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- Driftless Tribe #0019
Driftless Tribe #0019
Weekly Breakdown
What’s Happening in the Driftless: 100+ Events This Week
A quick update before we dive in — we’ve locked in over 10 local businesses for the inaugural Driftless Tribe Discount Card, with just a few more spots left before it goes to print. Stay tuned for how to snag yours!
Now, let’s talk events: we’ve got 109+ things happening across the Driftless this week — from live music and trivia nights to spring hikes, art shows, and more. Let’s get into it..
🎣 Driftless Trivia:
Which Driftless Area town is known as the “Fly Fishing Capital of the Midwest,” attracting anglers from all over the country?This area boasts numerous spring-fed streams and rivers, providing excellent fly fishing opportunities for various trout species. |
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.
Community Submissions:
Cheryl from Reedsburg: “I love going to Corkscrew Wine Bar in Wonewoc on weekends for the live music, pizza (especially the 10" cauliflower crust pizza), charcuterie board, & bread sticks with marinara.”
Rita from Onalaska: “Pump House Regional Arts Center--tremendous Grey Area Productions play”
Adam from Driftless Tribe: Last weekend I hit up Paoli for brunch at 7 Acre Dairy Company & enjoyed the live jazz band.
Moment in Time
Black River Falls, 1890’s - Wisconsin Historical Society, WHI-1931
Eerie Driftless Area Lore - Wisconsin Death Trip
If you’ve ever driven a winding Driftless backroad at dusk and felt something eerie and off — it might not be just your imagination. That eerie sense of place is captured in one of the most haunting pieces of Midwestern literature: Wisconsin Death Trip by Michael Lesy.
Published in 1973, the book is a collage of disturbing newspaper clippings from Black River Falls, Wisconsin between 1885 and 1900. Lesy paired these grim headlines with over 200 glass plate photographs by local studio photographer Charles Van Schaick. The result is a dark and unforgettable portrait —where mental illness, economic collapse, isolation, and despair run rampant alongside bake sales and church picnics.
The stories are completely real. A woman shoots her neighbor over a poisoned cow. A farmer burns down his home with his family inside. Children freeze while walking to heaven. Between them are ads for school plays and ice cream socials, making the tragedies feel all the more chilling.
The book was initially rejected for being too strange, but since has become a cult classic—studied in universities, praised by artists, and eventually turned into a 1999 BBC film. Even horror writers like Stephen King have cited its influence. Today, Wisconsin Death Trip has become Midwest folklore.
But the author Lesy insisted it’s not just about death. It’s about what happens when communities falter, when support disappears, and when the weight of hardship becomes too much. It’s history, yes—but also a mirror held up to the quiet, forgotten edges of rural America.
With all the craziness happening today — politically, economically, socially — it can feel isolating in ways that are hard to explain. This book reminds us we’ve been here before. And we’ve found ways to the other side.
If you’re from the Black River Falls area, I’d love to hear from you — have you read this book? Do the stories still echo locally? Does that eerie energy still linger in your part of the Driftless?
Shoot me a reply or send in a story. We’re always looking for local lore, and this one’s too good to leave buried.
Happenings
Want a Featured Event with a poster? Reach out and say hi.
WEDNESDAY 4/9
Baraboo, Library - RMS Titanic Kids Experience Link
LaValle, Trail Break Cafe - Charcoal Drawing Event Link
Elroy, Library - Free Screening “Free For All: The Public Library” Link
New Glarus, Bailey’s Run Vineyard - Bailey’s Memorial Wine-O-Bingo Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern - Open Jam Link
Monroe, Bullquarian Brewhouse - Live with Gary Hendrickson Link
Winona, No Name Bar - Open Mic Link
Avoca, Whiskey Row Saloon - Karaoke Link
Viroqua, Driftless Folk School - Community Singing Link
THURSDAY 4/10
Baraboo, Wiscocktail Lounge - Emo Night Link
Trempealeau, Cat Daddy’s - Adult Bargo Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel - Cribbage Link
Trempealeau, Elmaro Winery - Artist of the Month: Connie Helgerson Link
Wisconsin Dells, Grateful Shed - Open Jam Link
Browntown, Hawk’s Mill Winery - Intro to Diamond Painting Link
Baraboo, Al Ringling Brewery - Swing Night Link
Dodgeville, Duke’s - Trivia Link
Prairie Du Chien, PDC Arts Center - Studio C - On Stage Link
Monroe, Bullquarian Brewhouse - Live with Jules Iolyn Link
FRIDAY 4/11
Westby, Daily Brew – Puzzle Night Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern – Live with The Jimmys Link
Baraboo, Balanced Rock Winery – Live with Kaleb Woods & Ron Granberg Link
Baraboo, Library – Annual Book Sale Link
