June 12–14in & around the Wisconsin Northwoods
Saturday is the loaded day: Up North Beerfest pours 25-plus Midwest breweries at Hi-Pines in Eagle River, while downtown Rhinelander throws its biggest day of the summer so far -- the Art Fair on the Courthouse Lawn and the Rhinelander Car Show running side by side. Friday night is a legitimately big get for a small room: Chicago blues-harmonica legend Corky Siegel with jazz violinist Randy Sabien in Three Lakes. The weather plays along, mostly -- mid-70s Friday and Saturday with a slight gamble of a passing shower Saturday, then Sunday comes up sunny and 67. Nights still drop into the 40s, so the sweatshirt stays in the truck.
Friday
The music pick of the weekend, no contest: Corky Siegel -- the Chicago blues-harmonica legend of the Siegel-Schwall Band -- joins jazz violinist Randy Sabien on the Three Lakes stage. Blues meets jazz in a room small enough that you'll hear the harp breathe.
The Friday fish fry is the Northwoods institution, and this one's a Legion pop-up -- which is about as Northwoods as it gets. Eat early, then walk over to the Siegel show.
The UW research station opens its doors and shows you what serious potato science looks like. Weird, wonderful, and genuinely fun with kids -- the Northwoods grows more of your french fries than you think.
Saturday
THE Saturday anchor: 25-plus Midwest breweries pouring in the pines, with a VIP hour starting at noon for the people who plan ahead. Line up a designated driver and make an afternoon of it.
One downtown, three shows: the Art Fair on the Courthouse Lawn fills the Oneida County Courthouse grounds, the Rhinelander Car Show lines Brown and Davenport Streets from 9 to 3, and the Red Knights Bike Show holds down Anderson Street. Park once, wander all of it -- wheels on one block, watercolors on the next. (The Ride for Peanuts charity ride rolls out of Northwoods Harley the same morning, if you ride.)
A free family festival benefiting the YMCA and Lakeland Fitness -- the Spicy Tie Band hits at 12:30, with food and kid stuff all afternoon. The community pick.
The UW field station on Lake Tomahawk opens up for a morning of hands-on woods-and-water science. Pairs naturally with Friday's potato day for a full nerdy-Northwoods double.
The Hodag Farmers' Market runs Saturday morning at Pioneer Park in Rhinelander, and the Tomahawk Farm & Flea Market sets up at Qualheim's True Value. Coffee, produce, and the occasional genuine find.
Touring trop-rock and Americana songwriter Scott Kirby plays three hours on the Bootleggers deck. Saturday night on the water, drink in hand -- this is what the Northwoods summer is for.
Stand-up comes to the lake bar -- a Saturday option for a laugh before or after the Kirby show down the road.
That's the weekend.
See everything on in the Wisconsin Northwoods — all weekend, all week.
See all eventsUpdated June 11, 2026 · Times verified the week of publication; we surface what's really on — how The Lineup chooses.