August in Ozaukee offers tons of family fun
Kids may already be grumbling that “summer is almost over,” but there’s still a full schedule of fun things for families to do in Ozaukee County before school starts again!
-The Ozaukee County Fair (which runs through Sunday) is always a family favorite. Located on the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds and Firemen’s Park in Cedarburg, the fair offers free entry and plenty of fun, including carnival rides, live music, animal judging and more. Paid grandstand events include two nights each of truck & tractor pulls and demolition derbies.
-The northern part of Ozaukee County celebrates all things Luxembourg at the 36th annual Luxembourg Fest, Aug. 11 to Aug. 14 at Community Park in Belgium. The festival offers everything from a Cultural Forum to a Main Street Parade, plus a kids zone, treipeneating contest, artist corner, live music, food and a Mass. The event is fondly referred to as the World’s Largest Luxembourg Family Reunion, but everyone is welcome to come and get immersed in Luxembourgish culture at this unique ethnic festival. Visit www.lacs.lu for all of the details.
-Straight east from Belgium through Lake Church is the beautiful Harrington Beach State Park. This gem on Lake Michigan is always a joy for families, but offers a few notable events in August. On Aug. 13 and Aug. 27, your day of exploring, hiking and fishing can be enhanced by “Discovering Prairies,” an opportunity to hike the 1-mile Bobolink Trail and observe wildflowers and prairie plants with Master Naturalist Karen Merlau.
On Aug. 20, join John Emerson at Harrington Beach State Park from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to learn what geocaching, a modern form of treasure hunting, is all about. Be sure to bring your smartphone/ GPS unit so you can join in the fun. The event begins by meeting at Quarry Picnic Shelter. For all Harrington Beach State Park events, a park admission fee is required. Find out more info at friendsofharrington.org.
-Head south a few miles and you will find yourself in the village of Saukville. The Saukville Chamber’s Bags & Brews event on Aug. 13 is a fun bags tournament with a beer garden, live music and food from That Taco Guy! This event supports the Saukville Chamber Scholarship program. For more information, visit Saukvillechamber.org.
-Also in Saukville is the wonderful historic Pioneer Village. Off of Highway I, Pioneer Village is a collection of more than two dozen restored buildings and structures dating from the 1840s to the early 1900s. Events are held throughout the summer and into the fall.
-On Aug. 14, bring your lawn chair and enjoy Bluegrass at the Village, a day that includes five bluegrass bands performing on the historic platform of the Cedarburg Railroad Station, plus food, desserts and beverages. A live auction will be held of items provided by local area businesses.
-As we continue our journey southward, Aug. 18 kicks off the Cedarburg Chamber “Star Wars” Film Festival at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center. Coming soon to a galaxy not so far away, the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce and WILO USA are excited to present all nine Skywalker Saga films in order at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center, Aug. 18 to Aug. 21!
Individual movie tickets are $10, and a Jedi Pass (one seat to all 9 films) is $75; tickets are available at Cedarburg.org (not at the CPAC box office). Seating is first come first served. CPAC opens at least 30 minutes before each showtime.
-Mequon has a lot to offer in August! The Lakeshore Chinooks are wrapping up their baseball season with home games at Kapco Park on Aug. 4, 5, and 7 and the season closing double-header on Aug. 13. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com/.
-On Saturday, Aug. 20, the Jonathan Clark House in Mequon will be hosting their Heritage Days event, which will be brought to you by the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. The WMQFA staff volunteers will be on hand with crafting opportunities to engage you in the spirit of our early settlers.
There will be fuzzy friends to pet and feed, nostalgic games and hands-on activities, as well as a bonfire. Tasty tidbits and refreshments will be provided by community partners and sponsors.
On Aug. 21, head west to the Trinity Freistadt Historical Site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an Ice Cream Social. The Trinity-Freistadt Historical Site contains 12 buildings including a log cabin on site of the first Lutheran Church in state of Wisconsin and is open for tours.
These are just a few of the many events going on in Ozaukee County this month, and exploring the many wonderful communities, trails and waterways around the county offers great quality time with your family and with nature. For trail ideas and information about camping, parks, fishing and more, visit treasuresofoz.org and the websites of the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Ozaukee County Parks, Ozaukee Interurban Trail and Harrington Beach State Park. And of course there’s always plenty of info at ozaukeetourism.com!
On behalf of the Ozaukee County Tourism Council, thanks for helping make Ozaukee County a great place to live and play!
-From the “NewsGraphic” on August 4.