NEW GLARUS - As gas prices continue to rise, more and more people might be interested to see things nearby rather than take a long vacation.
Green County villages and cites offer a variety of activities, places to visit and places to eat - all within a short distance.
New Glarus is one such community.
There are ethnic festivals, traditional music, European dining, unique shops and an award-winning brewery.
Places and events to see include:
• The Swiss Historical Village is open for the season. The village allows tourists to see how early settlers lived. There are 14 buildings in the Swiss village, including an original schoolhouse, general store, log cabin church and a replica of an early cheese factory. The village has been a popular destination for people since 1942.
The Swiss Village is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.
During Oktoberfest, Sept. 28, old-time crafts and hands-on demonstrations include cheese making, sausage making, bee keeping, broom making and blacksmithing. Civil War re-enactors also are on hand.
• The New Glarus Brewery also provides self-guided tours and samples of some of the brewery's award-winning beverages.
• The Seventh Annual Roger Bright Memorial Polkafest, June 13-15. The event pays tribute to New Glarus resident Roger Bright, who was well known in the polka world. This year's event includes a variety of polka music from local performers to Bavarian style.
• Heidi Festival, June 27-29. The weekend is filled with food, entertainment, music and fun for the whole family. The weekend includes a telling of the "Heidi" story and also includes a "Taste of New Glarus." Downtown streets are lined with food stands and colorful sidewalk sales displays. Live music entertainment adds to the festive weekend. Arts and crafts, performances of Swiss and other European music and a street dance also are featured.
• Maxwell Street Days, July 11-13. It's a weekend for bargain hunters, as downtown sidewalks are filled with a wide variety of items at special prices.
• Fireman's 106th Anniversary, Aug. 2. The event honors the village's volunteer fire department with kids and adult water fight, a bucket brigade competition, fire truck rides, live music and dancing.
• Volkfest, Aug. 3, celebrates Swiss Independence Day. Dignitaries from Swiss consulates and embassies attend the event, which includes traditional Swiss folklore music, yodeling, flag throwing, alphorn playing and accordion music. The Swiss children's chorus, also known as the New Glarus Kinderchor performs as does the Maennerchor New Glarus, a men's chorus group.
• The Wilhelm Tell Festival, Aug. 29-31, tells the story of Swiss independence. More than 200 actors dress in period costumes to tell the story. Other weekend events include the Tell Art Fair in the park, a yodel contest, a children's lantern parade and more.
Also in the New Glarus area is the Argue-ment golf course, the Swissland miniature golf course and the Edelweiss Chalet Country Club.
The Sugar River Bike Trail also ends, or begins, in New Glarus, and New Glarus Woods State Park also provides a place for camping, hiking and picnicking.
There also are great places to eat, unique businesses to shop and places to stay overnight.
For more information about New Glarus and things to do, visit swisstown.com or call (800) 527-6838 to receive a brochure.
Green County villages and cites offer a variety of activities, places to visit and places to eat - all within a short distance.
New Glarus is one such community.
There are ethnic festivals, traditional music, European dining, unique shops and an award-winning brewery.
Places and events to see include:
• The Swiss Historical Village is open for the season. The village allows tourists to see how early settlers lived. There are 14 buildings in the Swiss village, including an original schoolhouse, general store, log cabin church and a replica of an early cheese factory. The village has been a popular destination for people since 1942.
The Swiss Village is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.
During Oktoberfest, Sept. 28, old-time crafts and hands-on demonstrations include cheese making, sausage making, bee keeping, broom making and blacksmithing. Civil War re-enactors also are on hand.
• The New Glarus Brewery also provides self-guided tours and samples of some of the brewery's award-winning beverages.
• The Seventh Annual Roger Bright Memorial Polkafest, June 13-15. The event pays tribute to New Glarus resident Roger Bright, who was well known in the polka world. This year's event includes a variety of polka music from local performers to Bavarian style.
• Heidi Festival, June 27-29. The weekend is filled with food, entertainment, music and fun for the whole family. The weekend includes a telling of the "Heidi" story and also includes a "Taste of New Glarus." Downtown streets are lined with food stands and colorful sidewalk sales displays. Live music entertainment adds to the festive weekend. Arts and crafts, performances of Swiss and other European music and a street dance also are featured.
• Maxwell Street Days, July 11-13. It's a weekend for bargain hunters, as downtown sidewalks are filled with a wide variety of items at special prices.
• Fireman's 106th Anniversary, Aug. 2. The event honors the village's volunteer fire department with kids and adult water fight, a bucket brigade competition, fire truck rides, live music and dancing.
• Volkfest, Aug. 3, celebrates Swiss Independence Day. Dignitaries from Swiss consulates and embassies attend the event, which includes traditional Swiss folklore music, yodeling, flag throwing, alphorn playing and accordion music. The Swiss children's chorus, also known as the New Glarus Kinderchor performs as does the Maennerchor New Glarus, a men's chorus group.
• The Wilhelm Tell Festival, Aug. 29-31, tells the story of Swiss independence. More than 200 actors dress in period costumes to tell the story. Other weekend events include the Tell Art Fair in the park, a yodel contest, a children's lantern parade and more.
Also in the New Glarus area is the Argue-ment golf course, the Swissland miniature golf course and the Edelweiss Chalet Country Club.
The Sugar River Bike Trail also ends, or begins, in New Glarus, and New Glarus Woods State Park also provides a place for camping, hiking and picnicking.
There also are great places to eat, unique businesses to shop and places to stay overnight.
For more information about New Glarus and things to do, visit swisstown.com or call (800) 527-6838 to receive a brochure.