On November 26, Viroqua holds its annual Twinkle Fest Parade, an annual holiday kickoff celebration with Community Tree Lighting ceremony. The festivities will surely put you in the mood for Christmas shopping. VIVA Gallery features November guest Artist John Schneider’s landscapes rendered in etchings, pastels, watercolor and oil paints; while other “art for the holiday” will be on display in December. And VIVA artists Kathleen Aaker, Angela Feltes, and Carole Austin will present Sno-Crush from November 20 through December 31, a “traditionally inspired” textile show at Avalanche Looms in the town of Avalanche, a short distance from Viroqua.The Villa Louis historic site in Prairie du Chien provides a backdoor perspective of Victorian life with a Servant’s Supper on December 4. The kitchen of the Victorian mansion serves as the setting for this hands-on culinary workshop, exploring the “tools, technology, and favored foods of the late 19th century.” A tour of the mansion is included in the program; reservations are required.
On December 4 and 5, a traditional Christmas celebration can be enjoyed at an Old Fashioned Christmas at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center near Coon Valley. Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides around the historic grounds and Christmas carols with area singers. Local artists will demonstrate the making of traditional crafts and visitors will have an opportunity join in the making. Enjoy the many baked goods for sale – including my favorite holiday treat, Norwegian lefse! – and an a-la-carte lunch.
My own memories of the holidays are not complete without snow, and hopefully nature will oblige. The Kickapoo Valley Reserve in LaFarge will welcome outdoor enthusiasts to a Family Snowshoe Hike on December 11 from 1 pm to 4 pm. The “slow-paced” walk explores the winter habitat of the reserve with plenty of scenery and discoveries along the way.
Let Driftless Wisconsin usher in your holiday season with its unique blend of cultural heritage and rural landscapes.
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