July 24–26in & around the Wisconsin Northwoods

Thirty-three studios across Boulder Junction, Eagle River, Rhinelander, and Mercer open up for three days, free and self-guided. You pick the route, you set the pace, and you end up in a half-dozen workshops you'd never otherwise walk into. The best excuse all summer for a slow drive with friends.

The traveling environmental film festival brings about two hours of shorts to Three Lakes. Twenty dollars for adults, twelve for youth, with tickets running through the Northwoods Land Trust rather than the venue. Best for ages twelve and up.

The parish summer festival runs Friday and Saturday in Tomahawk. Small-town festival in the truest sense -- food, games, and most of the neighborhood turning up.

Heritage Days opens with the parade down Silver Street at 3, lineup at 2, and this year's theme is "Party Like It's 1776." Stick around after -- Ryan Michael & Band plays the Heritage Stage by Bucko's Saloon from 6 to 9, and the street dance follows. The festival itself keeps going into August, but Saturday is the day it all starts.

Free, every other year, and packed: wagon rides from 10 to 1, logging demonstrations at 10:30 and 1:30, birds of prey at 11 and noon, and Smokey Bear's birthday party from 11 to 2. Bring the kids early and plan to stay through lunch.

This week's show is the Annual Timber Shriners Benefit, free from the shore at Deer Park. They do cancel for weather, so check their Facebook the day of before you load the chairs.

Pig roast, basket raffles from noon to 8, live music, and water fights against neighboring departments at 1. The beer tasting is a separate ticket, 21 and up, noon to 4, and comes with a mug and a sandwich.

A guided historic walking tour of downtown Tomahawk with the Tomahawk Area Historical Society. Check the Tomahawk Chamber calendar for the start time before you head over.

Rhinelander's ski team closes out the weekend on the water at Hodag Park. Grab a spot on the bank, watch the pyramids go up, and let somebody else do the work for an hour.