5 Biggest Things We’re Missing This Summer
1. FAIR FOOD
One of the supreme pleasures of a Midwest summer is enjoying fair food: Whether sweet or savory, it’s often deep-fried and always delicious. We’re missing fried cheese curds, funnel cakes, and oversized cups of fresh-squeezed lemonade. To help fill those appetites, the Northern Wisconsin State Fair is holding a Fair Food Shindig July 10-12 in Chippewa Falls. Five vendors will be on hand to serve up some of your favorites. Physical distancing and sanitation rules will be in place, so you’ll be able to enjoy your fair food safely. Visit nwsfa.com for details.
2. FAIR RIDES
With the Northern Wisconsin State Fair and other community fairs called off because of you-know-what, there’s little chance you’ll be able to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl this summer. If you’re looking for fast-moving, heart-pounding thrills, may we suggest dusting off the mountain bike in your garage. Tackling the trails at Lowes Creek County Park or elsewhere around the Valley is sure to give you some of the adrenaline rush you get from amusement rides with the added benefit of some intense cardio. Also, no one looks at you weird if you wear a helmet; we can’t say the same if you put on protective gear for a spin in the Scrambler!
3. GOING TO THE POOL
Especially if you have kids, you’re probably missing going to your local public pool when the temperature rises. Instead of sitting and sweating, remember that there are plenty of other options: Check on one of the local public beaches, such as Lake Altoona or Lake Eau Claire, particularly early in the morning before they get crowded. And a lot of cool fun can be had with a simple lawn sprinkler or kiddie pool -- even Mom and Dad can join the fun!
4. MUSIC FESTIVALS
We can’t sugar-coat it: Missing out of the Chippewa Valley’s plethora of music festivals because of COVID-19 has been one of the summer’s biggest bummers. (As of this writing, the only major fest still on the calendar is Blue Ox, which was rescheduled from June to Aug. 27-29.) It’s hard to find a good substitute for a music festival, but you could try this: Stand out in the sun for a few hours drinking beer while your favorite tunes blast at high volume. Then pretend to wait in line for an hour to get into a port-a-potty.
5. FAMILY REUNIONS
Gathering with all your aunts, uncles, cousins, and other assorted shirttail relatives each summer is a hallowed American tradition, but not a very advisable one this summer -- especially if you’ve got family members from near and far converging on one place to share potato salad in a park pavilion. This year, cancel the reunion in the interest of protecting Great-Uncle Frank’s health, and instead swap family stories via email or social media. With your extra free time, you can even log onto Ancestry.com or another genealogical website and finally fill in those mysterious blanks in the family tree.
