MONROE — The opposite of winter is summer, and the opposite of cabin fever is being free to go anywhere and do anything. Area residents had a multitude of options on how to unwind during this past Father’s Day weekend.
The Monroe Balloon & Blues Festival returned, bringing carnival rides, a car show, dozens of vendors and food trucks, live music and more than a dozen hot air balloons. While flight and glow events were canceled for Friday, June 13, tethered rides, an afternoon flight and evening glow were crowd favorites at the Green County Fairgrounds the next day, on Saturday, June 14.
Flag Day (June 14) had a series of celebrations of camaraderie all of its own. The newly-named Colony Brands Green County Family YMCA held its grand opening for its new addition, which added tens of thousands of square feet, a newer, longer walking/jogging track, larger gymnastics facility, an upstairs exercise facility packed with new cardio equipment, community rooms, youth and child care rooms, and a more open feel in general. Next on the list of renovations includes gutting and reconstructing the locker rooms and converting the previous gymnastics and weight room into a second gymnasium.
In Darlington, Canoe Fest raged all weekend, bringing thousands of people to town for a variety of events, including, of course, hundreds of canoe trips down the Pecatonica River.
Browntown celebrated its 30th Annual Summerfest and Fish Boil, while crowning its Dairy Queen.
New Glarus held its annual Polkafest, where more than 40 vendors helped festivalgoers enjoy a weekend of Alpen music, drinks and community pride.
June 14 also served as the 250th birthday of the United States Army. While a rare American military parade squeaked past empty bleachers in Washington D.C., Americans across the country joined in protest of the policies of President Donald Trump, which many detractors liken to that of a wannabe dictator or fascist autocrat. The protests, organized by the 50501 collective and themed “No Kings” brought more than 11 million unpaid protesters across the country. In Monroe, about 300 protesters came together in a peaceful scene to celebrate American history and optimism for the future, while also not allowing a couple counter-protesting instigators from ruining the mood. New Glarus saw about 200 protesters. In Platteville, more than 100 people showed up, while Dodgeville protest organizers claimed as many as 500 people attended. Madison saw about 18,000 protesters, Milwaukee 12,000, and more than 1,000 in each of Janesville, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Kenosha, La Cross, Oshkosh, Racine, Sheboygan, Sturgeon Bay and Waukesha.
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) reminded the Dodgeville crowd that “by showing up today we’re making sure that the rule of law never goes away.”
In Monroe, a multitude of local speakers took to the microphone, including former economics professor and veteran John Waelti, as well as organizers Nicole Wilcox and Joshua Mittness.
“This crowd gives me hope,” Mittness said, while also thanking the protesters for remaining peaceful, as well as thanking the dozen law enforcement officers on scene for their dedication to keeping the peace not just at the rally, but for each shift they work.
June festivities are not over yet, either. Thursday is Juneteenth, with Main Street Monroe’s next Concert on the Square the following evening. Monroe Theatre Guild is performing “Proof” this weekend, the Juda Bash Car Show is on June 21, as is the Albany Lions Car Show and the Coach Toby Golembiewski “Win the Day” Memorial Flag Football Tournament at Monroe High School. Brodhead Family Fest and Fireworks and Green County Pride take place June 28, as does the Argyle Annual Fish Fry.
Next up is July, and a plethora of memories await.