Photo contributed by D’Angelo Photography Studio

By Billy Tuite

Many University of Wisconsin–Stout students will be leaving campus and heading home for the summer, but Main Street of Menomonie has some fun events planned for the season that may convince you to stay in town. Events being held this summer include SummerDaze, Flag Day Ceremony, Ladies Night Out and The Great Community Cookout.

SummerDaze – June 12 to 14

Main Street of Menomonie will be bringing in the much-needed warm weather with their third annual SummerDaze small town festival. Spanning a three-day period, this event will host copious amounts of activities for all ages throughout the downtown and Main Street areas.

Attendees can look forward to bed races, an arts and crafts fair, the ever-adorable wiener dog races, a super-awesome superhero-themed children’s parade and a medallion hunt with a $700 cash prize! The event will come to a close with the national North Star Bike Festival passing through Main Street and a family-friendly performance from the Splatter Sisters, a musical act from Minnesota.

Flag Day Ceremony – June 13

SummerDaze will pause the fun for a moment at the Veteran’s Memorial to pay respects to those who have served our country. Starting at 10 a.m., this event will include a dedication ceremony and a raising of a flag that was donated by a relative of one of the founders of the Memorial. The Memorial will also be setting in new embedded bricks honoring more veterans among the hundreds already present.

Ladies Night Out – July 17

This one’s for the girls. Main Street of Menomonie hosts three of these a year, and this year’s summer night will take place on Thursday, July 17. Ladies can go to participating establishments around town to take advantage of special deals on food and drinks, as well as sign up for a raffle drawing with prize baskets worth $200. More details will be revealed in mid-June, but those interested can expect a fun night of shopping, socializing and snacking around downtown Menomonie.

Great Community Cookout – September 11

The summer will come to a close with a massive four-hour celebration of food, games and music at the Great Community Cookout behind the Visitors Center. A wide variety of food will be provided by 10 vendors around town including delicious cupcakes from Baking Memories and pulled pork and barbecue from Captain PJ’s. Some funky, feel-good tunes will also be provided by the Eau Claire, Wis. blues band Left Wing Bourbon. Attendance at this event has exceeded a thousand in the past, so come be a part of the biggest cookout party Menomonie has to offer.

For more information on these and other events, visit Main Street of Menomonie at www.mainstreetmenomonie.org

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