BEGINNING IN MAY – FOOD, COMMUNITY
OUTDOOR FARMERS’ MARKETS
LOCAL—Get your grub from the hands that raised it for you! Bolster your farmer neighbors by forking it local, folks! As fun as fungus such as morels or shitake logs! As good as asparagus! As healthy as herbal remedies! As trendy as transplants for your own garden! What more could you want?! At www.savorwisconsin.com you’ll find a searchable directory of all farmers markets in the state, along other with Wisconsin food producers and vendors.

MARKETS:
CASHTON—Growers Produce Auction is held Tuesdays and Fridays beginning at 11 AM with pre-Mother’s Day sale Monday, May 6. It’s located at 2347 Dell Road, just off County Hwy. D. Call 654-7880 or visit www.growersproduceauction.com for vendor information.

FERRYVILLE—Market in the Park, with area artists and artisans. Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM.

GAYS MILLS—Every Wednesday, 3:30–6 PM, beginning May 18 in Lions Park. Get on the insider list at www.gaysmillsfarmersmarket.com.

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN—F&M Bank lot Saturdays, 6 AM, May–October. Prairie Street at the corner of Blackhawk Avenue and Beaumont Road, in the parking lot next to Sports World. Saturdays 7:30 AM until noon. More information at www.prairiestreetfarmersmarket.com.

VIROQUA—WWTC parking lot, 220 S. Main St., 8 AM to noon on Saturdays.

THURSDAY, MAY 5 – ART, MUSIC
LOCAL TEEN ARTISTS WITH JULIA AND THE GARLIC BREATH GIRLS
VIROQUA—As graduation season approaches, this reception is one way to support the talented young adults in our community. But don’t go just out of duty; some of the area’s finest art and music comes from the hands and mouths at work here. This reception will feature the provoking original art work of Julia Rose Morgan. At turns saccharine and spicy, the five ukuleles and angelic voices of Julia and the Garlic Breath Girls will perform as well. The misses’ take on classics from Cat Stevens and on alt-pop alone make this one not to be missed. In case you’re still not sure this is such a sweet treat, know that sweets and treats shall also be served. 5–7 PM, VIVA Gallery, 217 S. Main St., free, 608-637-6918.

THURSDAY, MAY 5 – COMMUNITY, OUTDOORS
CRAWFORD STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SUPPORTERS GATHERING
GAYS MILLS—The board and staff of the Crawford Stewardship Project (CSP) offer an evening for your suggestions, as well as an update on the depth of their struggle with a dose of humor. Join them in unity to share what you appreciate about their efforts and how you would like to see them continue to protect our precious land and pure water. Opportunities to volunteer! Everyone welcome! Snacks and treats! 7–9 PM, Gays Mills Community Building, 212 Main St., www.crawfordstewardshipproject.org or call 735-4277.

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, MAY 5, 6, 7 – THEATER
EURYDICE IN THE UNDERGROUND
VIROQUA—After running this remarkable performance through April, this handsome cast is set to thoroughly wow you for one weekend in May. Take it from critic Carl Schlecht: "You have here a rich vein of silver which is rife for the mining. If you don't understand love and loss, then let the brilliant production of Eurydice, staged by the Underground Players, expose you to the tingling elements of these earthly and distinctly human sentiments. Even though I saw it in its mid-trajectory with the incumbent lack of finished quality, I laughed with abandon and wept openly. I rather doubt this company’s leader, Adam Fogelson, or the inspired cast and crew have realized just what they are…presenting in Viroqua..." 8 PM at the Cabaret Fortney, underground at the Fortney Hotel, Court and Main Streets. $10 adults, $5 for students. reservations 608-606-0840.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MAY 6, 7, 8 – MUSIC AND DANCE
GAYS MILLS FOLK FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND DANCE
GAYS MILLS—Louis Armstrong once said, "All music is folk music; I ain’t never heard no horse sing a song." Throughout the Mother’s Day weekend, Gays Mills offers everything but a singing horse: local elder musician Ethel Lerum, the Cajun Strangers from the South Coast, and beloved humorist and blues roots hero Spider John Koerner. And that’s just at the Saturday night concert, which is hosted by the audacious duo of Adam and Lindsey (more formally known as the Dolly Wagglers). There’s also a Friday night square dance; Saturday afternoon family and folk festivities and workshops in Robb Park, including a puppet show and maypole; and a gospel sing by the river bank Sunday morning. The whole town of Gays Mills comes alive this weekend, with a rodeo in the fairgrounds, village-wide garage sales, and promotional open houses at businesses all up and down Main Street. If we’re lucky, there will even be apple blossoms! Square dance on Friday from 7 to 11 PM for $5 ($2 children), catch the Saturday concert at 7:30 PM for $15 ($5 children), or sing freely at 11 AM Sunday; weekend passes are $20 ($5 for children or $45 for a family); www.gaysmillsfolkfest.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 8 – COMMUNITY, DANCE
ARWYN WILDINGWAY DANCES
VIROQUA—Arwyn Wildingway blesses our community with her master-gardening, avant garde drumming, and dance. With training in ballet, folk, modern, improv, yoga, tai chi, martial arts, and Nia, Arwyn has always pursued a life looking for beauty in motion. We mourned with Arwyn last spring at the loss of her child, and now she invites us to join in her renewal as she shares her dance with us. Here is an artist’s statement: Recent cosmic events have strengthened [Arwyn’s] connection to Spirit and given clear visions of this dance. Supported by friends, this dance will attempt to express the beauty of a goddess in a human life, complete with passion and purpose, guidance and reverence. 1:30 PM, Tapestry Yoga Studio, Landmark Center, Room 203, 500 E. Jefferson St., free.

