Waupaca hosts Friday night street dance, Saturday concerts in August

Arts on the Square will kick off a weekend of live music in downtown Waupaca with MoJoe and Friends at the Friday Night Street Dance, 6-10 p.m., Aug. 19.

On Saturday, Aug. 20, bands will perform all day in the Arts on the Square Main Tent, and on the jazz and acoustic stages.

Sponsored by the Waupaca Community Arts Board, Arts on the Square will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. The festival will feature three music stages, juried art show, workshops, demonstrations, dance stage, food trucks and a beer tent, all located on the Waupaca Area Public Library grounds and sections of East Union and East Fulton streets in downtown Waupaca.

Admission to all performances is free.

The Main Tent Saturday morning line-up begins at 10 a.m., featuring the Aber Suzuki Center, followed by children’s performer Tom Pease at 11:15 a.m.

The Main Tent afternoon line-up runs from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., featuring the vocal harmonies of Ukelyptus, singer-songwriter Christopher Gold, and the classic Americana band, Desperate Ottos.

The Jazz Stage, featuring Erin Krebs and the quartet, Pegasis, begins at 12:15 p.m. and runs one hour past the other festival events, concluding at 5 p.m.

The Acoustic Stage will feature Vibhas Kendzia performing Native American music on a Native American flute. Kendzia will perform on stage in City Square’s Bandstand, and while strolling on the festival grounds throughout the day.

Street Dance

Street Dance

The Friday Night Street Dance will be held under the Main Tent on East Union Street, next to the Waupaca Area Public Library. Food, beverage and the beer stand open at 6 p.m. MoJoe and Friends take the stage at 7 p.m.

MoJoe and Friends takes the best of the blues, R&B, and rock to create a musical style best described as, funky blue Americana.

Joining MoJoe for this performance is vocalist Sasha Sauer from Green Bay, the lead singer with Brass Differentia, a New Orleans style jazz, funk and soul band. Also joining the group on percussion is Mike Underwood from Oshkosh the drummer for Steve March-Torme, The Presidents, and Jazz Orgy.

WCAB also will raffle off a complete set of five Union Street Mural mugs.

The mugs feature the 100-foot Union Street Mural created by artist Leif Larson in 2020. Raffle tickets will be sold during the evening, with a winner announced from the stage.

Jazz Stage

An indoor venue at Union Street Emporium, 110 E. Union St., will give audiences an opportunity to enjoy one of Wisconsin’s premier jazz vocalists, Erin Krebs, and jazz quartet, Pegasis, from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20.

Krebs was awarded the 2019 Female Vocalist of the Year by Wisconsin Area Music Industry, and her duo with guitarist Jeff Johnston was recognized by WAMI in 2018 for Jazz Artist of the Year. Krebs performs 12:15-2:15 p.m.

Based out of Green Bay, Pegasis is a vocal trio of sisters from the Dominican Republic — Marvelis, Rissel, and Yaina Peguero Almonte — and jazz guitarist Matt Hillman. Pegasis performs 3-5 p.m.

The Jazz Stage stays open until 5 p.m..

Main Tent

Located on East Union Street next to the Waupaca library, the Main Tent morning performers are aimed at families with Aber Suzuki Center students, from 10-11 a.m., followed by the popular children’s performer, Tom Pease, from 11:15-12:15 p.m.

In the afternoon, Ukelyptus, a trio of singer-songwriters on ukulele, mandolin and bass fiddle, take the stage from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

From 1:45-2:45 p.m., Kentucky-born songwriter Christopher Gold will bring his folk tradition of blending music, storytelling and humor to Waupaca.

Opening up the Arts on the Square dance floor, The Desperate Ottos take the stage from 3-4:30 p.m., bringing their Americana music to the festival.

To hear samples of all the performers and to learn details more about the Arts on the Square festival, go to waupacaarts.org/arts-on-the-square-2022-overview