Mineral Point, Shake Rag Alley – Spring Garage Sale Fundraiser Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Live with Ironstill Link
Viroqua, Historic Temple Theatre – Live with Della Mae Link
Viroqua, Mia Sophia – Grand Opening! Link
Cashton, Firefly Farm & Mercantile – Lilies Love April Link
Baraboo, Library – Novel Bites: Cooking Adventure Link
Fennimore, SW Tech – AI Workshop Link
Wisconsin Dells, Grateful Shed – Live with Anna Marie Louise Link
LaCrosse, Cappella Performing Arts Center – Live with Dan Nelson Connected Link
Winona, American Legion – Live with Hillbilly Fever Link
Wisconsin Dells, Pals Brewing – Live with Ted & Gary Link
Winona, No Name Bar – Live with Modern Sugar Boy Live Link
Platteville, The Gym – Karaoke Link
New Glarus, Dirty Dog Taphaus – Live with Marc Barnaby Link
LaCrosse, Pearl St Books – Author Talk with Nickolas Butler Link
Monroe, Bullquarian Brewhouse – Live with Enchanted Onion Link
Spring Green, Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret – Live with Bassel and The Supernaturals Link
SATURDAY 4/12
Spring Green, General Store – Bluegrass Jam Link
Osseo, Jamie’s Last Resort – Live with LOGAN & Dylan Link
New Glarus, Pink Heifer Saloon – Live with Richardson Acoustic Link
Monroe, Monroe Acres – TV Trivia Night Link
Baraboo, Thunderbird Lanes – Comedy Show & Pizza Night Link
Guttenberg, Guttenberg Brewing Co – Line Dancing Night Link
Onalaska, Omni Center – Spring Gift & Craft Show Link
Browntown, Hawk’s Mill Winery – Bingo Link
Reedsburg, Medical Center – VetFest 2025 Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge – Nature Programming Link
LaCrosse, Popcorn Tavern – Live with Lazy Lightning 420 w/ Mike McAbee Link
Winona, Minnesota Marine Art Museum – Spring Seasonal: Whale of a Time Link
Strum, Bemis Bluff Winery – Guac N’ Roll Food Truck Link
Baraboo, Ardyth’s Sew N Vac Shoppe – Fabric Coil Baskets Introduction Link
Onalaska, Omni Center – Pancake Breakfast Link
Monroe, Leisure Lanes – Live with Running Late Link
Viroqua, Driftless Folk School – Spring Ephemeral Field Biology Link
De Soto, Wheatland Fire Dept – Fire & Rescue Pork Chop Dinner & Raffle Link
Prairie Du Sac, River Arts Center – Alesia Miller’s “A Night with Whitney Houston” Link
Platteville, Library – Plucky Strummers and Prairie Lights String Band Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Live with The Wet Stetsons Link
Fennimore, Thirsty Wrangler – Live with Big Cat Eddie Link
Winona, Breitlow Ballroom – Disney Dance Night Link
Platteville, Crossroads Supper Club – Comedy Hypnosis Link
Richland Center, AD German Warehouse – Spring Fever Rummage Sale Link
Spring Green, The Shed – Live Music Link
Boscobel, Mt. Zion Pub – Live with Two County Lines Link
Wisconsin Dells, Showboat Saloon – Live with The Swing Crew Link
Potosi, Twisted Vines – Live with Holy Crowe Link
Elroy, Madden’s Irish Pub – Live with The Foxfire Affair Link
Mount Horeb, Driftless Historium – History of Craft Brewing in Wisconsin Link
Muscoda, English Prairie Distilling Co – Live with The Michael Johnson Experience Link
Fort McCoy, MWR – Easter Eggstravaganza Link
Baraboo, Con Amici – Live with Mark Croft Link
Baraboo, Balanced Rock Winery – Live with Kurt Funfsinn Link
Trempealeau, Elmaro Vineyard – Live with James Grant Link
La Valle, Redstone’s North End Tavern – Meat Raffle Link
Baraboo, Broken Bottle Winery – Live with Tyler Sj Link
Richland Center, Library – Silent Book Club Link
Reedsburg, Poor Nate’s – Live with Last Ride Link
Wonewoc, Corkscrew Wine Bar – Live with Dean Olson Link
SUNDAY 4/13
Winona, Two Fathoms Brewing – 1 Year Party Link
Spring Green, General Store – Concert in the Cafe with Dale Glaudell Link
Milton, 59er Bar & Grill – Meat Raffle, Kevin Pope Memorial Link
Merrimac, The Old Schoolhouse – Social Dancing Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Live with Chris O’Leary Band Link
Platteville, Crossroads Supper Club – Brunch with Easter Bunny Link
Platteville, The Gym – Open Mic Link
Mineral Point, Opera House – Live with Sierra Hull Link
New Glarus, Tofflers Pub – Live with Down From The Hills Link
Dodgeville, Dodger Bowl Lanes – Loners Community Bowling Link
Hillsboro, Let’s Shine Coffee – Open Mic Link
Trempealeau, Elmaro Vineyard – Live with David Hartman Link
Dodgeville, Merrimac and Main – Live with Hemlock ’n Key, Spring Awakening Link
Browntown, Hawks Mill Winery – Live with Taylor Schereck Link
New Glarus, Dirty Dog Taphaus – Live with Ethan Keller Link
Mineral Point, Republic of Letters – Driftless Poets Reading & Open Mic Link
MONDAY 4/14
TUESDAY 4/15
LaCrosse, 608 Brewing Co – BookTok Bingo Link
LaCrosse, Turtle Stack Brewing – Brews for Bottoms Link
Wisconsin Dells, Grateful Shed – Trivia Link
Trempealeau, Trempealeau Hotel – Open Jam Link
Elroy, Madden’s Irish Pub – Quizmaster Pub Trivia Link
Baraboo, Balanced Rock Winery – Signs by Caitlin Workshop 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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