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- Driftless Tribe #0013
Driftless Tribe #0013
Weekly Breakdown
👋 Let’s Meet Up in the Driftless! RESULTS:
Over 75% of respondents said “Yes” or “Maybe” to an in-person inaugural happy hour—so we’re making it happen! We’re currently planning a few date options and will keep you posted as details come together.
As always, feel free to reach out—just reply to this email.
Thank you for being part of Driftless Tribe. We truly appreciate your support!
Community Weekend Happenings
What’s on your agenda this weekend? We’d love to hear about it!
At Driftless Tribe, we’re all about fostering community, and one way we can do that is by sharing the amazing events and plans happening across the Driftless Area. Let us know what you’re up to this weekend by filling out the form below, and we’ll highlight a few in our next newsletter.
Frank from Boscobel - We love Country Garden in Soldiers Grove This Supper Club is easy to find right on hwy 61. Chef Marcy is amazing with fantastic foods.
Jan from LaFarge - Dining out favorites are Country Gardens, Hillsboro Raven, Turbos, Hillsboro Brewing, the Still, VFW Viroqua, Gassers Viroqua, & Driftless cafe dinners.
Debbi from Hillsboro - Wildcat Mountain
Trivia Time! 🧠
The Driftless Area is home to the highest natural point in Iowa, offering incredible views of the Mississippi River. It’s named after a woman who won a footrace to the top during a Civil War-era picnic. What is it called? |
Prairie du Sac: A Town of History, Resilience, and River Crossings
Prairie du Sac is a lively Driftless town, home to a strong local business scene, a hospital, and a growing school district. But behind its modern energy lies a deep history shaped by settlers, industry, and a river that refused to be tamed.
Prairie du Sac was the first non-Native settlement in Sauk County, officially laid out in the 1830s. Its name, “Prairie of the Sauk,” comes from the French explorers who arrived to find remnants of an indian village along the river. With its close proximity to Madison, Prairie du Sac quickly grew into a vital river port and manufacturing center, producing everything from wagons to farm equipment. In those early days, Sauk City was called “Lower Sauk Village,” while Prairie du Sac was known as “Upper Sauk Village.”
Of course, with the river at the town’s doorstep, crossing it became a major challenge. In the 1840s, locals relied on a ferry service—but if you’ve ever been in a hurry and stuck waiting for something outside of your control, you can imagine their frustration. The community secured a charter to build a bridge, but funds fell short, and the project stalled. When the charter was about to expire, a desperate push finally got the bridge built in 1850… only for the spring thaw to sweep it away.
But Prairie du Sac is nothing if not resilient. In 1851, the town built a solid stone pier bridge—the first bridge ever constructed across the Wisconsin River. At the time, this was one of the first toll bridges in Wisconsin, as private investors helped fund its construction. Travelers had to pay a small fee to cross, but it was a small price for a reliable river crossing. Over time, as transportation evolved, new bridges replaced the old, culminating in the modern steel bridge that opened in 1981, spanning 1,500 feet across the Wisconsin River.
Prairie du Sac - original toll bridge, 1908 - Wisconsin Historical Society, WHI-41455
Beyond its history as a river town, Prairie du Sac is also a gateway to Wisconsin’s wine country. Just across the river sits Wollersheim Winery & Distillery, which operates on land first planted with grapevines in the 1840s by Agoston Haraszthy—a Hungarian immigrant who later became known as the “Father of California Viticulture.” It’s a fitting legacy for a region that continues to blend history, agriculture, and small-town charm.
It’s a town where the past and present live side by side—where you can still feel the weight of history in the old stone bridge supports along the riverbank and celebrate modern life with a glass of locally made wine.
Have a favorite memory or hidden gem in Prairie du Sac? Reply to this email—I’d love to hear your stories!
