Don your finest hat and dust off your claws for a morning tea event at the library. Attendees will enjoy a delightful morning of tea etiquette lessons, delicious finger foods, and refreshing drinks, along with the opportunity to take home a memorable photo with a special dinosaur guest. Guests are warmly encouraged to arrive in fancy dress or a full dinosaur costume.
Join Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide Kate Bast of Shinrin-yoku Madison for a meditative Forest Bathing Session in the woods of American Players Theatre, as part of the Wellness Weekend! Forest bathing and forest therapy (or shinrin-yoku) is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest.
Join Certified Mindfulness Instructor, Lisa Thomas Prince, for an energetic discussion on caring for your well-being, body, and mind as part of American Players Theatre's Wellness Weekend! Held at John's Place, this engaging introduction invites you to explore Qigong as it was traditionally intended—a moving meditative practice rooted in the rhythms and intelligence of nature. This session offers both insight and inspiration, highlighting how time in nature enhances relaxation, attention, and overall well-being while supporting the gentle, regenerative qualities of Qigong.
As the second session of the Wellness Lunch & Learn, immerse yourself in a gentle, guided Qigong practice surrounded by the natural world at American Players Theatre! During this moving meditation, the movements themselves are inspired by flowing water, swaying trees, and the rhythms of breath and earth.
Join resident naturalist Grace Vosen and Core Company Actor Colleen Madden on a guided tour of the beautiful American Players Theatre property! Attendees will meet at the Gateway Building before embarking on this nature walk, which features scheduled stops to journal your experiences and reflect on your surroundings.
Enjoy a relaxing summer afternoon with live outdoor music on the River Stage. Sit back with a drink, enjoy something delicious, and take in the river view.
The community is invited to the Yolanda Peterson & Mary Jones Memorial at Arena Community Park for a full day of summer activities. The celebration kicks off with a parade at 3:00 PM, and those interested in participating can contact Jake Peterson or David Jones to enter their floats.
Join the Arena Fire and EMS for a Bean Bag Tournament held as part of the Yolanda Peterson and Mary Jones Memorial celebration at Arena Community Park. The tournament features a single-elimination, best-of-three (race) format.
Join our friends just down the road for a special early evening tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal home, Taliesin! As part of American Players Theatre's Wellness Weekend, this tour allows you to explore in a small group setting how elements of organic architecture can actively promote well-being.
Mark your calendars and reserve your tickets for a rare viewing of EILEEN, a solo performance by Sarah Gordon Butler. Coming to the United States for the very first time, this performance weaves together movement and live vocals to explore vulnerability, transformation, and the impossible situations we willingly create for ourselves. EILEEN is supported in part by Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Catch a "Rogue" show at The Shitty Barn featuring a Surf Rock Triple Bill! Rising from the murky depths of the St. Joseph River, The Tentakills will be bringing super-charged instrumental surf rock straight out of South Bend, Indiana. They are joined by Fellow Kinsman, a Milwaukee-formed music project by Nate Kinsman that blends psych, surf, indie, and alternative rock to create a unique "Land-Locked-Surf-Rock" sound. With Fellow Kinsman, shows can go from slow-dances to rowdy mosh pits, offering a little something for everyone. Rounding out the lineup is The Broken Boards, a fun, danceable guitar-based surf instrumental trio from Madison, Wisconsin, known for their catchy, rockin' originals.
Join the Arena community for the annual Yolanda Peterson & Mary Jones Memorial celebration at Arena Community Park. This special event kicks off with a community parade at 3:00 PM, followed by a Home Talent Chicken BBQ served from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The main athletic event features the Arena Aces taking on Dodgeville in a Sunday League matchup with first pitch at 6:30 PM, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at dusk. All festival and game times are subject to change; please check the official event page or community Facebook group for real-time schedule adjustments.