Best of Summer

Looking for the Volume One 20th Anniversary Party?

If you're gonna sweat, you might as well have fun doing it - and there's more hot fun to be had around here than ever before. Below you'll find listings to pretty much every summer-related thing there is to do in the Chippewa Valley, from always up-to-date event calendars to the area's most comprehensive listings for summertime activities, places, attractions, and more. Don't forget the sunblock.

Places & Resources

Baseball Diamonds 14

parks with baseball fields

Basketball Courts 17

parks with basketball courts

Beaches 12

public beaches

Campgrounds 20

Enjoy a weekend out under the stars.

Canoeing & Kayaking 12

where to buy kayaking equipment

Community Supported Agriculture 13

Most CSAs have a sign-up deadline in Spring. Mark your calendars!

Disc Golf Courses 11

frisbee golf parks and course

Dog Parks 3

designated parks for walking your dog

Drive-In Restaurants 3

Carside old-fashioned root beer and burgers.

Farmers Markets 4

Find your friendly neighborhood produce market.

Frozen Treats 18

Get some cool sweets.

Golf Courses 16

Chippewa Valley Golf Courses

Hiking & Biking Trails 35

Hit the trail!

Horseback Trail Riding 3

equestrian centers

Horseshoe Pitches 4

play horseshoe at these parks

Local History 18

Historical mansions, museums, and more.

Pick-Your-Own Gardens 11

Explore a local berry farm and fill your baskets.

Pizza Farms 7

Get out on the farm for a rustic pizza pie.

Pools 3

public pools

Science & Nature 3

Get up close and personal with the world around you

Skate Parks 3

skateboard ramps parks

Soccer Fields 6

fantastic futbol parks

Tennis Courts 8

indoor and outdoor tennis courts

Volleyball Courts 4

indoor and outdoor volleyball

Water Park 1

indoor water slides

Maternal Love Soars in Summer Exhibit at Pablo

trio of local artists collaborate on avian-themed show

“We’re not qualified,” Tim Brudnicki quipped when asked about the new maternal-themed exhibit, “Motherly,” he created with fellow Chippewa Valley artists Joseph Maurer and Ross Nordquist, now on display inside the Pablo Center at the Confluence ...

Turning Up the Heat at Cinder City Days

live boxing show and salsa concert coming to Altoona festival

It’s time to turn up the heat at this year’s Cinder City Days. Savage Fit Box, an area boxing gym, will host Fuego Night, an amateur boxing tournament on Saturday, June 8. Savage FitBox has worked with the Altoona Lions Club, the organizer of Cinder City Days ...

Hop on the Trolley and Explore Urban Nature

Beaver Creek naturalists will guide tour of Eau Claire’s hidden natural beauty

Tours offered by the Chippewa Valley Trolley Co. have featured Eau Claire’s historic side, its tasty side, and even its darker side. Now, they’ll offer passengers an in-depth look at its natural side. In mid-June, the Chippewa Valley Trolley Co. will launch the Urban Nature Adventure Tour, a new partnership ...

Tortoises, Waterbucks, and More Await at Irvine Park Zoo

seasonal gem in Chippewa Falls features familiar favorites and new animals this year

Chippewa Falls’ Irvine Park is home to amenities and attractions that bring folks to its grounds year-round, though the zoo is certainly a summertime highlight. With Olson’s Ice Cream scooping on-site, the seasonal petting zoo opening on Memorial Day, and animals grazing in its enclosed pastures, it’s an all-ages gem for a variety of reasons. Tortoises, waterbucks, and ...

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Ski Sprites 2024 Theme is ‘Alvin & The Chipmunks’

Chipmunks and Chipettes to kick off season May 26

ALVIN! ALVIN! ALLLL-VVVIN!!! The theme for Ski Sprites Water Skiing Club’s 2024 Season will be The Chipmunks: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, who will be found on the water with The Chipettes ...

Chalk Art Will Be Just One Part of Chalkfest 2024

annual summer event at UWEC will now include artist market

For more than a decade and a half, Chalkfest has brought an explosion of colorful outdoor artwork to sidewalks in Eau Claire each summer. Hosted by UW-Eau Claire on the campus mall since 2015, this year the free annual artistic event – which is slated for ...

COLUMN: Renewing Respect for the Rivers

tubing is a trademark of Eau Claire summers, and it helped one longtime local gain a new appreciation for her home

I have lived in Eau Claire for nearly 30 years. And yet, until Last summer, I had never tubed the river. This may come as a shock. After all, the vision of college students floating down the river is a trademark of an Eau Claire summer. The rivers ...

The Search for Non-Dairy in the Dairyland

Our writer sought out the best (and only) spots in the Valley that serve non-dairy ice cream. Here’s what she found

Whether you are a vegan, lactose intolerant, or just want something light on a hot day, non-dairy ice cream options are super important. I am what I like to call a “mostly vegan”: I do my best to have an all plant-based diet (for environmental and dietary reasons) but will have the occasional non-vegan item – sometimes accidentally ...