Happenings
Wednesday 2/26
Thursday 2/27
LaCrosse, Rivoli Theatre & Pizzaria – Live with SOUP Link
Wisconsin Dells, Grateful Shed – Open Jam Link
LaCrosse, Pearl Street Books – Local Author Talk: Karen Dahl Link
Brooklyn, Main Street Event Venue – Karaoke Link
Mauston, Gravity Box Brewing Co – Bored Game Nights! Link
McGregor, Backwoods Bar & Grill – Trivia Link
Baraboo, Al Ringling Brewery – Swing Night Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern – Blues Night with Dave Orr & Friends Link
Dodgeville, Duke’s Brew Pub & Ale House – Trivia Night Link
Cashton, Big Johnson’s Doghouse Saloon – Bingo Link
Friday 2/28
Cashton, Footjoy Farm & Brewing – Live with Chris Holm Link
Dubuque, Q Casino – Live with Tyler Richton and the High Bank Boys Link
Mineral Point, Aspen Ridge Home & Garden – Plant Palooza Link
Brooklyn, Main St Event Venue – Live with Mason Meyers Band, Dogtown Hollow, & the Also-Rans Link
Cross Plains, The Red Mouse – Live with Two County Lines Link
Mineral Point, The Mine Shaft – Live with Jesse & Aaron Ramblers Duo Link
Belleville, Sugar River Lanes – Karaoke Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern – Live with David Miner w/ The Clam Shuckers & Miles of Dandelions Link
Wisconsin Dells, Pal’s Brewery – Live with Bamm Duo Link
Browntown, The Holler Inn – Live with Junkyard Kings Link
Arcadia, Shine Wellness – Sip with Spirit Link
Trempealeau, Elmaro Vineyard – Bingo Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Live with John Swardson Link
Saturday 3/1
Spring Green, STS Sounds – Live with Laura & Todd Link
Sparta, Blue Collar Bar & Grill – Karaoke Link
Lime Ridge, Branding Iron Eatery – Wood-Fired Oven Pizza Night Link
Cuba City, Big R Bar – Raffle Paddles Link
Wrightstown, Earthy Herbs – Beeswax Candles Make and Take Workshop Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern – Live with Ghostland Radio Link
Platteville, Library – Community Involvement Fair Link
Baraboo, Con Amici – Art Opening by Laura Annis Link
Montfort, The Hollow – 6 Year Anniversary Party, Live with RJ Link
Rockland, The Vault – 15th Annual Traveling Mini Golf Link
Cassville, St Charles Borromeo Parish – Bingo Link
Lancaster, Library – Antique Quilt Show Link
Richland Center, Brewer Library – Dr. Seuss Party Link
Avoca, Whiskey Row Saloon – Annual Chili Cook-Off Link
Muscoda, English Prairie Distilling Co – Live with Tom Innis Link
Cuba City, Big R’s Bar – Live with Jesse Bauman Link
New Glarus, Bailey’s Run Vineyard – Live with Tessa Fink Link
New Glarus, Dirty Dog Taphaus and Eatery – Live with Back to Back Acoustic Link
Mineral Point, Opera House – Live with LunART String Quartet with Soprano Sarah Brailey Link
Potosi, Twisted Vines Pub & Eatery – Karaoke Link
Baraboo, Balanced Rock Winery – Live with Marc LaMere Link
Wonewoc, Corkscrew Wine Bar – Live with Roddy Dull Link
Wisconsin Dells, Dells Distillery – Live with Rayna Hess Link
Baraboo, Broken Bottle Winery – Live with Bob McNurlen Link
Winona, Athletic Club – Live with Danni Reese Link
Winona, Two Fathoms Brewing – Live with Amanda Grace Link
Reedsburg, Last Ride – Live with Poor Nate’s Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Live with Hans Mayer & Hot Sauce Link
Trempealeau, Cat Daddy’s – Live with John Swardson Link
Trempealeau, Elmaro Vineyard – Live with Sal & Dean Link
Sunday 3/2
Avoca, Whiskey Row Saloon – Thunder Run Kickoff Party Link
Baraboo, Wiscocktail – Mardi Gras Cocktail Class Link
Baraboo, Nautical Coffee Co – Mardi Gras, Live Jazz Pianist Link
Brooklyn, Main Street Event Venue – Live with Dan Lepien Link
Brooklyn, Sugar River Lanes – Live with Noah James Hittner Link
New Glarus, Bailey’s Run Vineyard – Live with James Crockett Link
Winona, Two Fathoms Brewing – Cribbage Tournament Link
Winona, Two Fathoms Brewing – Live with David Miner Link
Trempealeau, Fire Department – Drive Through Chicken Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Live with Tropical Sounds Project Link
Trempealeau, Elmaro Vineyard – Live with Joe Cody Link
Monday 3/3
Tuesday 3/4
Wisconsin Dells, Grateful Shed – Trivia Link
Viroqua, Library – Community Q&A with Gloria Steinem Link
Whitehall, Library – Seed Swap and Farmers Garden Market Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern – Open Mic Link
Lancaster, Library – Yahtzee Game Night and Nacho Bar Link
Baraboo, Balanced Rock Winery – Charcoal Event “Lee Lake” Link
Elroy, Madden’s Irish Pub – 90s Music Trivia Link
We will check in again next week.
Let us know any events / establishments you would like to be added to this list via IG @driftlesstribe or email [email protected]
If someone forwarded this to you, time to make the leap and join the Tribe!
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