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MURALS IN MENOMONIE: City Looks Ahead to Big 2026 Art Project
‘Murals in Menomonie’ fundraiser launch will detail the artist group involved, more information on project
The Chippewa Valley is certainly no stranger to murals and public art projects, and now Menomonie will be embarking on one heck of a journey to bring a unique international group of muralists to town in 2026, starting with its fundraiser kickoff event on Thursday, June 27.
In a first-time collaborative effort between numerous major players in Menomonie – UW-Stout, the Community Foundation of Dunn County, the Dunn County Historical Society, the City of Menomonie, Downtown Menomonie, Explore Menomonie, as well as a local business, Vintage Sign Shop – a large-scale mural project is slated to take place in June 2026: Murals in Menomonie.
The project will ultimately lead to numerous new murals in the Menomonie area, all of which will commemorate the community’s rich history. The historical aspect of the project is part of why the kickoff fundraiser will be in Holtby Hall of the Dunn County Historical Society’s Rassbach Museum (1820 John Russell Road, Menomonie) at 4:30-6:30pm on Thursday, June 27.
The event will feature a presentation detailing the backstory of the artist group who will create the murals, The Walldogs, as well as begin fundraising by selling merchandise and a custom-brewed beer from Brewery Nonic created specifically for the kickoff.
Though the project organizers are not unveiling specific details until the June 27 event, they said several murals will be completed at the June 2026 Walldogs Festival in Menomonie, a five-day event during which the public will be welcomed and encouraged to watch visiting artists create the murals. Additional details about the project, including its price tag, will be shared at the fundraiser launch.
“This will be a pretty informal but educational type of kickoff,” explained Becca Schoenborn, executive director of Downtown Menomonie. “There will be a short video with some interviews with different people involved in the organizing; (Wade Lambrigtsen) is going to do a presentation about Walldogs; and the big thing will be kicking off what will be a huge fundraiser.”
Wade Lambrigtsen, owner of Vintage Sign Shop, is a Walldogs artist himself as well as the muralist behind several area works including the Summer Shandy Leinenkugel’s mural and the C&J’s Candy Store mural. He is also the catalyst for the Murals in Menomonie project. “(Wade) will explain why it’s such a big deal and why it’s something that is important and cool to get involved with,” Schoenborn said. “The artists, while here, need to be supported, (so this will be a) huge fundraiser to raise money needed to cover their housing, food, and supplies.”
The Walldogs have completed mural projects in roughly 30 towns across the country – including Chippewa Falls in 2002, which resulted in several murals, including the Leinenkugel's mural on Bridge Street. The artists and their annual five-day Walldog Festival are so in demand that they are booked out until 2028: Upcoming Walldog Festivals are slated for Utah in 2025, Menomonie in 2026, and Texas in 2027, with more in the works for locations in New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and others.
The fundraiser kickoff will also offer complimentary appetizers and a cash bar alongside merchandise and Brewery Nonic beer, as well as the opportunity to learn how to get involved with the project. The event is free to attend.
Learn more about The Walldogs online • Find the Murals in Menomonie kickoff Facebook event online • The event will take place on Thursday, June 27, from 4:30-6:30pm at Rassbach Museum (1820 John Russell Road, Menomonie)
