On June 15th, 2019, the Shawano County Historical Society hosted their 11th annual Rhubarb Fest. Although the day was forecasted to be rainy and cold, the rain held off, and we ended the festival with a beautiful sunny day and a great visitor turnout. The day was packed full of fun activities for all ages to participate. First, we opened Rhubarb Fest with a dedication of our newest artifact, the 1912 City of Shawano Fire Hose Wagon, and the presentation of the colors by Shawano Legion Post 117.
The dedication of the 1912 City of Shawano fire hose wagon
Our vice president, Tom Aumann, our curator, Jesse Borlen, and our president, Mike Eidahl posing in front of our 1912 fire hose wagon
The Knope family, who donated the wagon on behalf of Grandfather Mel and Father Doug, former fire chiefs of Shawano Fire Department, posing in front of the wagon
American Legion Post 117
The festivities included free museum tours, live music from local artists and Mark Dvorak and John Stano, pie contests, demonstrations, and raffles.
Board Member Joel Kroenke playing the harmonica next to musicians Mark Dvorak and John Stano
Raffle Baskets generously donated by local Shawano County businesses
A Rhubarb pie submitted for the pie contest
Children’s activities courtesy of the Shawano Public Library
A demonstrator teaching a child how to husk corn
Pie contest winners: 3rd place Jenna Brasch, 2nd place Vicky Tumanic, 1st place JoAnn Stein
A yarn spinner demonstrating how to spin yarn in front of the log cabin
A woman and two children putting on a demonstration for Rhubarb Fest visitors
Visitors touring the log cabin
A demonstrator in front of the log cabin
A demonstrator showing visitors how to spin yarn
A demonstrator talking with a visitor
The Wolf River Carving Club
Member of the Wolf River Carving Club creating a wood carving
Many people came out to Heritage Park to enjoy some rhubarb lemonade, rhubarb pies and deserts, rhubarb IPA and sangria, and brats and hamburgers with rhubarb sauce!
A volunteer dishing out a piece of one of our delicious rhubarb pies
A child enjoying some rhubarb dessert
A can of Rhubarb IPA sold at Rhubarb Fest
A couple enjoying some Rhu-berry slushies
Two men enjoying a can of Spotted Cow
A visitor buying food at our food stand. Hopefully they enjoyed a brat or hamburger with rhubarb sauce!
Rhubarb sangria sold at Rhubarb Fest
or they stopped by a vendor to do a little shopping…
The Woman’s Club of Shawano conducting a plant sale
Kim Arntzen selling her paintings
Family History Center in Shawano, Wisconsin
Carole Kuskiewicz selling her paintings
John Ballbach selling raw local honey
Frog Pond Botanicals owner Ludene Balke selling handcrafted soaps which included a line rhubarb scented soap
Vendors selling handmade crafts
Visitors stopping by the family history booth to learn about genealogy
Visitor shopping at the Voelz Sugarbush booth
We would like to thank our group of dedicated volunteers in helping to make Rhubarb Fest a success!
Curator Jesse Borlen transporting the 1912 fire hose to its location for Rhubarb Fest
Raffle ticket volunteer Lana Prickette conversing with two visitors
Board Member Ron Schumacher and volunteer Todd Hanson working at the brat and hamburger stand
Volunteers selling Rhu-berry slushees, rhubarb lemonade, Sundrop, and water
Volunteers working at the information desk and gift shop
Volunteers dishing out desserts for visitors
A volunteer cooking up some delicious hamburgers
Merrie Crawford and Lana Buelow, organizers of the 2019 Rhubarb Fest
Volunteer in the dessert line
But most importantly, we would like to thank all the visitors who could stop by and make our 11th annual Rhubarb fest the best one yet!
