your lunch break, with an eclectic mix of music from June 16th to August 18th.  

The Port Washington City Band Concerts happen four times over the summer, all at 6:30 p.m. in the bandshell at Veterans Park in Port.  Join them June 11th and 25th and July 16th and 23rd.

Cedarburg Art Museum Beer Garden will have live music and food trucks Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:30 p.m. beginning on June 8th with January Autumn and through September 14th with Roxie Beane, as well on Saturday afternoons from noon-4 p.m. with live music and artist booths beginning June 10th and running through September 9th.

the baaree  in Thiensville, the outdoor beer garden of the cheel Nepalese restaurant, which is in the process of being rebuilt after being destroyed by a fire, is located at 105 S. Main St. and has live music all summer long.  For up to date listings, see their facebook page.

While not necessarily concert series, there are a plethora of places in Oz to catch live music on a regular basis, including:

CEDARBURG
Art of Joy, Rebellion Brewing, Lime Cantina, Stagecoach Inn/Five20 Pub
​
MEQUON
The Annex at Foxtown, the Mequon Public Market, 

PORT WASHINGTON
Singing Salmon Saloon, Beanies Mexican Restaurant

If you don't mind the drive, Sheboygan has the amazing Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series kicks off on Thursday, June 22nd at 6 p.m. with The Periodicals, followed at 7 p.m. by Tami Neilson.  Most performances are Thursday evenings beginning at 6 on Sheboygan's City Green; however, the Series also incorporates the Midsummer Festival of the Arts on Saturday and Sunday, July 15th and 16th, on the JMK Arts Center Festival Green.

Also not too far from Oz, the Homegrown Music Festival returns to Regner Park in West Bend for its 8th year on Sunday, July 9th from noon-9 p.m.  Parking is free, and a $10 donation is recommended.  New is the Regnar Rocks Concert Series, which already kicked off on May 25th with the MilBillies, but continues each 4th Thursday of the month from 5-9 p.m.: June 22nd  is Betsy Ade & the Well-Known Strangers with Special Guest Ben Mulwana; July 27th is The WhiskeyBelles with Special Guest Jay Matthes; August 24th is Pat McCurdy with Special Guest Party Marty & the Dirt Bags.  Food and beverages are available for purchase on site, no dogs or carry-ins are allowed. 

To stay informed about all of the great live music happening in and around Oz, make sure to stay tuned to the Ozaukee Living Local Events Page, and subscribe to our Weekend Newsletter​!  Notice something we missed?  Let us know at mary@ozaukeelivinglocal.com.

By Mary Boyle

When Kevin was growing up in a small Wisconsin town, there weren't many resources for kids like him.  Kids who were gay.  He took refuge in his school's theatre program and discovered he fit in better there.  Theatre people are very accepting.

Fast forward many years later and Kevin and his husband, Steve, were looking for a home.  Steve brought Kevin to a little place in Port Washington called Smith Bros. Coffee House where Kevin was introduced to the most delicious fish sandwich he'd ever eaten.  While that was an excellent selling point for a quaint lakeside community, what really caught Kevin's eye as they drove about town was the number of pride flags he saw.

"That flag means so much more for our community," explained Kevin, "it's like Batman's signal; you know you're going to be safe."

In June of 2021, Kevin and Steve moved to Port and Kevin immediately set to work trying to find his community within the community.  He reached out to Port Washington's Mayor and joined the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, where he met Karl.  Kevin didn't want kids growing up without resources, like he did, and Karl was on the same page.  By January of 2022, the two of them launched PW Pride, a group that would work as a place for Port's LGBTQ community to find resources; a group that could "educate, advocate and celebrate," as their mission states.

Wanting to build their group, the two found a willing partner in the WJ Niederkorn library and set up their first Coffee Connection events, which were well received.  Ideas for more events, like the Pride Picnic and Game Night, made it clear that PW Pride needed to be more than just a group.  From that point on, both Kevin and Karl set out to create a non profit which, they hope, will one day grow into the actual resource center that Kevin wished he'd had when he was growing up.

