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'MEET ME AT HOME': Eaux Claires Pays Homage To Carson Park In Latest Teaser
festival organizers share new video, narrated by Michael Perry, which tells tales of Carson Park and says festival lineup to come
Anticipation is rapidly building for Eaux Claires 2026 – the first Eaux Claires fest since the pandemic – slated for July 24-25 at Carson Park (100 Carson Park Dr., Eau Claire). Today, the official Eaux Claires social media accounts (@EauxClaires) shared another teaser across its platforms.
The festival's latest video post features emotive vintage clips of the event's new venue location, the historic Carson Park, with a narrative provided by the distinct and much-loved voice of local bestselling author, Michael Perry.
This auditory glimpse into the festival's mission – featuring a background track of "The Jensens" by born-and-raised Eau Clairian, Phil Cook, and his 2013 record This Side Up – showcases the past and present of the park, underscoring the deep connection Eaux Claires has to the physical location and the wider community.
In between clips of the Chippewa Valley's rushing rivers and natural landscapes, teenage Justin Vernon is shown at Carson Park – clad in Memorial Old Abes purple – plus nods to Hank Aaron's Eau Claire legacy. Then, there's this enduring testament sung through Perry's voice.
"For now, we're getting together to put things together. Keeping it Eaux Claires, but keeping it open to fresh characters and fresh courses ... and at the heart of it, music," Perry says. "Music you'd expect, but also music you wouldn't expect. More something for more everyone; Meet me at home."
Eaux Claires, as with iterations past, seems to be a local love fest at its core: "We want to be together in warmth and peace," festival organizers shared online.
In addition to those clips showcasing the magic of past games and adventures at Carson Park, the video transitions to the present day. Viewers are treated to a montage of familiar local locations (see which ones you can guess!), now boldly plastered with new Eaux Claires branding via promotional posters.
Details regarding the 2026 festival lineup and tickets are coming soon, the Eaux Claires team said. What artists are you hoping to see in our neck of the woods?
Follow along with Eaux Claires online at eauxclaires.com and Volume One online for continued updates.