TUESDAY, MAY 10 – HEALTH, FOOD, OUTDOORS
LYME DISEASE: WHAT CAN YOU DO?
VIROQUA—Lyme disease is a sleeping giant that wakes up every time another one of our friends or family falls stricken by the nefarious physical and psychological havoc wreaked by this disease. What can we do to fight back? Join community members in a discussion about local food and plants used to treat Lyme. The discussion will be led by author Carol Jacobs, who has written extensively on the topic. Come for a friend with Lyme who can’t make it! 7 PM, Bramble Bookstore, 117 S. Main St., free.

THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY, MAY 12–15 – COMMUNITY
SYTTENDE MAI
WESTBY—Hunt for trolls, love some rommegrot or stomach some lutefisk, walk or run 5k for Norway or for the T-shirt, be in awe at the rosemaling show, take in the parade or have one of your own with a horse-drawn trolley ride, witness Big Top Chautauqua’s Blue Canvas Orchestra, check out the antique tractor show, and you’ll just be scratching the surface. You don’t have to go all the way to Norway to go deep into Nordic culture; Westby’s celebration will be epic enough. www.westbysyttendemai.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 13 – WORD
PETER HODAPP ORIGINAL COMIC SIGNING
VIROQUA—Peter Hodapp’s relatively recent plunge into the world of creating comic books has been welcomed with interest and pleasure both by the folks here in his town and by the cozy and quirky world of comic book readers and makers. Hodapp recently won a national award for his work, and here’s your chance to get your personal signed copies not only of his award-winning work, but of his latest, charming comic book for tween girls. 3–6 PM, Tulips, 207 S. Main St., free.

FRIDAY, MAY 13 – MUSIC
THE RIDGETONES SPRING CONCERT
VIROQUA—Jonesing for some good ol’ choral bliss? Local valley folk are ascending Mt. Viroqua to fill this sacred ridge with lovely vocal hopes. Get your winter jaw loosened with these divine sounds as the Ridgetones offer their spring concert. 8 PM, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 504 S. Main St. $10 adults, $5 children and seniors $20 families

SATURDAY, MAY 21 – COMMUNITY
K/GAP ANNUAL SPRING FUNDRAISER
VIROQUA—A generation of local youth have been enriched by the chance to travel to Guatemala through the Kickapoo Guatemala Accompaniment Project. Our young folks have learned from and served those less materially rich than us. So let’s celebrate this homegrown mission by dancing to the rune tunes of the JelloTones and shaking it with our support along with the Driftless Tribal Bellydancers. Also look out for tickets to be included in drawings for a red oak coffee table, ceramic creations, and a weaving: they’re all gorgeous and all made by local artisans. 8–12 PM, Viking Inn, 113 N. Main St. $10.

SATURDAY, MAY 21 – FOOD, LAND
VSN SPRING FEAST FUNDRAISER
SOLDIERS GROVE—Eaters unite for a fabulous Spring Feast sponsored by the Valley Stewardship Network (VSN) Food & Farm Initiative (FFI). At VSN the Food & Farm Initiative members are humming like busy worker bees with efforts to grow a healthy, community-based, locally supported foodshed! Celebrate these efforts by joining your neighbors, family, and friends at the lovely Old Oak Inn for an appetizer and cocktail social hour followed by a five-course family-style dinner whipped up by celebrity chefs Dani Lind and Macon Luhning of Rooted Spoon Culinary. A food- and farm-inspired silent auction and musical entertainment will round out this grand affair. Tickets are $60/person and can be purchased at the Viroqua Food Coop or by calling the Valley Stewardship Network office at 637-3615. 6 PM, Old Oak Inn, 500 Church St., $60.