Arts on the Square 2024

Downtown Waupaca hosts live music, hands-on activities

Arts on the Square started out as a Street Dance and festival with one music stage, about 20 artists, a couple of art workshops and some beer.

This year’s 18th Annual Arts on the Square festival boasts 35 juried fine artists, three music stages, eight hand- on art workshops, five artist demonstrations, eight food vendors, an expanded Farmer’s Market, a performance dance stage and a whole lot of fun packed into one day in downtown Waupaca.

“It’s fun to think back to our early days.” said Waupaca Community Arts Board President Marci Reynolds. “We have grown beyond our wildest dreams, now producing a festival anticipated by people near and far and attracting thousands.”

Funded by a variety of sources, including Community First Credit Union, Arts on the Square continues to grow.

Friday Night Street Dance

The event opens with the dance band The Jimmys performing at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16. This seven-piece blues band features horns, guitars, keyboards and a dynamic rhythm section.

“The Jimmys are excellent musicians, wildly fun entertainers, and perform a slew of strong, original songs,” according to Bruce Iglauer, with Alligator Records. “They’re a treat for any fans of roots rock, old school R&B, and straight-up blues. every performance is like a party.”

Food trucks, and a wine and beer bar will be available. During the band’s break around 8:15 p.m. the Cloud Nine Fire Show will perform.

Music on Saturday

The Main Stage opens at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, with the Aber Suzuki Center Students playing various stringed instruments and piano, from a large repertoire of music.

Following the Suzuki students at 10:30 a.m. is AOTS favorite, Tom Pease. He brings back favorite songs from childhood in a fun and energetic performance.

At 11:45 a.m., the stage will erupt with the big sounds of Lynda and the Zeros. This 10-piece band from Madison plays a unique blend of soul, Motown and funk.

At 2 p.m., Big Oil, a five-piece band from Appleton, will play music inspired by the Black Keys and more, using catchy riffs, solos and raw lyrics.

The Jazz Stage, held in the Union Street Emporium, hosts two acts this year. at noon, enjoy the Son Reis Project, a quartet that plays progressive and funky jazz, featuring Jason Reisdorf on saxophone.

At 2 p.m., Vivo takes the stage, with contemporary, bossa-samba, jazz-pop interpretations of classic songs that span the decades, featuring Waupaca’s own Tony Wagner on drums.

The Acoustic Stage welcomes back Vibhas Kendzia and his Anasazi and Native American Flutes. Vibhas will be around all day, playing music and demonstrating various flutes.

Dance Stage

Arts on the Square will feature three dance acts this year.

At 10 a.m., the Waupaca Senior Cardio Drumming group will perform groove to the beat with this fun active group! Sponsored by The {Tre} of Life.

At 11 a.m., the award-winning Waupaca High School Dance Team will perform multiple sideline dances and a hip hop routine. Kids can join in. Sponsored by United Country Real Estate/Udoni Salan Group.

At noon, the Niam Leej Ntxhais Dancers, a Hmong dance group from the Fox River Valley will perform. The group was created to preserve the Hmong arts of dance and music. Sponsored by Community Insurance.

Artists

There are 35 juried fine artists, with a variety of mediums including textiles, jewelry, paintings, ceramics and more. This year’s festival art judge is artist Dawn Olson, a multi-media artist from Central Wisconsin. Cash prizes will be awarded in several categories, including best in show and the Patti Vaux Award.

Workshops, demonstrations

There are lots of opportunities for hands-on art fun, for all ages. The all-day workshops, offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., include:

• “Let’s Shine Together” – the 2024 Community Art Project. Attendees can be a part of the community art project by creating and adding their own gem with all the others created by community members. The finished frames will be auctioned off at the end of the day.
• The Pieceful Hands Quilt Guild will help participants make rice filled fabric chickens. Participants will learn basic hand-sewing skills.
• “SHINE” Suncatcher – Visitors can create their own painted suncatcher to take home, using water-based acrylic markers on clear acrylic round discs, perfect for hanging in a window.

Drop-in workshops

• Totally Tube Printing – work with Arts Hub artist Michelle Sharp in an art make-and-take project, from 9-11:30 a.m. All ages can participate.
• The Waupaca Wood Carvers will demonstrate wood carving techniques, and host two hands-on sessions. At 10:30 a.m. youths can carve a dog out of wood , and at 1 p.m. participants can learn how to turn a bar of soap into a 3D sculpture.
• From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., particpants can work with local artist Terry Achten, using clay to create a landscape.

Art demonstrations will take place all day, featuring a variety of live-action artists creating their work:

• Brady Looker, glass blower, features blending glass and metal to make pendants.
• Davette Leonard, demonstrating oil painting and calligraphy, fearures calligraphy techniques and an in-progress painting.
• Barbara Johnson, basket weaving demonstration and a special project for children.
• Bob Lechtenberg, sand sculpture, participants learn how to take their days at the beach to a whole new level. He will demonstrate a variety of topics related to sand sculptures from how to start through to a finished product with additional tips and tricks that will correlate to snow sculptures in winter as well.

Food and beverages

Arts on the Square will feature a wide variety of food vendors including the local European Delights, featuring crepes and spanakopita; Diablos Mexican Food Truck; Java Jive featuring coffee and pastries; Cottontail Cotton Candy, Moos Ice Cream, Street Grub featuring pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, fries and more; Say Cheese Curds Company featuring fried curds and lemonade; and the Asian Hmong Eggrolls truck. The WCAB will also be selling beer and wine under the Main Tent.

Expanded Farm Market

The Waupaca Farm market will be moved to Union Street, with a record number of vendors signed up to be on hand the entire day.

Arts on the Square is an all-weather event. In the case of rain, the Artists will be located at the Waupaca Rec Center while the rest of the featured acts and workshops will remain downtown, under the cover of its many tents. Stay tuned to 96.3fm, 99.1 or the Waupaca Community Arts Board Facebook page for weather alerts.

For more in depth information on all of the events go to www.waupacaarts.org.