June 26–28in & around the Wisconsin Northwoods
The Northwoods doesn't wait for the Fourth to celebrate it. Red, White, and BOOM! brings fireworks, live music, and food to Rondele Ranch Saturday, Presque Isle Days runs the classic small-town festival, and the Hodag Farmers' Market is on in Rhinelander. Lake by day, fireworks by dark -- a week early. And the timing's kind: mostly sunny and mild Friday and Saturday, mid-to-upper 70s with cool 50s nights, so the fireworks and festivals get clear skies. Sunday clouds up with a real shot at showers, so front-load the outdoor plans.
Friday
Mercer kicks the holiday week off with a community cook-out for America's 250th. Food, neighbors, and the easy small-town Friday that the Northwoods does better than anywhere. Bring an appetite.
Saturday
The weekend's big one. Eight hours of fireworks, live music, and food and drink out at Rondele Ranch. Come for the afternoon, stay for the show after dark -- this is where the whole area ends up.
A classic small-town summer festival in one of the prettiest corners up north. Vendors, food, and the kind of main-street weekend that feels like the Northwoods distilled. Easy to pair with the lake.
The Saturday market in Rhinelander -- local growers, makers, and the morning crowd. A good first stop before the day's festivals and fireworks get going.
That's the weekend.
See everything on in the Wisconsin Northwoods — all weekend, all week.
See all eventsUpdated June 25, 2026 · Times verified the week of publication; we surface what's really on — how The Lineup chooses.