 There's nothing quite as Americana as the 4th of July in the small town communities of Oz. Looking for a celebration near you? Look no further! Thiensville Family Fun before the 4th is a nearly all-day event, and a great day for the whole family! On Saturday, July 1st, the massive parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Follow it to the Village Park, where free ice-cream and a variety of events await, followed by fireworks at dusk. Grafton's Holidaze Grafton's Holidaze, billed as the biggest fireworks show north of Milwaukee, returns on Saturday, July 1st with the parade kicking off at 4 p.m. and leading to Lime Kiln Park, where the celebration continues with food, drinks, games, live music, and fireworks at dusk. Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg The 23rd Annual Rotary Music Festival Drum Corps International Tour will return to Cedarburg on Monday, July 3, at 7 p.m. The Cedarburg High School Stadium is set to play host to a lineup of 6 World and Open Class corps during this event that will take place on the eve of Independence Day. Freistadt Fourth It doesn't get any more Americana than Trinity Freistadt's 4th of July Parade and Picnic! Spend your day enjoying one of Ozaukee County's best kept secrets, beginning with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. (weather permitting), an 11 a.m. picnic (complete with root beer floats), tours of the Trinity Historical Grounds, and a 1 p.m. parade, followed by a flag raising, and the very German music of the Alte Kameraden Band and dancing by the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers. Port Washington Port Washington will not have a parade or community picnic, as it has in the past, but will offer a Pool Party at the Pirates Hollow Community Waterpark. The American Legion will fill in the fun with a cook out, Patriotic Pet contest, live music, and arts & crafts for kids in the afternoon. The only fireworks over the lakefront in Oz begin at dusk, and are best seen from Rotary Park or Coal Dock Park. Saukville Saukville's parade begins at 1 p.m. on the 4th, going through downtown and ending at Grady Park for a picnic, music and activities from noon-5. The fun then moves to Penninsula Park, where there will be music, activities, and food from 5 p.m. until dusk, concluding with fireworks. Cedarburg's annual 4th of July Parade & Hometown Celebration boasts the largest parade in Ozaukee (roughly 2 hours long!), which begins at Fireman's Park at 10 a.m., and heads south along Washington Ave., making its way to Cedar Creek Park, where a picnic, music, and activities can be found until 9:30 p.m., when the fireworks begin. Happy Independence Day, Ozaukee!
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 There's nothing like spending a beautiful day at a Farmers Market, getting to know your local farmers and growers and connecting with community. Ozaukee is home to several great outdoor farmers markets, as well as other ways to get your local food. Supporting local growers helps to strengthen our local food system, which gives our community food independence and security, as we are less dependent on national and global food systems. Not only that, the dollars you spend on local food stay in our community, so try to purchase a portion of your weekly groceries at one of these places!
Port Washington Port's Farmers Market opens Saturday, June 17th and runs every Saturday through October 28th. Main Street is closed between Franklin and Wisconsin Streets from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with fresh produce, honey, soaps, bakery, live music, and more. Saukville Now located at Peninsula Park, the Saukville's Farmers Market happens every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning on June 11th and going through October 29th (except Independence Day and Labor Day weekend), with fresh produce, flowers, and arts and crafts. Thiensville Thiensville's Village Market opens Tuesday, June 20th at Village Park, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will continue every Tuesday through October 10th. Live music and The Best "Dam" Chef Competition are some of the highlights of this market, aside from fresh food, flowers, and more. Cedarburg The Cedarburg Farmers Market, which features a variety of artisans and locally grown produce, has a shorter run, but will be open on Saturdays from 9-1 August 5th through the end of September at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at W76 N627 N Wauwatosa Rd. Just outside of Oz in West Bend is the amazing West Bend Farmers Market, which is worth a look if you've never been, as it is the largest in the area. Happening every Saturday from 7:30-11 a.m. from May 20th through October 21st, it's an early one, but the Historic District is a sight to see, in itself, plus it puts you in walking distance to the Museum Of Wisconsin Art! If you just can't make it to the market, there are other ways to get your local food! Outpost in Mequon is committed to local and regional produce and products, with several of their items coming from producers within 100 miles of the co-op. The relatively new DreamPort Harvest Market in downtown Port Washington is a sweet little shop that brings some of the area's best local food indoors every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. There are also a number of farms in Oz that sell directly to consumers, including Witte's Vegetable Farm and Kay's Home Farm (which has pasture-raised beef) in Cedarburg, Barthel's Fruit Farm in Mequon, Rare Earth Farm in Belgium (which is a CSA, but also has an online store), The Victory Garden Farm, Willoway Farm (which has an amazing flower CSA) and Appleland Farm Market (which is open sporadically for strawberry picking and more until mid-August, when they open for apple season; they have also added a CSA) in Fredonia, and Winterspring Farm CSA in Newburg. One of the best ways to get local food from a wide variety of local growers is to join the Ozaukee Area REKO Ring on Facebook, which was started by The Victory Garden Farm. Growers post their offerings on the site each week and you can purchase/order direct from them, then pick up your order on Thursdays between 6 and 7 p.m. in Grafton. Many of the farms mentioned here are a part of the REKO Ring. Do you see something we've missed? Contact us, and we'll add it to the article! [email protected]  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!  The Summer Sounds concert series in Cedarburg on Friday evenings is a much anticipated event.  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 [email protected]. |
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