The outlook these days is not the best. Gas prices are at a record high. Unemployment and food prices are rising. Flooding is disrupting thousands of Wisconsin residents' lives.
It's easy to get caught up in the dire news being blasted at Wisconsin residents every minute of every day.
It's also easy to get away from the bad news. This weekend is a perfect example. A number of area communities are hosting events, including Monroe with its balloon festival and Darlington with its Canoefest and Lafayette County Dairy Breakfast.
The Monroe Balloon Festival is in its 23rd year and its second without having the Honda Grand Prix balloon competition. When the Grand Prix didn't return to Monroe last year, festival organizers were forced to reinvent the event.
They did so in fine fashion, and this year should be no different. Twenty-one balloons will take off at 6 p.m. today, with other liftoffs at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again at 6 a.m. Sunday. All weather permitting, of course. Today's forecast isn't good, the rest of the days look better.
Taste of Monroe complements Saturday's festival, with entertainment and fine food gracing the Square from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Flooding has hit Darlington as hard as anywhere in our two-county region. Wisconsin 23 in Darlington has been closed, and the Lafayette County Fairgrounds are under water. Still, Canoefest and the dairy breakfast go on.
Canoefest starts today and runs through Sunday. It features competitive runs, music, fireworks and a parade.
The dairy breakfast had to move to the Lafayette County Highway Shop due to flooding at the fairgrounds. Besides the breakfast fare, the Santa Fe band out of Dodgeville will perform country and bluegrass and there will be a children's corner.
Browntown also is having its Summerfest on Friday and Saturday.
Times are tough for many people in Green and Lafayette counties, but that doesn't mean we should stop getting together.
There's strength in numbers, and there's many thanks to give for organizers of the balloon festival, Canoefest and dairy breakfast for giving the counties' residents a place to share their hardships and happy moments.
That makes everyone feel better.
It's easy to get caught up in the dire news being blasted at Wisconsin residents every minute of every day.
It's also easy to get away from the bad news. This weekend is a perfect example. A number of area communities are hosting events, including Monroe with its balloon festival and Darlington with its Canoefest and Lafayette County Dairy Breakfast.
The Monroe Balloon Festival is in its 23rd year and its second without having the Honda Grand Prix balloon competition. When the Grand Prix didn't return to Monroe last year, festival organizers were forced to reinvent the event.
They did so in fine fashion, and this year should be no different. Twenty-one balloons will take off at 6 p.m. today, with other liftoffs at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again at 6 a.m. Sunday. All weather permitting, of course. Today's forecast isn't good, the rest of the days look better.
Taste of Monroe complements Saturday's festival, with entertainment and fine food gracing the Square from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Flooding has hit Darlington as hard as anywhere in our two-county region. Wisconsin 23 in Darlington has been closed, and the Lafayette County Fairgrounds are under water. Still, Canoefest and the dairy breakfast go on.
Canoefest starts today and runs through Sunday. It features competitive runs, music, fireworks and a parade.
The dairy breakfast had to move to the Lafayette County Highway Shop due to flooding at the fairgrounds. Besides the breakfast fare, the Santa Fe band out of Dodgeville will perform country and bluegrass and there will be a children's corner.
Browntown also is having its Summerfest on Friday and Saturday.
Times are tough for many people in Green and Lafayette counties, but that doesn't mean we should stop getting together.
There's strength in numbers, and there's many thanks to give for organizers of the balloon festival, Canoefest and dairy breakfast for giving the counties' residents a place to share their hardships and happy moments.
That makes everyone feel better.