Gaining non-profit status is not cheap, so the group began their first fundraising campaign by asking local businesses to sell pride flags in their shops.  "This is more than just a fundraiser, though," said Kevin.  "This shows the community that our local businesses support the LGBTQ community.  We started with 7 stores and this year we have 10."

With the June Pride Month approaching, the group has a number of events for people of all ages lined up, beginning with a special Coffee Connection on Saturday, May 20th at the WJ Niederkorn Library featuring Planting Hope, an LGBTQ non-profit that is helping families grow "one plant at a time."  In June at the library, there will be a Movie Screening  of "Love, Simon," on Monday, June 5th and a Book Talk and Signing on "The History of Drag in Milwaukee" on Wednesday, June 14th.  On Friday, June 23rd at Sir James Pub in Port Washington there will be a PW Pride Karaoke Fundraiser for the over 21 crowd, but family-friendly events are also in the works, such as a Pride Pool Party at Pirate's Hollow and a Pride Picnic at Upper Lake Park later in June.

"We want to be a group that is accepted in the community and that gives back to the community, no different from the Kiwanis or Lions Club," Kevin stressed.  "To have our voices heard and be included would be enough for us.  I didn't have this growing up, so this is maybe my legacy: I gave somebody the space to come out and the resources they needed.  I want to know I did something."

To learn more about PW Pride and their upcoming events, go to their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/pwpride53074

​Over 100 years ago (in 1914, to be exact), President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day an official holiday.  As one might guess, it didn't take long for restaurants, florists, and confectioners to get in on it.  In fact, the woman who campaigned for the holiday, Anna Jarvis, was so disgusted by the commercialization of the holiday that she spent the rest of her life fighting to remove it from the calendar.  Of course, Mother's Day is here to stay, so if you're going to spend your money, you may as well do it locally, and there are plenty of good restaurants, florists, and confectioners in Oz to choose from, as well as other special offers from local businesses and organizations!

Port Washington  
Moonlight Tavern is offering a special Mother's Day menu from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  with choices such as Prime Rib and Champagne Chicken.  Plier's Full Circle Pub & Restaurant will have Prime Rib and additional specials between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  

If you're looking for chocolates in Port, Chocolate Chisel has a wide variety of milk and dark chocolates to choose from, as well as chocolate dipped strawberries (pre-ordering is recommended).  Jewelry can be found at Sharbuno Jewelers.  Both Pear & Simple and Locally Inspired have great gifts and Locally Inspired is offering a Mother's Day Plant Bar the Saturday before Mother's Day, as well!

Saukville/Newburg
No No's has brunch from 11a.m. - 2:30.  For reservations, call (262)675-6960.

For flowers, try Lighthouse Florist in Saukville.

​Grafton 
Flannery's at Fire Ridge in Grafton offers a Mother's Day Brunch.  Reservations are required; call (262) 375-2977.  
​
The Bloomin Olive is where to go for flowers in the Grafton area, and Sweet Trio and Handmade With Love has all the sweet treats mom might want.

Mequon 
Mr. B's, A Bartolotta Steak House, has a Brunch Buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Call (262) 518-5500 to make reservations.  Cafe 1505 is serving brunch and reservations are required -- call (262) 241-7076).  

​La Terre at the Mequon Public Market is the place to go for blooms ​and Cocoa Tree Confectionery is the place to get chocolate and sweets.  Barthel's Fruit Farm is offering free tea or coffee to moms from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. while she shops for flowers and seedlings, as well as  

Cedarburg
The Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement are having a special Mother's Day Weekend, the 11th and 12th, featuring treats, prizes, specials, samples, wine tastings and live entertainment just for mom!

There's always a special caramel apple from Amy's Candy Kitchen or classic candies from Ashley's Confectionery to make mom's day, and flowers from  Rachel's Roses.  Armbruster Jewelers is, of course, a main stay for jewelry, but there are so many great jewelry and gift stores in Cedarburg, you could just take mom through them all and let her pick out just the right thing.

If Mom is an outdoorsy type, she may prefer a hike at Lion's Den Gorge in Grafton, Sauk Creek Nature Preserve in Port, Harrington Beach in Belgium, or a nature preserve such as Riveredge in Saukville or Mequon Nature Preserve.

Happy Mother's Day to all from Ozaukee Living Local!