The Chippewa Valley has gone a couple of years without the beloved high-flying aeronautic team, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, putting on a show. In early December, the Chippewa Valley Air Show officially announced when folks will finally see the Blue Angels at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport again.

This 1,200-mile-long trail traverses some of Wisconsin’s best scenery, beginning near St. Croix Falls and ending in Sturgeon Bay, with a portion winding through Chippewa County. It is one of three trails given national park status by the National Park System on Dec. 7.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, Chippewa Valley Technical College has a mascot, which was announced in September.

Country Jam USA organizers branched out into a new realm of music this Summer, bringing pop-punk and alt-rock musicians to the Chippewa Valley for a one-day music festival at the new Eau Claire Events District.

A new 5,200-square-foot concrete addition was made to an Eau Claire park after decades of effort from the Eau Claire Skaters Association and passionate community members. An official ribbon cutting was held June 17 at the skate feature, which is double the size of the Lakeshore Skate Plaza (which until recently was the only public skate area in town).

Chippewa Falls unveiled a three-floor museum to the public in early 2023. The $4.5 million building, located just outside of Chippewa Falls’ historic Irvine Park, celebrated its official grand opening on June 3.

The Great Lakes region’s favorite Leinie’s sour, Juicy Peach, went nationwide for the first time in April. With it, Leinenkugel also launched Juicy Peach-themed merchandise, including the Juicy Seat Pants. “Juicy Seats bring the ____ backside to Midwest functional fashion,” a press release noted.

Brought to life thanks to one local barber’s dream and an Eau Claire County grant, the Eau Claire Barber College – the area’s only barber-specific school – officially opened for enrollment this year.

The Chippewa Falls Police Department welcomed a new member to its staff this year in the form of a fluffy canine. The CFPD’s new labradoodle is working as a therapy dog within the department and looking cute doing it.

The longtime 314 Water St. bar, The Brat, was sold by Steve Geitz after 30 years of ownership. The new owners of the establishment, Jed and Elizabeth Hart, are no strangers to Water Street, considering they own two other businesses there.

Eau Claire’s newest record store opened Sept. 30 at 320 Graham Ave. The hip new spot holds a vast collection of records, cassettes, CDs, books, and more. Owner Seth Larson said he hopes to introduce new kinds of music to the community, one record at a time.

Volume One launched a trolley tour company over the summer, introducing a bright red, Mr. Rogers-esque mode of transit to the Chippewa Valley. The trolley offers historical signature tours, brewery tours, and even special holiday tours.

The Menomonie Market Food Co-op’s newest location in Eau Claire opened to the public in October, offering an expanded grocery option to the many new residents in downtown Eau Claire. The 14,000-square-foot building features a wide array of local and organic groceries as well as a deli, a community space, and even on-tap kombucha.

UWEC alums and renowned musicians, Sean Carey and John Raymond, released a new collaborative album on Sept. 15. The album was recorded at the Hive in Eau Claire and featured a host of local and non-local talent.

A chain drive-thru-only coffee shop, 7 Brew, was literally dropped next to Clairemont Avenue in July. 7 Brew serves a multitude of iced and hot coffees, smoothies, teas, shakes, energy drinks, and more.

Eau Claire is home to some of the most breathtaking, selfie-worthy murals in western Wisconsin. With the creation of so many thanks to programs like Color Block and the Public Painting Project, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor creations to discover and enjoy.

Five-year-old Altoona resident AJ has an infectious smile, gaining him a few modeling gigs for companies such as JCPenney Portrait Studios and Alphabet U. Earlier this year, his modeling career was boosted when a major chain picked his photo for an in-store display.

It’s no secret the Chippewa Valley is a unique hub for local artists of all kinds, including musicians. While most people’s minds jump to Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, another Eau Claire native added “Grammy Award Winner” to his resume earlier this year. The jazz pianist – who became winner of a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition – grew up in the Third Ward and Putnam Heights neighborhoods.

Camp Manitou is so much more than a summer camp, it’s an institution – one that generations of locals love and cherish. For many Camp Manitou goers, the road led back to New Auburn year after year, and 2023 marked an extra special anniversary for the beloved destination. Though it’s technically been around longer than the 2023 milestone, it celebrated a landmark birthday this summer.