SOUTH WAYNE - The South Wayne Community Park has come a long way in the past 20 years, and it's bound to get even better thanks to this weekend's Red Cracker Music Fest.
The annual community festival, now in its 20th year, serves as a fundraising vehicle for the park, said organizer Ron DeNure. The two-day festival includes live music, entertainment, ball tournaments and food.
All proceeds from the festival are used for the park and its improvements.
The park was originally a hayfield. Previous Red Cracker Fests have allowed organizers to develop the park and put in two ball fields, a concession stand, playground, basketball and volleyball courts, and a shelter house pavilion. The park also includes a walking trail with a covered bridge and a gazebo. Work on the restroom and well is being finished up, DeNure said.
Future plans include enclosing the sides of the shelter house, building a kitchen for the shelter house, adding on to the walking trail and paving the parking lot. Work will continue as funds are raised.
"As we raise the money, we put it back into the park," DeNure said.
In addition to the Red Cracker Fest, the South Wayne Community Foundation has been instrumental in contributing money to park improvements, he added.
"We've been very happy with the progress we've made, to see it grow and develop," DeNure said.
The weekend weather forecast looks favorable, which should help to draw people out and raise money for the park. It seems good weather is something of a tradition for the Red Cracker Fest.
"The first year is the only year that we had bad weather," DeNure recalled. "Nineteen out of 20 years have been almost perfect."
Admission is $5; ages 17 and under are admitted free. All activities are at the South Wayne Community Park, located along Wisconsin 11 on the east side of South Wayne.
For more information, see redcrackerfest.com.
Friday, July 31
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Entertainment by Jackie Lee and the One and Only Elvis (performed by Todd Hanson)
6 to 9 p.m. - Sirloin tips meal $15 includes meal and admission. Includes sirloin tips, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw and hot apple sundaes. Carryouts available for $16.
6 p.m. - Women's fast pitch
6:30 p.m. - Variety show begins. Live auction, featuring 2014 autographed Green Bay Packer football, baked goods
9 p.m. to midnight - Ten Gallon Hat Band (Rock & Roll)
Midnight to 2 a.m. - Long Hard Ride DJ
Saturday, Aug. 1
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - 2k/5k Memorial Walk/Run on Black Hawk School track. $20 per person, includes T-shirt.
8 to 11 a.m. - Pancake breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage, doughnuts, beverage. $7 for adults, $4 for ages 4 through 12, and free for ages 3 and under.
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Farmers market and arts and craft show
9 a.m. - Kids ball games
10 a.m. - Co-ed volleyball tournament
11 a.m. - Cutting of the 20th anniversary 3-foot by 4-foot Red Cracker Fest Cake
Noon - Battle of the sexes, trivia challenge game; euchre party; kids water fights; punt, pass and kick competition; 3-on-3 basketball competition.
Noon to 2 p.m. - Zac Matthews (country music)
2 p.m. - Outhouse races (Battle of the Bars)
2 to 5 p.m. - Andy Yaun (60s, 70s music)
5 to 9 p.m. - Steve Scheppele Band (Rock and Roll)
9 to 9:30 p.m. - Long Hard Ride DJ
9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Road Trip Band (Rock and Roll)
1 to 2 a.m. - Long Hard Ride DJ
The annual community festival, now in its 20th year, serves as a fundraising vehicle for the park, said organizer Ron DeNure. The two-day festival includes live music, entertainment, ball tournaments and food.
All proceeds from the festival are used for the park and its improvements.
The park was originally a hayfield. Previous Red Cracker Fests have allowed organizers to develop the park and put in two ball fields, a concession stand, playground, basketball and volleyball courts, and a shelter house pavilion. The park also includes a walking trail with a covered bridge and a gazebo. Work on the restroom and well is being finished up, DeNure said.
Future plans include enclosing the sides of the shelter house, building a kitchen for the shelter house, adding on to the walking trail and paving the parking lot. Work will continue as funds are raised.
"As we raise the money, we put it back into the park," DeNure said.
In addition to the Red Cracker Fest, the South Wayne Community Foundation has been instrumental in contributing money to park improvements, he added.
"We've been very happy with the progress we've made, to see it grow and develop," DeNure said.
The weekend weather forecast looks favorable, which should help to draw people out and raise money for the park. It seems good weather is something of a tradition for the Red Cracker Fest.
"The first year is the only year that we had bad weather," DeNure recalled. "Nineteen out of 20 years have been almost perfect."
Admission is $5; ages 17 and under are admitted free. All activities are at the South Wayne Community Park, located along Wisconsin 11 on the east side of South Wayne.
For more information, see redcrackerfest.com.
Friday, July 31
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Entertainment by Jackie Lee and the One and Only Elvis (performed by Todd Hanson)
6 to 9 p.m. - Sirloin tips meal $15 includes meal and admission. Includes sirloin tips, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw and hot apple sundaes. Carryouts available for $16.
6 p.m. - Women's fast pitch
6:30 p.m. - Variety show begins. Live auction, featuring 2014 autographed Green Bay Packer football, baked goods
9 p.m. to midnight - Ten Gallon Hat Band (Rock & Roll)
Midnight to 2 a.m. - Long Hard Ride DJ
Saturday, Aug. 1
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - 2k/5k Memorial Walk/Run on Black Hawk School track. $20 per person, includes T-shirt.
8 to 11 a.m. - Pancake breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage, doughnuts, beverage. $7 for adults, $4 for ages 4 through 12, and free for ages 3 and under.
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Farmers market and arts and craft show
9 a.m. - Kids ball games
10 a.m. - Co-ed volleyball tournament
11 a.m. - Cutting of the 20th anniversary 3-foot by 4-foot Red Cracker Fest Cake
Noon - Battle of the sexes, trivia challenge game; euchre party; kids water fights; punt, pass and kick competition; 3-on-3 basketball competition.
Noon to 2 p.m. - Zac Matthews (country music)
2 p.m. - Outhouse races (Battle of the Bars)
2 to 5 p.m. - Andy Yaun (60s, 70s music)
5 to 9 p.m. - Steve Scheppele Band (Rock and Roll)
9 to 9:30 p.m. - Long Hard Ride DJ
9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Road Trip Band (Rock and Roll)
1 to 2 a.m. - Long Hard Ride DJ